Oliver Conway

That's 28-year-old Will Shears, who goes round parks in London handing out cups of tea. In return, people talk about their lives. Will has started posting the chats on social media in a project called A Mug of Life. The Happy Pod's Holly Gibbs spoke to him over, of course, a cuppa.

That's 28-year-old Will Shears, who goes round parks in London handing out cups of tea. In return, people talk about their lives. Will has started posting the chats on social media in a project called A Mug of Life. The Happy Pod's Holly Gibbs spoke to him over, of course, a cuppa.

That's 28-year-old Will Shears, who goes round parks in London handing out cups of tea. In return, people talk about their lives. Will has started posting the chats on social media in a project called A Mug of Life. The Happy Pod's Holly Gibbs spoke to him over, of course, a cuppa.

Will Shears talking to Holly Gibbs. According to this year's World Happiness Report, our belief in the kindness of strangers is closely tied to how happy we feel. We also tend to underestimate the level of kindness. Trust in strangers was measured by looking at how many people returned wallets that had been deliberately misplaced. The number was almost twice as high as expected.

Will Shears talking to Holly Gibbs. According to this year's World Happiness Report, our belief in the kindness of strangers is closely tied to how happy we feel. We also tend to underestimate the level of kindness. Trust in strangers was measured by looking at how many people returned wallets that had been deliberately misplaced. The number was almost twice as high as expected.

Will Shears talking to Holly Gibbs. According to this year's World Happiness Report, our belief in the kindness of strangers is closely tied to how happy we feel. We also tend to underestimate the level of kindness. Trust in strangers was measured by looking at how many people returned wallets that had been deliberately misplaced. The number was almost twice as high as expected.

The BBC's Mark Easton marked the day by carrying out an experiment of his own.

The BBC's Mark Easton marked the day by carrying out an experiment of his own.

The BBC's Mark Easton marked the day by carrying out an experiment of his own.

Mark Easton, and he was talking to the founding editor of the World Happiness Report, John F. Helliwell, from the University of British Columbia. If you've ever been helped by the kindness of strangers or made friends just by chatting to someone, we'd love to hear from you. Send an email or voice note to globalpodcasts at bbc.co.uk.

Mark Easton, and he was talking to the founding editor of the World Happiness Report, John F. Helliwell, from the University of British Columbia. If you've ever been helped by the kindness of strangers or made friends just by chatting to someone, we'd love to hear from you. Send an email or voice note to globalpodcasts at bbc.co.uk.

Mark Easton, and he was talking to the founding editor of the World Happiness Report, John F. Helliwell, from the University of British Columbia. If you've ever been helped by the kindness of strangers or made friends just by chatting to someone, we'd love to hear from you. Send an email or voice note to globalpodcasts at bbc.co.uk.

The UN report also named Finland as the world's happiest country for the eighth year in a row, as another of the authors, Lara Aknin, explains.

The UN report also named Finland as the world's happiest country for the eighth year in a row, as another of the authors, Lara Aknin, explains.

The UN report also named Finland as the world's happiest country for the eighth year in a row, as another of the authors, Lara Aknin, explains.

Lara Aknin from the World Happiness Report. As well as all those positives, there's another side to Finland's happiness, the concept of sisu. The word is deeply ingrained in Finnish culture, but it has no direct translation in English. It's along the lines of inner strength, but there's more to it than that, as Stephanie Prentice has been finding out.

Lara Aknin from the World Happiness Report. As well as all those positives, there's another side to Finland's happiness, the concept of sisu. The word is deeply ingrained in Finnish culture, but it has no direct translation in English. It's along the lines of inner strength, but there's more to it than that, as Stephanie Prentice has been finding out.

Lara Aknin from the World Happiness Report. As well as all those positives, there's another side to Finland's happiness, the concept of sisu. The word is deeply ingrained in Finnish culture, but it has no direct translation in English. It's along the lines of inner strength, but there's more to it than that, as Stephanie Prentice has been finding out.

Wilderness guide Petri Kokkonen ending that report from Stephanie Prentice. And if you want to find out yet more about what makes Finland so happy, listen back to our special from last year, the happiest country in the world.

Wilderness guide Petri Kokkonen ending that report from Stephanie Prentice. And if you want to find out yet more about what makes Finland so happy, listen back to our special from last year, the happiest country in the world.