A confusion of happiness

Since the UN meeting, Wellbeing and Happiness: Towards a New Economic Paradigm, things have been topsy turvy. Normally, I hate conferences. I do my talk, go to one or two sessions, and spend the rest of the time hiding in my hotel room, watching reruns of Dexter or Weeds.  But this conference was different. It was life-changing, revolutionary, and completely genuine and true.  I like to tell people that the main take-away was that compassion and altruism bring happiness, and compassion and altruism can be learned (no one has yet asked how to learn this… it's a cultural thing, I think), but really, I think the real main takeaway was living happiness.  This means integrity and honesty, as well as compassion and altruism. And it means that most important to altruism is not taking what is not freely given, or give what is not freely given.  

I doubt there is anyone on this planet who can say they are living completely and utterly according to their values, or at lease no one who lives “in the market place.”  But this is no excuse for not learning, trying and growing, not becoming more aware of one’s actions, and not holding oneself accountable.  And so, while the UN meeting allowed me to meet some extraordinary people, network with some amazing organizations and gain tremendous inspiration, the main take-away was to live to, by and for happiness and wellbeing.  And that is tough.  

On April 4, the conference ended, and I rushed off the airport onto a late subway. The sign said express, but it was not, and that ended up okay as I met a lovely woman and we talked for almost an hour about happiness, wellbeing, staff  management and change agentry. Then I took a very slow bus, where I helped two single mothers load a ton of groceries onto the bus as they lived in a food desert. I was saved by a delayed fight, which seemed insignificant but just lucky at the time, but now picks up more importance. 

I have been meeting, talking and working with people and organizations from the meeting. We have been gathering forces to spread the happiness and wellbeing movement. Most of the people I have spoken with have been changed by the conference.  

Today, as the month changes over, I look back on the changes in my life since the conference, and what comes to mind are the two women riding the bus with so many grocery bags and two children in tow. They lived on the other side of the airport where there were no grocery stores. The food they bought was devoid of fresh vegetables or organic fruits. The children snuck potato chips and drank coke. They joked with me about their need for utter cleanliness ( I joked back my daughter has that problem, but not me).  I thought about the project – the happiness initiative – and the conference and feel this deep longing for social justice. I remembered my mom bringing home government cheese, and while we did not live in a food desert, we lived in a home that did not have food the last half of the month, although my mom did her best.   This happiness thing is worthwhile – its important – as long as we keep it real, we keep it honest, we live with integrity to the work and to each other. This happiness thing is meaningful if and when it means that mothers like those I met on the bus do not have to travel uncomfortable miles to feed their children unhealthy food, but can go down the corner for a fresh, organic and affordable pear and carrot if they want.  It’s just real simple and honest stuff. 

Posted by Laura Musikanski, ED of HI

YES: The UN Embraces the Economics of Happiness

Repost from Online YES

The UN Embraces the Economics of Happiness

Leaders from around the world want well-being—not gross national product—to guide our economic decisions.

Denmark and other Scandinavian countries—which boast, among other things, strong social safety nets, shorter-than-average work weeks, and high rates of non-motorized transit—frequently top lists of the world's happiest countries.

Imagine you open the paper tomorrow, and the headlines are not about the “sluggish economy,” but our nation’s quality of life. You turn to the business section, and find not just information about a certain company’s profitability, but also about its impact on community health and employee well-being.

Imagine, in short, a world where the metric that guides our decisions is not money, but happiness.

That is the future that 650 political, academic, and civic leaders from around the world came together to promote on April 2, 2012. Encouraged by the government of Bhutan, the United Nations held a High Level Meeting for Wellbeing and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm. The meeting marks the launch of a global movement to shift our focus away from measuring and promoting economic growth as a goal in its own right, and toward the goal of measuring—and increasing—human happiness and quality of life.

