Finding joy in the everyday: Holistic approaches to happiness

International Day of Happiness 2025

International Day of Happiness is a global campaign established by the United Nations that calls for happiness to be given greater priority in our lives.

The first UN Conference on Happiness took place in 2012. All 193 United Nations member states, including the UK, have since adopted this resolution, which is celebrated annually on March 20th. 

The basis of International Day of Happiness is that “progress” should be measured by increasing human happiness - not just growing the economy. And we believe this sentiment also applies to other areas of our lives. This year’s International Day of Happiness theme is ‘Caring & Sharing’.

What is happiness?

While we might be able to tell when we feel happy, we very rarely have to put this emotion into words. So, what do we mean by “happiness”? Well, happiness is typically considered an emotional state characterised by positive feelings such as joy, contentment, and satisfaction. 

The fact is, happiness is an incredibly subjective state that can only be determined by an individual’s feelings about their own life. Psychologists and sociologists tend to call this “subjective well-being”. Two key components of subjective well-being are the balance of emotions (positive vs negative) and life satisfaction (such as feelings about relationships or work). 

But what goes on in our bodies when we experience happiness?

The science of happiness

Happiness is not only associated with outside factors such as our perception of our achievements, but also with bodily changes. For example, when we feel happy, our brains release a number of what have become known as “happy chemicals” - namely, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. These neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers in the brain. 

But what do they do?

• Dopamine: Often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, dopamine plays a crucial role in the brain’s reward system, influencing our motivation and mood.
• Serotonin: Another chemical that influences our mood, the release of serotonin contributes to feelings of well-being and can be associated with decreased anxiety.
• Endorphins: Responsible for the “runner’s high” experienced after exercise, endorphins produce feelings of euphoria.
• Oxytocin: Sometimes called the “love hormone”, oxytocin is released during moments of happiness and social bonding.

How does our health affect our happiness?

Health and happiness often go hand in hand. Most of us will notice a toll on our overall well-being and happiness when we are unwell - even if only temporarily. This is because, while being in good health allows us to take part in activities and social interactions that boost our well-being, being in poor health can be extremely limiting. This can lead to an increase in negative emotions and stress.

Chronic and complex health conditions can have a particularly significant impact on well-being and happiness. Such conditions can limit mobility and daily activities, and reduce social interactions. Moreover, individuals with chronic conditions are often at a higher risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, which have also been found to have a negative impact on physical health. This can lead to a vicious cycle of worsening physical and mental symptoms.

For many patients with chronic and complex health problems, these issues are exacerbated by the struggle to find effective treatment options. Releaf patient, Louise, was struggling to remain positive as she managed the side effects of aggressive treatments prescribed for cancer and chemotherapy. But after trying medical cannabis, Louise found she was able to manage her symptoms effectively:

“I just want to enjoy every day, and I hope I can do that by managing the side effects of my chemo. I’m just trying to remain positive. I do have dark days, and I'm hoping the medical cannabis will continue to help with that, because I need a bit of help sometimes…

…I’m happy to have found a medicine that helps without being so hard on my body, so I’m able to just get on with life. It’s a much more manageable and comfortable way to go forward into the future.”

Being able to once again find joy and pleasure in the simple things in life is incredibly important for our well-being and happiness. Finding the right treatment for your condition and symptoms can be a huge part of this, but other factors contributing to your well-being should also be considered.  

A holistic approach to happiness, health, and well-being

With so many aspects of life playing a role in our overall happiness, perhaps it is time to take a more holistic approach to well-being. But what is holistic well-being? 

Taking a holistic approach to well-being means addressing not only your physical needs, but also your mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs to achieve a well-balanced and happy life. This can include:

• Being conscious of your diet, exercise routine, and sleep to maintain your physical well-being.

• Practising stress management and mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises to promote spiritual and mental wellness.

• Cultivating healthy relationships to maintain social health and positive interactions with others.

Medical cannabis and holistic well-being

Medical cannabis was legalised for eligible patients in the UK in 2018. For many, this alternative therapy has offered significant relief from challenging symptoms and helped to improve quality of life; however, cannabis-based medicines are never used as a first-line treatment. 

Thankfully, awareness of medical cannabis is improving, and more patients in the UK accessing this personalised treatment now more than ever. The wide-ranging effects of medical cannabis have been found to impact several areas of patient wellness, including sleep, mental health, and physical relief, potentially providing a more holistic approach to treatment.

 If you’d like to learn more about medical cannabis treatment in the UK, our specialist doctors are always on hand to help. Get in touch today to find out if you could be eligible for medical cannabis treatment.