Wednesday, July 23, 2014

New Economy Coalition HackPad notes

Today one of the New Economy Coalition's project meetings happened - on hackpad. We met online, on the phone, 100% virtual to explore the questions:


When you think about what is essential to the success of the movements for Thriving Resilience and a New Economy, what key alignments have we established, what tensions need to be resolved, and what deeper inquiries must be undertaken? 

Mike Toye from Quebec, Canada identified the trend we are seeing in a new set of principles. He laid
out two sets (below).  The timing of the conversation was interesting for me - I had spent the better part of the night before talking with my better half about values, principles and their place in the happiness movement. We had discussed the evolution from "might makes right" to chivalry and then the golden rule, the stories that encapsulated these cultures, the timing of these stories, the common thread among them and where we are when follow that thread.  Our resolution from that conversation was to explore values, principles and the emerging story for the happiness movement, with a perspective of reverence for what is worthy of being celebrated in our past.

My personal belief is the more conversations we have like this at a personal and professional level, the more principles are issued, the more values are identified, the closer we are to the new economy - one based on happiness, social justice, sustainability and resilience for all beings.

The principles Mike identified:

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Money, Happiness and a New Economic Paradigm

Is our organization, the Happiness Alliance - home of the Happiness Initiative and Gross National Happiness Index - all about money? No.
But money helps. It seems paradoxical, hypocritical, a contradiction.
But it's not.

In fact, when we talk about a new economic paradigm, social change, sustainability and the happiness movement, we are not talking about replacing money. Money still matters. It is still the medium we use for exchange. It's just not the main thing we all focus on, use as a measure of our own self-worth, our organization's value, our countries success.  Instead we use the metric and goal of happiness (well-being), sustainability, resilience, and justice for all.

In the meantime, we live in the metric driven world where money, wealth and gross domestic product reign supreme. And in that world, there are ways to meet basic needs without money - thanks to the virtues of generosity, caring and collaboration. But we still need money. In fact, in a happiness driven world, we will also still need money - as a medium of exchange. We will just treat it differently in our hearts, in our society and in our lives.

This is all to say that we are running a fundraiser. We need money - donations - to fund the Yes, it's paradoxical. Yes, it's ironic, and yes, it's necessary. 
transformation from a money driven society to a wellbeing driven one.

So please give- give to the happiness movement.  There are three ways to give: to our Gross National Happiness Index, to fund important features dearly needed including a personal profile and automated group use of the GNH Index, and the Happiness Data Playbook.  Learn more here and give

Sunday, July 6, 2014

How Happy is LA? Mika Kim - Happiness Initiative Leader - tells us

Mika Kim, Happiness Initiative Leader and Chief Happiness Officer of PlaceoftheFuture.co  just issued the first Happiness Report for LA.




Learn More - Check it out here.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Meaghan Rodeck on How to Stay Connected when Off the Beaten Path

Find Happiness Off the Beaten Path? How to Maintain Balance With the Real World

We know happiness isn't about self-gratifying behavior, but sometimes, when we find our happiness off the beaten path, it can feel selfish because the people we love are often asked to come along or live with us being frequently (even persistently) out of touch.  

Whether your bliss is serving overseas in disaster relief, volunteering in the back countries of our National Parks or something else altogether, it's hard on the people left behind when they don't hear from you.
Though you may not have tons of time for conversational catch ups, it's important to let the people who love you know that you're still alive and well.
If you're outside the realm of reliable cell networks or the reach of the Internet, the most reliable option is a satellite phone. Companies like Iridium offer satellite phones as short term rentals or for sale if you spend enough time off the grid to need the hardware full time.
If your environment is at all dangerous, the importance of regularly checking in cannot be overstated. Help your loved ones have peace of mind, and prevent wasting resources sent on an unnecessary rescue mission because you failed to check in.
It's easy to check in via social media, email or text when you're using a fully charged smartphone on a reliable cell network. However, setting up a foolproof and satisfying communication plan without normal technology capabilities is a little more challenging.
Identify the people you'll be responsible for checking in with and how often they should expect to hear from you. Then, make sure they all know how to get in touch with each other if they don't hear from you when expected.
For your extended network—people you love and want to maintain contact with, but won't check in with regularly—you may want to consider a phone tree. That way, if there's ever news that needs to be shared with them (or with you) messages can flow through your network even when you don't have the time or battery power to connect directly.
Once you've sketched out your network and tree—and shared relevant contact information—it's time to think about the mechanics of keeping in touch. How will you keep your battery charged? If you're hiking in the backwoods, you won't be able to carry a lot of weight, but a BioLite camp stove or solar charger could help. If you're traveling internationally, you'll need reliable access to electricity and an appropriate power converter.
Don't forget to take the time difference into account! Find a way to schedule calls so you don't forget to make them. Many satellite phones don't have the creative features you've gotten used to with smartphones. Depending on your circumstance, you may be best served with an old fashioned pocket calendar and telephone book!
Though it may seem like a lot of hassle, the benefits of setting up a well-formed network and staying in touch while you're away from home will be worth it.

An article by Meaghan Rodeck is a professional freelance writer who loves music, coffee and fantastic shoes. With a degree in Theatre, Meaghan knows she has a tendency to be a tad dramatic from time to tim