Not just for dreamers

Some may say these 650 world leaders are dreamers, but they are the sort that can make dreams come true. The meeting began with an address by Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley of Bhutan, where the government tracks the nation’s “Gross National Happiness”:

The time has come for global action to build a new world economic system that is no longer based on the illusion that limitless growth is possible on our precious and finite planet or that endless material gain promotes well-being. Instead, it will be a system that promotes harmony and respect for nature and for each other; that respects our ancient wisdom traditions and protects our most vulnerable people as our own family, and that gives us time to live and enjoy our lives and to appreciate rather than destroy our world. It will be an economic system, in short, that is fully sustainable and that is rooted in true, abiding well-being and happiness.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cited Aristotle and Buddha in calling for the replacement of our current economic system with one based on happiness, well-being, and compassion. “Social, economic, and environmental well-being are indivisible” he said.

A History of Happiness
We've forgotten a lot of what we used to know about happiness.

President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica followed with a keynote speech that provided an explanation of why her country is one of the worlds most eco-friendly and happy nations, despite its relative poverty. Decades ago, Costa Rica eliminated its army, prioritizing spending on a strong education program, support for social security, and the protection of national parks that spur tourism.

From Finland to France, Israel to India, speakers of parliament, ministers of the environment, and other high-level officials followed with brief speeches about the need for a new economic paradigm to replace the current economy. The afternoon featured Vandana Shiva, Martin Seligman, John Helliwell, Lord Richard Layard, Jeffrey Sachs and other luminaries.

Helliwell, Layard and Sachs introduced the World Happiness Report, a study they prepared for the conference. The report found that money and economic growth have a relatively weak correlation to happiness; happiness is much more strongly associated with things like community engagement, having lots of friends, doing work you love, and feeling a sense of trust in others. Altruism, too, is essential; a world that makes equity, care, and compassion more possible will be a happier world. As the authors write:

The realities of poverty, anxiety, environmental degradation, and unhappiness in the midst of great plenty should not be regarded as mere curiosities. They require our urgent attention, and especially so at this juncture in human history. …if we act wisely, we can protect the Earth while raising quality of life broadly around the world. We can do this by adopting lifestyles and technologies that improve happiness (or life satisfaction) while reducing human damage to the environment.

Over the next two days, more than 200 people stayed to participate in working groups to discuss turning global happiness metrics into a reality. They presented their recommendations on the third day. These included plans for an inclusive movement, forging communication material for all audiences, collaborative development of the metrics for happiness, the formation of a UN happiness commission, and the inclusion of happiness and well-being as a UN Millennium Development Goal.

The meeting ended with a presentation by Susan Andrews, who is developing a metric for measuring well-being in Brazil. Brazilian youth, she explained, had been trained to conduct happiness surveys and taught to practice altruism and compassion. Neighbors had at first rejected the youth, but later embraced their efforts to measure the happiness of their community. The project culminated in the creation of community-based activities that are changing neighborhoods for the better.

Progress in the United States

Noticeably absent from the meeting were high-level officials from the United States. But that does not mean that nothing is happening here.

The Department of Housing and Human Services has convened a panel of experts in psychology and economics to figure out ways to reliably measure subjective well-being—a move toward government tracking and analysys of happiness statistics.

But some cities are beating HHS to the punch, using a survey developed by The Happiness Initiative, a U.S.-based nonprofit, which offers a subjective metric for happiness that can be used at a personal or community level.

In Nevada City, California, the city council is using the happiness index to gather data about people’s needs and preferences for a land development decision. In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the city government is working with a local chamber of commerce, state university, boys and girls club, library, and other organizations to gather data and convene town meetings where residents can discuss ways to promote quality of life.

The time has come for global action to build a new world economic system that is no longer based on the illusion that limitless growth is possible on our precious and finite planet.

