“Many people are familiar with the eight beatitudes or happinesses highlighted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount,” says Augustine Semo, communications representative for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “A critical facet of achieving happiness is to ensure our spiritual needs are met. That is true no matter who we are or where we live.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for using the Bible as a manual for living. They believe that this contributes to lasting happiness, says Semo in a statement.

He gives examples of some people who have managed to live a happy life by following this principle.

“My childhood was anything but happy,” says Saidi Chisoni. “My brother was an alcoholic, and my family was poor. For a long time, I was pessimistic about my lot in life. But now, the Bible has helped me to improve my outlook.”

Chisoni, who is now one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, says he applied the ‘Golden Rule’ and started treating others as he wanted to be treated.

“I also took to heart another Bible teaching that ‘there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’ It’s so true! The more I give to others, the happier I am,” he says.

Semo has advised people to read No. 1 2021 issue of Awake! magazine published by Jehovah’s Witnesses titled “Wisdom for Life and Happiness.”

He says it presents Bible-based guidance for achieving happiness in a family which includes a five-step guide on cultivating peaceful relationships with others, which are: forgiving, humbleness and respectful, impartiality, mild-tempered and generosity and thankfulness.

Contentment, generosity, physical health, resilience, love, purpose in life and hope are also listed by the church as key elements to living a happy life.

According to the World Happiness Report 2023, in Malawi it is reported that 95 percent of the population is unhappy.

International Day of Happiness aims at raising awareness of the social dangers posed by chronic unhappiness and to promote the happiness and well-being of all people.