Chirapon (Pete) WangwongwirojHappiness Initiative @ UM
AASHE ConferenceOctober 8, 2013
Enhancing Social Sustainability on Campus:Starting a Happiness Initiative in Your
Community
Happiness vs Age
19-2
4
25-2
9
30-3
4
35-3
9
40-4
4
45-4
9
50-5
4
55-5
9
60-6
4
65-6
970
& ove
r
6
6.2
6.4
6.6
6.8
7
7.2
7.4
7.6
6.16
6.44
6.62
6.44 6.43
6.27
6.47
6.7
6.98
7.39
7.22
Age Group
Ove
rall
Wel
l-Bei
ng S
core
Seattle (2011)USA (2008)
Wellness Wheel
The 10 Domains of Happiness
USA Survey Results - Overall
USA Survey Results – Age 19-24
USA Survey Results
• See more at: http://www.happycounts.org/grossnationalhappinessindex/
SocialSustainability
???
Affordability
Stress
Job Prospects
Physical Health
Relationships
Sustainability
Diversity
Time balance
Grades
Student loans
Mental Health
Homework
Elitism
Inequality
Apathy
Social justice
Learned Helplessness• Martin Seligman’s 1975 paper• “Learned helplessness is the condition of a human
or animal that has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant circumstances or by gaining positive rewards.” -- Seligman, M. E. P. (1975). Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.
• My experience in sustainability.• Sandra Steingraber: Well-informed futility
We are NOT helpless
Let’s forget about the word “sustainability.”
Let’s talk happiness.
Happiness Initiative @ U of M
• Discussion groups• Love• Relationships• Religion• Meaning
That didn’t work.
Happiness Initiative @ U of M, Version 2.0
• Interactive and activity-based discussion groups• Different people leading discussions• Mix in social events• Takeaways
• Gratitude journals• Random acts of kindness• Meditation• Physical activity
• Time balance + community vitality
• Pursuit of Happiness Day – April 13• Earth Day – April 22• Part of a national movement• April 2013 = MHappy Month!
• Most stressful month of the year
• A way to reach out to campus.
What Was It?Three main components:• Happy hours (a new kind)• Pre-exam stress relief/wellness• What Makes Life Worth Living Conference
• Support/PR for other events• www.mhappy.org/events
Happy Hour
• Happiness is not just about drinks and bars.• So much more than that.• Activities
• Yoga• Mediation• Speakers• Movie screenings• Stress relief
How did this happen?
• ~$6000 in funding• Be resourceful.• April = Towards end of fiscal year.
• Find your natural allies…
Natural Allies
How did this happen?
• ~$6000 in funding• Be resourceful• April = Towards end of fiscal year
• Find your natural allies• We HAVE wellness teams and sustainability teams.
• Breaking down “silos”• Support from The Happiness Initiative: http
://www.happycounts.org/toolkits/
Lessons Learned
• Know how you like to create change.• Follow your passion!• Seek allies. Ask for help.• Embody the message: Find your happy
journey.
Final thoughts
• Yes, we need second-order change.• We also need a new language.• We need…
• Positivity• Optimism• Hope• Love• Interconnection
My Inspiration
John de Graaf- Affluenza- Take Back Your
Time- What’s the
Economy for, Anyway?
Laura Musikanski, JD MBA- DoShorts: How to Account for
Sustainability - Sustainability
Decoded: How to Unlock Profit Through the Value Chain
THANK YOU!
Q&A
www.mhappy.orgwww.happycounts.orgChirapon (Pete) Wangwongwiroj
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