In Seattle, Wash., more than 2,500 people have taken the survey, providing data for a city report card—including many members of the city’s Oromo, Somali, Filipino, and Vietnamese communities, thanks to local immigrant organizations working to measure the well-being of their people. The results, they hope, will help the city think more strategically about promoting social justice; the community organizations are also using them to identify and ameliorate problems within immigrant populations. Vietnamese youth, for example, scored low on sense of community and trust in government, so the Vietnamese Friendship Association (VFA) helped them host a “Spring Off,” bringing people together to make spring rolls—but also to reduce isolation and create a feeling of empowerment.

“The project was wonderful in the context of working with our youth council,” says James Hong , Director of Youth and Community Engagement for VFA. It gave them the opportunity to get them involved at every level, which is rare. They were able to conduct the survey, reflect upon the results, decide on a project and then coordinate it all themselves. We want to continue using this model for youth council. There was so much learning and it was all very valuable.”

Nationally, more than 40,000 people have taken the happiness survey and received their own personal assessments of well-being. One woman, a New Yorker, said, “I thought my life was going pretty well. After all, I make a lot of money. But after taking the survey, I saw my low scores in community and culture, and this led me to think about what really matters to me.”

The global happiness movement may seem like a dream today, but it is a dream that is becoming reality.

Laura Musikanski wrote this article for YES! Magazine, a national, nonprofit media organization that fuses powerful ideas with practical actions. Laura is co-founder and director of the Happiness Initiative and the former director of Sustainable Seattle. She is a lawyer with an MBA and certificates in Environmental Management and Environmental Law and Regulations from the University of Washington.

Susan Andrews

Susan Andrews is, as the Prime Minister of Bhutan says, the ambassador of Gross National Happiness in Brazil. Her life changed 20 years ago when the Prime Minister asked "Why is Bhutan the only country pursuing Gross National Happiness when happiness is the ultimate goal of all people."

She showed us her work in Brazil to bring to there communities of trust that focus on the goal of sustainable development. The mayor of a city near San Paulo is using GNH to engage and enhance his city. Compassion and wellbeing are part of the curricula schools. Children learn the art of clowning as "doctors of joy." Children learn to bring joy and love to thier parents. The youth surveyed neighbors on the domains of happiness, then coordinated neighborhood town meetings to discuss the results and make changes in their community. They were trained in conducting survey, and able to conduce a random sample with 5% accuracy. With professionals, they coordinate a town meeting based on the world cafe model. The community became aware of where there was need for basic healthcare, and took action. They saw where single mothers could use support, and gave it. Local government and businesses saw where they could work together to better serve people's needs. Communities became stronger and kids disengaged from school got interested and involved. The kids got healthier, more idealistic and happier. Hopefully, as adults, learning becomes a life-long activity.  

Susan finished by defining power: the ability to influence other - by a carrot or stick. But now, its changed. Its the ability to attract. Not whose army wins but whose story ends. With happiness, we have the best story - its not only a story of a new economy, of sustainability, but a story of the heart.

What’s happening at the UN this afternoon?

It is late in the afternoon for a conference, but still many people are here. The Prime Minister opens with a moment of silence then a gentle joke about sleepiness. Each group met to make commitments. The Prime Minister asks for thoughts and ideas – but only processed thoughts meaning they come via the group leader or other person appointed – within 10 days, so by April 14. These thoughts are to be finalized by the second week of May and this report will be submitted to the Secretary General with copies to all. The Prime Minister will forward the 12 policy recommendations to each head of state in the world, even calling some on the phone.

The reports:

Expert Group
The scientists and academics decided to focused on formation of a commission and what its goals would be. Perhaps it would be called the Global Wellbeing and Happiness commission. It would facilitates this great transition to a new economic paradigm where happiness and well-being are the focus. The commission would produce documents, recommend proposals for action, employ the new communications technologies and take action to make this activity more broadly participatory. Some models mentioned were the New Iceland Constitution in which participatory democracy is embedded; Wiki-style peer reviewed encyclopedia such as Encyclopedia of Earth in which there is also attribution, funding through

Communications Group
This group decided to gather information and create a space on the website with calendar, blogging, subscription only, create materials and other resources. They are writing a press release to get it out in at least 12 languages and release that this evening. They are putting together a global press release. For internal communication, they are creating a network so there is a way to keep in touch. They are putting together a package for Rio +20 based on the findings of the expert group. They are putting together a global press release.

