Sustainable Happiness

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


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?


“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


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 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

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.


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


“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.


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!


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


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 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.


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

Thank you!Thank you!

[email protected]

www.sustainablehappiness.cawww.sustainablehappiness.ca