International Day of Happiness

Finding Happiness: Honoring the International Day of Happiness Through the Eyes of Ikigai

Each year on March 20, the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of Happiness, a day the United Nations created to mark happiness as an inherent human aspiration and to underscore its significance in international policies.
It is a reminder that the search for happiness is common to all, across cultures and boundaries.

In the search for ways to happiness, the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai is rich with insights. Ikigai, which means “reason for being,” is the concept of having purpose and meaning in life. It is described as the intersection of four elements:

What you love: Your interest and passions.
What you are good at: Your talents and abilities.
What the world needs: How you can help society.
What you can get paid for: Sustainable parts of your activities.
By balancing these factors, one is able to find their Ikigai, which results in a happy and meaningful life.

International Day of Happiness makes us think about such philosophies that foster well-being. The United Nations underscores the necessity for a more equitable, inclusive, and balanced pattern of economic development with a view to ensuring sustainable development, eradication of poverty, and the well-being of all peoples

Lives Embracing Ikigai

Becoming better by applying the principles of Ikigai to our daily life can increase overall happiness:

Self-Reflection: Periodically examine your passions and strengths.
Community Involvement: Engage in activities that serve others, creating a sense of meaning.
Ongoing Education: Acquire new skills that are in sync with your passion and the needs of society.
Balance: Attempt to bring about harmony between what you want personally and what is expected professionally.
On the occasion of the International Day of Happiness, let us take cues from Ikigai to build a life full of purpose and happiness.

On the International Day of Happiness, the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai provides a deep insight into the cultivation of lasting happiness. Instead of seeing happiness as an ephemeral feeling, Ikigai instructs that enduring fulfillment arises from living with purpose. It is the stunning harmony of what you love, what you are capable of, what the world needs, and what you can be compensated for. By bringing these facets together, human beings feel greater fulfillment and gratification in the everyday moments they live. The philosophy reaffirms that happiness does not only happen from outside through accomplishments but realizing meaning in routine moments, enabling life to be more fulfilling and meaningful.

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