How to Conduct a Happiness Initiative How to Conduct a Happiness Initiative & use the Gross National Happiness Index& use the Gross National Happiness IndexHappiness Initiative Leadership Training Part Two Happiness Initiative Leadership Training Part Two

Agenda for How To Conduct a Agenda for How To Conduct a Happiness Initiative and Use the Gross Happiness Initiative and Use the Gross National Happiness Index– Session National Happiness Index– Session Two of Happiness Initiative Leadership Two of Happiness Initiative Leadership Training:Training:

1) Presentation – 90 min 1) Presentation – 90 min 2) Break – 10 min2) Break – 10 min3) Exercise – 40 min 3) Exercise – 40 min 4) Discussion – 30 min 4) Discussion – 30 min

Ways to use the Gross National Happiness Index

Conduct a Happiness Initiative

OR

Tip:

start small

Using the GNH Index

We provide you a Unique URL

Using the GNH Index Survey

Using the GNH Index Survey

a few examples

The Happiness Initiative logo for you to use for your happiness initiative

Please keep your survey online indefinitely!

Allowing people continual access to a personal assessment of their own well-being is an important aspect of the happiness movement

DRAFT PRESS RELEASE This draft press release is provided as a suggestion only, and for your convenience. Each happiness initiative’s press release will be different based on the circumstances and needs of the community. Issue your press release 72 and 24 hours prior to your event, and early in the morning so the journalists, radio talk show host, TV reporters and area bloggers get it first thing when they get in. You will need to collect their contact information prior to issuing your press release. Your press release is only as good as your contact information.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Day, Month, Numerical day, Year(PROJECT NAME) HAPPINESS INITIATIVE LAUNCHES CONTACTSName, Title, Organization, Phone, EmailYOUR CITY OR TOWN NAME—Can you measure happiness? (Your Project Name) thinks so. In association with (List project partners), it is releasing the first comprehensive survey of happiness in this region, as part of the (Name of your project). Need Statement: Use a quote from a local leader here about the need for the project. Here is the quote we used. Note about quotes: The most efficient way to get quotes is to interview the candidate, then derive a quote from the interview that they then can edit. You are less likely to get the quote you need if you simply ask for a quote stating the need, etc. "You get what you measure," says Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien.  "For too long we've measured the wrong things—Gross Domestic Product doesn't tell us whether we have a good quality of life or a sustainable society.  This survey, which includes nine domains of well-being, not just income, is a good way to start measuring the important things we care about, so we can actually achieve them.”Project Description: Use a quote from your project lead or another person on your team. “We’re thrilled to take the lead in this exciting project,” adds (Project Lead). “We hope the (your area) Happiness Initiative leads to positive action for greater happiness, social justice, and both economic and environmental health.” The Gross National Happiness Index is now online at (your website). Anyone may take the survey and receive an immediate evaluation of personal well-being for each of the ten domains of happiness identified by international researchers: psychological well-being; physical health; time balance; work experience, education; cultural vitality and access; social connection; good government; environmental quality and access to nature; and material well-being . The survey takes a holistic approach to well-being and asks poignant questions that allow reflection and insight. Motivation Quote. You can use this one from the Happiness Initiative, or supply your own from a community member. “It takes about 12 minutes to complete,” says Laura Musikanski, Executive Director of the National Happiness Initiative. “But you’ll find it’s worth the time because it really makes you think about your life and how to improve it. It’s part of an exciting new effort to add quality of life and sustainability to our assessments of progress. It’s being used in many countries now, but this is the first opportunity for Americans to take the survey. The results will be useful to individuals, organizations and policy makers who want to base their efforts to increase well-being on solid science and comprehensive information.”Supporting Quote: This quote shows support from important organizations that are members of the team. “The survey is critical for all of our actions to promote happiness and compassion for everyone in our region,” adds Board Chairperson of (Name of an Organization) Name. “We are delighted to support this vitally important project.To learn more and get involved with (project name) email (email address) sign up for timely updates and information on Twitter, (twitter account) or sign up for our newsletter at (newsletter sign up link). And take the survey now at: Your WebsiteBOILERPLATE HERE- about your organization.  

Draft language for your press release here also, for you to cut, paste and adopt for your Happiness Initiative’s press release…

Results You will get the aggregate averages for your unique code within 7 days of a request

More data analysis: with a signed personal data confidentiality agreement by a researcher, statistician or similar person on your team, we provide the full data set.

a few words about…Objective Metrics

On gathering data for objective indicators Use indicators already in place if you can. e.g.

sustainability indicators, healthy community indicators, etc.

Fewer is better. About 11 if you can. Work with organizations already gathering the

data If no data is available for your region, note this

rather than excluding the indicator as the unavailability of data is informative

Step Two:Step Two:

-flickr account flickr account -webpage on your sitewebpage on your site-facebook page facebook page

Post the pictures online and Post the pictures online and invite people to view their invite people to view their picture picture

……and post videos onlineand post videos online

Step Four:Step Four:

hold a panel discussion, TEDx style event or hold a panel discussion, TEDx style event or world café style event world café style event shoot videos of the panelists and participantsshoot videos of the panelists and participantscreate artwork like a poster of all the post-itscreate artwork like a poster of all the post-its

Talk!Talk!

Awareness raising can elicit negative pressAwareness raising can elicit negative press Fly high – Issue a press release stating the purpose Fly high – Issue a press release stating the purpose of your project, linking it to the importance of of your project, linking it to the importance of happiness for government, and the current status of happiness for government, and the current status of society and the environmentsociety and the environment Write letters to the editor rather than directly to Write letters to the editor rather than directly to the reporter the reporter Camps you can’t win in: Fly higher. As much as they Camps you can’t win in: Fly higher. As much as they may try to incite, keep to your purpose. may try to incite, keep to your purpose.

A few words about negative pressA few words about negative press

Happy Actions

Above all Remember:

The Happiness Movement represents a big shift in thinking and being. It will take time. It’s important to take care of your own happiness. AND…

The Happiness Movement represents a big shift in thinking and being. It will take time. It’s important to take care of your own happiness. AND…

…start small

Questions, Comments, info@happycounts.org

Questions, Comments, Requests

Questions, Comments, Requests

email info@happycounts.org

email info@happycounts.org

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

You may use, adapt and copy all material here as long as you:- Give attribution to The Happiness Initiative and those attributed in this work-Do not use for commercial purposes - Share your work

To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.