Let’s talk about

Happiness

“Happiness is the meaning and the

purpose of life, the whole aim and end

of human existence.”- Aristotle

30 seconds

The Happiness Movement

Gross Domestic ProductGross Domestic Product

What GDP counts:+ goods and services sold + oil spills, natural and manmade

disasters+ illness and death+ divorce+ accidents

What GDP does not count:- time with friends & family- volunteering, participating

in democratic process - gardening, educating

yourself - walking for exercise

the sum of all good and services produced in a year

Does GDP make us happy?

GDP in the US has

more than tripled

since 1950s.

Adjusted per capita

GDP since 1960 has

doubled since 2010

Happiness has remained stagnant and even fallen

Easterlin Paradox40 year study of nations across the globe

Easterlin Paradox40 year study of nations across the globe

Between $35 - 75K for family of four, long and short term happiness increases a lot with more money.

After a salary of $75K, long term happiness increases are marginal or non-existent, short term increases in happiness do occur.

Sustainability

Healthy Ecosystems

Social Justice

Economic Fairness

Happiness &

Wellbeing

GDP

Economic Growth

Wealth Accumulatio

n

Stuff & Status

Kasser & Ryan, 1993 & Dittmar, Bond, Hurst & Kasser, 2014

Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product

Jigme Singye Wangchuk King of Bhutan 1972

Constitution60% natural habitat70% currently

Bhutan’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy of 2010 - environmentally friendly, sustainable businesses

Carbon Sink

Disband Armed ForcesDisband Armed ForcesForest CoverForest Cover

Social SecuritySocial SecuritySchoolsSchools

Carbon Neutral 2021Carbon Neutral 2021

Men 69Men 69

Women 73.4Women 73.4

LoveLoveCareCare

Relationships Relationships

Women 61Women 61

Men 68Men 68

PositivePositiveOptimismOptimism

CommunityCommunity

Women 60Women 60

Men 61.5Men 61.5

When it comes to what really When it comes to what really matters….balancematters….balance

Self

Others

Three things you can do for Three things you can do for your happiness today:your happiness today:

GratitudeGratitude

GivingGiving

CompassionCompassion

Dorm Dorm or or

Alone?Alone?

SWLSWLHappyHappy

ProductiveProductiveTime Time

BalanceBalance

6262 6363

Where Where Should Should

You You Live? Live?

How much of your happiness is your choice?

geneticsconditions

you

what is the purpose of your

life?

happycounts.org