Singapore spreads Happiness Virus worldwide.

The Happiness Effect (THE) movement, a 100-day global movement initiated out of Singapore, is in its 7th day and is already spreading its happiness virus in over 20 countries. 

THE movement was launched on 20th March 2013, in conjunction with the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness.   Although the International Day of Happiness is over, THE movement continues to run for 100 days from 20 March to 27 June 2013, with the aim to positively touch 1 million people worldwide and inspire positive action.  Essentially, THE movement is about uniting the world in 1 action a day, focused on making someone else happy.  Actions are selected from the free Happiness Manifesto and public suggestions, and shared through social media posts, videos, photos, tweets, and stories.  In its first week of launch, THE movement invited people worldwide to smile, express gratitude, say “I Love You”, spend quality time, greet others, affirm themselves and affirm others. 

Interestingly, THE movement was started from “emotionless Singapore” by a group of social entrepreneurs.  Last year, Singapore was ranked the most emotionless society in the world by a Gallup survey.  In the same year however, 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. 

‘There has been a lot of debate about whether Singaporeans are truly unhappy, or just reserved about expressing our feelings.  THE team wanted to go beyond debate and discussion, by taking concrete action to spread positive vibes and being a catalyst for positive change.  We believe that what gets focus grows… by focusing on 1 positive action a day and spreading the message using technology and social media, we believe we can spread and multiply happiness globally,’ said Ms Angela Lam, founder of THE movement and Chief Happiness Officer at the Skool of Happiness.

Although THE movement started with only a few people and an action a day, it has already reached over 12,000 people in 20 countries in its first week of launch, a strong start to achieving its goal of a million people in 100 days.

In Singapore, THE movement also collaborated with The Morning Greeters (TMG) in Singapore to spread positive vibes to residents in the city state.  The two movements joined hands to adopt 24 March as a combined “Greetings Day”.  TMG shared their greetings and positive vibes with runners in Singapore that day, while THE movement shared the pictures, videos and happy vibes online, and encouraged the world to participate and spread the positive energy.  THE movement hopes to work with other like-minded organizations and movements to positively impact even more people locally and globally. 

‘The effect of compounding is powerful - if you double 1 cent daily, you will have more than $10 million by the end of one month or 31 days.  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.’

Todate, THE movement has spread primarily through social media especially Facebook and Twitter. THE movement has the widest reach in Singapore and Southeast Asia, followed by the United States.  

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://www.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 to 27 June 2013, do the selected happiness actions and upload your pictures, videos, ideas and comments on THE Facebook or twitter pages.  Start your tweets with the #TheHappinessEffect.

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