“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions”.-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Today is International Happiness Day, which is set aside with the intention of making the planet a happier place to live, on which kindness reigns supreme, nature is championed and people feel treasured. As far as I can see, every day should fall into that category.

In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognized happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples”.

To that end, the sponsoring organization called Action For Happiness, has numerous suggestions, that include gathering with kindred spirits at Happiness Cafes, committing acts of kindness, exercising your body, having awareness of what is going on around us, doing new things, as well as reading the Happiness Guidebook, that you can download from their site.

In my life, although I tend to be unreasonably happy/happy for no reason, I do encounter experiences and people that plaster a big old smile on my face. Over the weekend, I taught a workshop, had dinner with friends, had overnight guests, spoke at my interfaith community this morning on the topic of Spring Awakening, went to a Spring Equinox event and then met with another friend who is designing a logo for me. Feeling pleasantly tired and all loved up. Most certainly happy.

It is my contention that happiness is contagious. Think of what it feels like to walk into a room where people are in celebratory mode. How does your mood shift by being there?It’s hard to stay sad, fearful or angry when immersed in that energy. It is portable. You can carry it, like a bee pollinates a flower, from one to the next. It is flexible and not one size fits all. What contributes to the happiness of one, may differ for another.

Ideas for increasing your HQ (Happiness Quotient)

Dancing

Playing with a child

Petting an animal

Being of service

Hugging

Saying and hearing the words: I love you

Planting a garden

Writing ‘I appreciate you’/love notes to family or friends

Listening to music that tickles your soul

Mending a rift between yourself and another

Immersing in creative endeavors

Being in nature

Taking powerful leaps

Looking up old friends and if possible, reconnect

Traveling to new locales and drinking in the experience

Watching The Happy Movie and be inspired by the ideas in it

Happiness is a choice. Regardless of external circumstance, I know that I am the engineer, running the train and no one ultimately has the ability to get it where it needs to go, except me. There have been times in which I would normally engineer circumstances to my liking, even though something, from somewhere, spoke with me and let me know I need not micromanage and can simply let go and giggle with delight.