Today, as we celebrate World Happiness Day 2025, the newly released World Happiness Report offers a timely reminder of what truly fuels human happiness. Interestingly, this year's report focuses on "Caring and Sharing," revealing how small acts of kindness and connection can shape entire societies.

Kindness: More Common Than We Think
One of the report’s key findings is that people globally underestimate how kind others are. A wallet-return experiment conducted worldwide showed that lost wallets were returned nearly twice as often as people expected. This reinforces the notion that kindness is more abundant than we assume and is strongly tied to happiness. The happiest countries, such as Finland (which tops the ranking for the eighth year in a row), also tend to have high levels of trust and prosocial behavior.

A Personal Lesson in Trust
This research resonates deeply with me and takes me back to my first interim job at Coca-Cola Bulgaria. I was young, fresh in my career, and admittedly overwhelmed. One day, the CEO, John, noticed my apprehension and invited me for a chat. During that conversation, he shared a piece of wisdom that has stuck with me ever since:
"99.5% of the people you will meet in life will be kind to you. If you choose to trust and be open, your life and career will be much richer and more successful."
That perspective helped me overcome my fears, and it’s a philosophy I carry with me to this day.

The Power of Sharing Meals
The report also highlights how sharing meals is a significant driver of happiness across cultures. Sadly, in places like the United States, solo dining has risen by 53% over the past two decades. On the other hand, here in Bulgaria, our culture of hospitality and sharing food with family, friends, and even strangers might be one of the factors gradually lifting us up the happiness ladder. While Bulgaria currently ranks 85th, we can draw inspiration from our neighboring countries like Serbia (31st) and Romania (35th) and aim for continuous improvement.

Belonging: A Cornerstone of Happiness
As Prof. Raj Raghunathan teaches in his MBA model (Mastery - Belonging - Autonomy), Belonging is one of the essential building blocks of happiness. Deep, meaningful relationships are not just a luxury—they are the foundation of a fulfilled life. This message aligns perfectly with the World Happiness Report’s findings that social trust, kindness, and close connections have a profound impact on both personal and collective wellbeing.

The Road Ahead
The report also reminds us that many people worldwide still experience loneliness and a lack of support, with nearly 1 in 5 young adults reporting that they have no one to rely on. As a community, we have an opportunity to foster belonging and kindness in both small daily actions and larger societal initiatives.

So, on this World Happiness Day, let's remember:
 Trust more.
 Share more.
 Build stronger relationships.

Because, as research and life both show, happiness starts with us.

Author: Liubov Kirilova
Source: World Happiness Report 2025