Sustainable Happiness

Global warming.

Cancer rates on the rise. 

Human connections becoming less real and more digital. 

Endangered species. 

Hunger on the rise (even here in Canada).

Habitat destruction.

Consumerism motivated by unsatisfied human needs. 

Riots. 

Wars.

Kidnappings. 

Unavailability of meaningful, well-paid jobs.

Excessively expensive living costs. 

It's no surprise that Generation Y is suffering from a Quarter-Life Crisis. 

It's no surprise, either, that Albert Zeyer at the University of Zurich has found that high school students are suffering from latent environmental depression.

This raises the question: How do we  nurture hope in a time of environmental and social despair and why should we?

What motivates you to get up in the morning? Perhaps you're motivated to get to a job or to get the kids off to school? Underneath these immediate motivators, what keeps you going (especially when the going gets tough)? The desire for happiness, contentment, joy, pleasure...this is  a very natural motivator. Everybody wants to be happy. Everybody wants to do things that bring them joy or that bring their loved ones joy. Happiness is a universal desire. It's something we all share. The newspaper girl, the boy bagging your groceries, the CEO of Wal-mart, the parking attendant writing you a ticket...if nothing else, you share this trait with them.

Happiness is core to who we are. You may be able to tell a lot about a person by their shoes but I'm willing to bet that you can learn even more about a person by asking them what makes them happy (try this next time you meet someone as a replacement to "What do you do?" - it can take your conversation to a surprisingly pleasant place).

In our consumer society, consumption and happiness have been woven together so tightly that it's easy to confuse the two (Goods Life = Good Life). However, research suggests that to the extent people value money, possessions, and wealth, they report lower levels of personal happiness, behave less cooperatively, and live in more ecologically destructive ways. This research goes on to suggest that "authentic happiness" is associated with positive health and well-being (research here). 


So, what's authentic happiness? Rather than relentless striving for material possessions, authentic happiness stems from relationships with family, friends, meaningful work, and engagement in our community. Tim Kasser gives a few pointers for how to nurture authentic happiness:

1) Reflect on Happiness - take time to reflect on what really makes you happy.
2) Focus on Intrinsic Values - Self-acceptance, affiliation, and community feeling.
3) Bring your Intrinsic Values into your Consumption Behaviour - buy with your intrinsic values in mind.
4) Consider Pursuing Time-Affluence - avoid time-poverty by asking for more vacation or shorter work weeks, rather than a raise.
5) Get Involved in the Community - people who use their time and money for the 'greater good' are more satisfied.
6) Toss Out the Advertisements - they only make you feel dissatisfied with your current state so that you will consume more.

An interesting field has resulted from the study of environmental psychology, positive psychology, and resiliency research: Sustainable Happiness. 

The concept of Sustainable Happiness allows us to consider the positive and negative consequences of how individuals, communities, and nations pursue happiness. In our current globalized world, everyone's actions have far-ranging impacts. Sustainable Happiness reinforces the need to consider far-reaching social, environmental and economic consequences and can guide our daily actions and choices.

Every choice you make can be made through the lense of Sustainable Happiness. Do you enjoy chocolate? Sustainable Happiness can remind you to reflect on whether the positive emotion derived from the chocolate has come at the expense of other people or the natural environment. It provides you with a lense through which you can make decisions that contribute to your own happiness, as well as the happiness and well-being of others.

"Sustainable Happiness is happiness that contributes to individual, community, and/or global well-being, without exploiting other people, the environment or future generations." 
                                                (Elin Kelsey and Catherine O'Brien)

So..don't forget to take some time to reflect on happiness and to use Sustainable Happiness as your motivator for making your daily decisions. 


What makes you happy? Who would you choose if you had to interview the happiest person you know? What makes them happy? How do they approach happiness?

I'm going to end with a list of some things that make me happy :)

- Feeling the sun on the souls of my feet.
- Hugs and cuddling.
- Smelling flowers, plants, baked cookies, frying butter.
- Children laughing.
- Realizing when I suddenly have some unexpected free time.
- Hearing the rain pouring outside my window at night when I'm cozy in bed.
- Making someone else smile.
- Biking down 10th Ave under the trees.
- Dancing!
- Singing, especially with lots of voices.
- Painting.
- Bonfires.
- Great chats with good friends.
- Connecting with strangers.
- Enjoying delicious food with my family. 

I highly recommend making a list of your own!