Global Happiness Movement starts on 20th March from “Emotionless Singapore”

In 2 days, The Happiness Effect (THE) movement starts from Singapore. This global movement is set to reach at least 1 million people globally over the next 100 days from 20 March to 27 June 2013.  This movement is launched on 20th March, which is also the International Day of Happiness declared by the United Nations.

Last year, Singapore was ranked the most emotionless society in the world by a Gallup survey.  Participants in a survey were asked if they felt five positive and five negative emotions the previous day; only 36% of Singaporeans said they felt any of the emotions, Gallup said

Are Singaporeans emotionless?  Ms Angela Lam, founder of THE movement, said, ‘As a society, we may be more left-brained and structured due to our education and environment. We are also more controlled and reserved about how we embrace and express our feelings.  I believe that Singaporeans are not emotionless, but we can definitely express our feelings better’.

Interestingly, last year, the United Nations rated Singapore as the happiest in the region.  In that study, Singaporeans were reported as being satisfied with their lives as a whole – possibly a function of having a roof over their heads, jobs, physical health and enough money to live on. Ms Lisa Choo, a senior clinical psychologist at KTPH, said that ‘It could be that we are not in the habit of thinking about happiness. We don’t make enough effort to adopt a more positive attitude in life, regardless of our life circumstances. But simply adopting a different perspective can vastly change our overall view of life and its circumstances.’  

Over 100 days, THE movement invites the world to take 1 action a day to make someone happy, and to share these acts of happiness through videos, photos, tweets, and stories. The actions are selected from the free Happiness Manifesto or public suggestions.  Happiness Angels are also nominated and voted by the public, to recognize the joy, happiness and positive contributions that they make to others.  The objective is to increase consciousness and visibility of positive and happy feelings in our lives.  When a positive action is taken and shared online - such as an affirming word or a hug – another person is touched or affected.

‘Anyone can choose to be grateful and happy for people and things in our lives. Anyone can deliberately reach out to express themselves and make someone happy.  When large numbers of people come together to do something small, the cumulative effect is massive’, said Ms Lam.

This message was echoed by Mr Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information, ‘Happiness lies in our hands.  Alone, we can do little, but together, there is little we cannot do.’

Will Singaporeans step forth, express and share their happiness?   Here’s how you can participate and be a part of the movement: 

1. ‘Like’ and share the website and Facebook page at www.thehappinesseffect.com and www.facebook.com/thehappinesseffect.
2. Follow the movement on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thehappinessef1.
3. Download the free Happiness Manifesto at http://thehappinesseffect.com/book-videos, and offer your suggested ideas on actions that the world can take together to spread happiness.
4. Tune in daily from 20 March 2013, do the selected happiness actions and upload your pictures, videos, ideas and comments on THE Facebook page or twitter.  Start your tweets with the #TheHappinessEffect.

For more information, please visit www.thehappinesseffect.com.