sustainable happiness
DESCRIPTION
Catherine O'Brien's PPT on SH for EECOMTRANSCRIPT
Sustainable Happiness Sustainable Happiness and Health Educationand Health Education
Catherine O’Brien, PhDCatherine O’Brien, PhD
SchoolSchool of Graduate and Professional Studiesof Graduate and Professional Studies
EducationEducation Department, Cape Breton UniversityDepartment, Cape Breton University
UN Decade for Education and SDUN Decade for Education and SD
““There can be few more pressing and critical goals for There can be few more pressing and critical goals for
the future of humankind than to ensure steady the future of humankind than to ensure steady
improvement in the quality of life for this and future improvement in the quality of life for this and future
generations, in a way that respects our common heritage generations, in a way that respects our common heritage
- the planet we live on…- the planet we live on…
UN Decade of Education and Sustainable Development, 2005-2014UN Decade of Education and Sustainable Development, 2005-2014
UN Decade for Education and SDUN Decade for Education and SD
…….Education for sustainable development is a life-wide .Education for sustainable development is a life-wide
and lifelong endeavour which challenges individuals, and lifelong endeavour which challenges individuals,
institutions and societies to view tomorrow as a day that institutions and societies to view tomorrow as a day that
belongs to us all, or it will not belong to anyone.”belongs to us all, or it will not belong to anyone.”
UN Decade of Education and Sustainable Development, 2005-2014UN Decade of Education and Sustainable Development, 2005-2014
Sustainability and EducationSustainability and Education
““At current levels of unsustainable practice and At current levels of unsustainable practice and over consumption it could be concluded that over consumption it could be concluded that education is part of the problem. If education is education is part of the problem. If education is the solution then it requires a deeper critique the solution then it requires a deeper critique and a broader vision for the future.”and a broader vision for the future.”
UNESCO, 2005, p. 59UNESCO, 2005, p. 59
Mental Health and Well-BeingMental Health and Well-Being
It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode.
The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
Canadian Mental Health Association
Research on HappinessResearch on Happiness
New field of positive psychologyNew field of positive psychology
Study of positive emotions, positive traits and positive Study of positive emotions, positive traits and positive institutionsinstitutions
Focus on wellness and what help us to flourishFocus on wellness and what help us to flourish
Research on HappinessResearch on Happiness
What can we learn from happy people?What can we learn from happy people?
Can we increase happiness?Can we increase happiness?
Can we teach happiness?Can we teach happiness?
What are the benefits of happiness?What are the benefits of happiness?
Research on HappinessResearch on Happiness
“Happiness is the overall appreciation of one’s life-as-a-whole, in short, how much one likes the life one lives.” Veenhoven (2006)
Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
Happiness is a good indicator of health and Happiness is a good indicator of health and longevitylongevity
Positive well-being is also related to faster Positive well-being is also related to faster recovery from surgeryrecovery from surgery
Meditation, happiness and immune systemMeditation, happiness and immune system
Seligman, M. (2002) Authentic happinessSeligman, M. (2002) Authentic happinessDavidson, Positive Affective Styles: Perspective From Affective NeuroscienceDavidson, Positive Affective Styles: Perspective From Affective Neuroscience
Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
Happy people tend to seek out and act on Happy people tend to seek out and act on health informationhealth information
Positive mood has been shown to lower blood Positive mood has been shown to lower blood pressurepressure
Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, “Beyond Money”Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, “Beyond Money”
Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
Happiness has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease
Karina W. Davidson, Elizabeth Mostofsky and William Whang. Don't worry, be happy: Karina W. Davidson, Elizabeth Mostofsky and William Whang. Don't worry, be happy:
positive affect and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease: positive affect and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease:
The Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey. European Heart Journal, Feb 17, 2010The Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey. European Heart Journal, Feb 17, 2010
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Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
Happiness skills can be taughtHappiness skills can be taught
Seligman, M. “Can Happiness be Taught?”Seligman, M. “Can Happiness be Taught?”
Happiness and EnvironmentHappiness and Environment
Happy people tend to be less materialisticHappy people tend to be less materialistic
More empatheticMore empathetic
T. Kasser (2004) Materialism and its alternatives, in A Life Worth Living: Contributions to Positive Psychology
Happiness and EnvironmentHappiness and Environment
More likely to engage in ecologically beneficial More likely to engage in ecologically beneficial behaviour (cycling, recycling)behaviour (cycling, recycling)
Nature-relatedness linked to positive emotions Nature-relatedness linked to positive emotions and happinessand happiness
T. Kasser (2004) Materialism and its alternatives, in A Life Worth Living: Contributions to Positive Psychology
Nisbet, Zelenski, and Murphy. The Nature Relatedness Scale: Linking Individuals’ Connection with Nature, Environmental Concern, and Well-being
Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
“This finding that happiness adds to health opens new ways for health promotion, preventive public health care in particular. It implies that we can make people healthier by making them happier.”
Veenhoven, R. (2006) Healthy happiness: Effects of happiness Veenhoven, R. (2006) Healthy happiness: Effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care, on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care, of Happiness Studiesof Happiness Studies, 15-11,p.6., 15-11,p.6.
Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
We can make people healthier We can make people healthier
by making them happier.by making them happier.
Many implications for Many implications for students, teachers and schools!students, teachers and schools!