Civic Group
My group again! Coyote is the UN person who gifted us with his presence. He reported our recommendations and pledges. There is an absolute need for an open source communication or portal, so we can all communicate and read responses. We recommended more reflection on the process, and that Bhutan continues championing the movement. We felt a clear need to broaden the constituencies and composed a broad letter of outreach for everyone. Civil society groups are very diverse, and we felt we are not one of the 9 groups of agenda 21, but instead “yeast” to reach out and “grow the loaf” so all can enjoy a communion of subjects and not a group of objects. We desire to create a inclusive diverse membership. We gave great thanks for the opportunity for this event.

Spiritual Community Group
We reflected on the small representation of the traditional and non-traditional faiths. The desire is to embrace and include every faith-based group including humanistic faiths, atheists and agnostics. We all pledged to help outreach by reaching out to all our networks – regardless of basis of faith. In our group, each gave their contacts.

Planning Group
The planning group highlighted the process and how much in these three days the process has been broad, inclusive and learning demonstrates a process that works. This process needs to be reflected in the other groups and in the reports. We must fine a way to ensure the reports are as broad and inclusive as possible. The planning group intends to continue to plan with a committee of 5 that plans to continue to work for the next 18 months. The planning group committed to a workshop for Rio +20 to discuss resiliency- a people's summit; to work with the G20; Clinton Global Initiative; the Corporate Sustainability Forum; the Council on Wellbeing; The UN General Assembly and UN Quadrennial Comprehensive Review; Local Government, Education and Families. They will develop a methodology for civil society and businesses based on experts recommendations.

They made recommendation for youth engagement based on collaborative participatory decision making and engagement with youth at the university and campus level.

Major points from the planning group:
Continue support local economies
Continue to be inclusive on a local platform
Utilization of a rights based approach that empowers women

The Prime Minister concluded with words of love and thoughtfulness about this sustainable, holistic movement and the effort that it will take. Here are bits for what he said "People resist change, even when it is unsustainable and self-destructive, even when they know they are in pain and suffering. THis is the difficulty we face. People today acknowledge and accept change is necessary, but the willingness is not here. It will be difficult. We started with a bang, from the fringes to the established. We had leaders from key countries, but this is not the end, this is only the beginning. We must prepare for many disappointments, many frustrations. What is important is that we should not be deterred. We have to continue with the kind of commitment and dedication and devotion. The sacrifice we make is worthwhile, will be worthwhile, and if we continue with this spirit, it will be a big success. Do not think the success will be at the Rio 20+. We are proposing a total paradigm shift. Yet ridged systems are being proposed. I am not sure how much our ideas can be inserted into Rio 20+, but I will represent these ideas as accurately as I can. " The Prime Minister asked for a slot at Rio 20+ when people are listening - not asleep - when the timing is prominent. He promised to do his best to ensure the UN general assembly will continue discussing GNH.

"You gave me a mandate to appoint a commission. The commission we will establish will comprise the most eminent of scholars and who are committed to the advancement of our goal. However, there might be a bit of a delay in the establishment of this commission. I shall work with the UN to see how this commission can be co-owned by the UN and perhaps function under the auspices of the UN system."

"You came here to be a part of this process and now have a responsibility to be a part of the process." The Prime Minister established a Secretariat of several people who helped make the conference happen. He designated all of us as members of the secretariat.

