If you google “happiest man in the world”, chances are the name to pop up will be Matthieu Ricard’s.
The man is a 69 year old Tibetan Buddhist monk originally from France who has been called “the world’s happiest man.”
In a 12 year brain study about compassion and meditation, scientists have determined that the monk’s brain was unusually light when meditating on compassion.
Ricard — who said he often meditates for entire days without getting bored — admits he’s a generally happy person but feels his “happiest man” title is a media-driven overstatement.
International Day of Happiness celebrated
Happiness is a goal for many, but according to the United Nations, it’s more than a goal: it’s a fundamental human right.
In 2012, the United Nations created an International Day of Happiness, a worldwide day that promotes happiness as a goal for all people. Today, March 20 is the 4th anniversary of the holiday and the UN and the holiday’s founder Jayme Illien, are encouraging people to share what makes them happy.
To help spread the happiness movement, people are encouraged to share happy videos, photos, and GIFs using the hashtag #InternationalDayOfHappiness on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and any other social channel of their choosing.