Happiness and HealthHappiness and Health
We can make people healthier by We can make people healthier by making them happier.making them happier.
Who/What is teaching us about happiness?Who/What is teaching us about happiness?
What are we learning?What are we learning?
Shop ‘til you drop?Shop ‘til you drop?
Designer fashions for our kids?Designer fashions for our kids?
Nature-Deficit Disorder?Nature-Deficit Disorder?
Social ComparisonSocial Comparison
Social ComparisonSocial Comparison
Supersize MeSupersize Me
HAPPINESS.HAPPINESS. STARTING AT $47,000.*STARTING AT $47,000.*
* Happiness guaranteed for day of purchase only* Happiness guaranteed for day of purchase only
1.
1.
Authentic HappinessAuthentic Happiness
Relationships with family and friendsRelationships with family and friends
““Being” in the momentBeing” in the moment
Feeling engaged with our work, or other Feeling engaged with our work, or other commitments (family, volunteer, etc)commitments (family, volunteer, etc)
Leading a meaningful lifeLeading a meaningful life
Research on HappinessResearch on Happiness
Can Money Buy Happiness?Can Money Buy Happiness?
Material wealth beyond a basic income level doesn’t Material wealth beyond a basic income level doesn’t contribute significantly to well-being and life contribute significantly to well-being and life satisfaction.satisfaction.
Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, “Beyond Money: Toward an Economy of Well-Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, “Beyond Money: Toward an Economy of Well-
Being”, Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2004.Being”, Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2004.
Happiness Happiness ≠≠ Over-Consumption Over-Consumption
Your Bliss ListYour Bliss List
1.
Sustainable HappinessSustainable Happiness
Positive psychology and sustainabilityPositive psychology and sustainability
Individuals may be pursuing happiness without Individuals may be pursuing happiness without awareness of ramificationsawareness of ramifications
Our pursuit of happiness is changing the world - Our pursuit of happiness is changing the world - not always for the betternot always for the better
Brings in concept of interconnectionBrings in concept of interconnection
Sustainable HappinessSustainable Happiness
““Sustainable happinessSustainable happiness is is happiness that contributes to happiness that contributes to individual, community and/or individual, community and/or global well-being and does not global well-being and does not exploit other people, the exploit other people, the environment or future environment or future generations.” (O’Brien)generations.” (O’Brien)
Day-to-Day Sustainable HappinessDay-to-Day Sustainable Happiness
Choices related to what we eat and drinkChoices related to what we eat and drink How we transport ourselvesHow we transport ourselves What we wearWhat we wear How we relate to one anotherHow we relate to one another
Sustainable Happiness Survey
Activity Before Course
Carpooling 5
Water Conservation 8
Expressing Appreciation
7
Composting 12
Fair Trade Products 7
Walking for short trips 12
Physical Exercise 12
Public Transit 2
Local Products 8
Where Products are Made
6
Reducing Consumption 8
Sustainable Happiness Survey
Activity Before Course One Year Later
Carpooling 5 9
Water Conservation 8 12
Expressing Appreciation
7 16
Composting 12 13
Fair Trade Products 7 10
Walking for short trips 12 13
Physical Exercise 12 14
Public Transit 2 4
Local Products 8 14
Where Products are Made
6 13
Reducing Consumption 8 16
Natural HighsNatural Highs
7. Hugs. 7. Hugs. 8. The first snow fall. 8. The first snow fall. 9. Playing in the ocean. 9. Playing in the ocean. 10. The smell of lilacs. 10. The smell of lilacs. 11. Hearing my favourite song.11. Hearing my favourite song.12. An unexpected text message.12. An unexpected text message.
1.
Natural HighsNatural Highs
1. The cold side of the pillow. 1. The cold side of the pillow. 2. Laughing so hard your face hurts. 2. Laughing so hard your face hurts. 3. A hot shower. 3. A hot shower. 4. No lines at the supermarket. 4. No lines at the supermarket. 5. A special glance. 5. A special glance. 6. Watching my daughter sleep.6. Watching my daughter sleep.
1.
Sustainable HappinessSustainable Happiness1.
Sustainable HappinessSustainable Happiness
Walking, cycling, active commutingWalking, cycling, active commuting
Sustainable Happiness!Sustainable Happiness!
Source: From the "Active and Safe Routes to School Manitoba Clean Air Day Poster Design Competition 2009,” Resource Conservation Manitoba
Children’s Mobility, Health & Happiness: A Children’s Mobility, Health & Happiness: A Canadian School Travel Planning ModelCanadian School Travel Planning Model
School Travel Planning in every province School Travel Planning in every province and territoryand territory
Influencing municipal and school Influencing municipal and school board/district policy and practiceboard/district policy and practice
Sustainable happiness and healthSustainable happiness and health
Sustainable Happiness and Health EducationSustainable Happiness and Health Education
Developed educational resource for K-6 that links sustainable happiness, with healthy, active lifestyles.
Crestview, ManitobaCrestview, Manitoba
"This resource is exactly what we have been looking for as it effectively and efficiently ties together a variety of sustainability concepts under one common theme. Your opening quote in the document 'Sustainable Happiness' summed up our efforts at Crestview School in such a ...simple and concise manner."
Kyle Lizotte, Grade 5 teacher, Manitoba