"We worked hard, you worked hard, over 3 days, perhaps more. It has been a very satisfying endeavor so far. The media has been supportive. I believe a majority of the people around the world are aware of this effort and contemplating he soundness of the present way of life and the need for a different way of life. A way of life that is more meaningful, more just, that will lead us to what each of us desires in life as an ultimate goal: happiness."

Spirit in Happiness

Noon and we head back into our work groups. Mine includes the spiritual leaders. We sit around a large wood table in a circle, and start organizing the few hours we have left. With such huge momentum built, and so much to do, two more hours together is beyond frustrating. The spiritual leaders bring calm. We talk in specifics about how to bring forward this movement in the spiritual community.

It is good to focus on something tangible and complete something, even if just a small task, when you are trying to change the world.

In my post earlier today, I mentioned a statement by the spiritual leaders. It is here:

Spiritual Leaders’ Statement for Suggested Inclusion in Policy RecommendationsHigh Level Meeting on Wellbeing and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm, April 2-5, 2012, United Nations Headquarters

As leaders representing various spiritual traditions, we believe that in the new economic paradigm, the role of spiritual traditions is to preserve and transmit to future generations the wisdom and love inherent in their own religious heritages, and the knowledge that the world is one community, interconnected and interdependent. The new economic paradigm is based upon compassion, altruism, balance, and peace, and dedicated to the well-being, happiness, dignity, and sacredness of all forms of life. Because external economic realities mirror internal psychological and spiritual realities, participants in the new paradigm pledge themselves to ethical conduct, reflecting and holding them- selves to the highest level of integrity and virtue, increasing their sharing and dedication to others, and resilience in the face of challenges. Because economics is based upon relationships, in the new paradigm, relationships are characterized by active service, justice, and cherishing the dignity of other's lives. We commit ourselves to thus nurturing the new economic paradigm personally and collectively in our own faith communities. May the new paradigm swiftly blossom throughout the world for the benefit of all those alive today and future generations yet unborn.

What’s happening at the UN today?

Today is day three of the Wellbeing and Happiness: Towards a New Economic Paradigm conference at the United Nations. We spent the first day building momentum with speech after speech by world leaders (presidents, prime ministers…)

Day two we went into breakout sessions. Today all three groups presented their work to the Prime Minister. But before we began, we all spent two moments in silence. Two brief moments of eternity.

Experts Group
The experts group was composed of academics and scientists. They reviewed the 12 recommended global policies and then agreed that a new goal is need, as per Dana Meadows suggestion In Limits to Growth. Bob Costanza presented their findings in graphics with the pillars of Well-being and Happiness, Ecology, Fairness and Efficient Use of Resources overlaid by natural, social, economic and personal environment. They saw four needed strategies: (1) a complex systems-based approach, (2) trans-disciplinary (beyond interdisciplinary), (3) adaptive management, and (4) participatory, solutions focused. They called for working groups to focus on (a)definitions and measurements, (b) Complex systems, (c) Institutions and Governance, (d) Financial systems, (e) GNH Enterprise, and (f) Education for altruism and compassion. A man who works at the UN cited the UN Resolution on Happiness 65/309: and suggested the committees for development policy and quadrennial policy review are a good place for the work of the suggested groups to start. John Helliwell gave deep thanks, and talked of last year when the UN assembly broke into applause when the Prime Minister introduced the ides of happiness and well-being to the UN. Someone suggested that happiness become one of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

During the Q&A, one of the religious leaders challenged the science-based approach, stating we need a heart-spirit based movement. Bob agreed that we need a different approach within science, but that all the fields are needed.

Communications Group
The group identified three categories for their strategy: (1) Presenting a business case of the New Economic Paradigm, (2) Creating a communications roadmap and (3) use of Information Technology. For the business case, they talked about core components: Justice: Economic Social and Environmental, Survival of the Planet, Profitability of Business; and Personal well-being, health and happiness. For the road map they talked about the need to design, identify, create and disseminate effective communication. They identified the aspects of a Framework: Values, Target Audience, Message framing, Channels and Structures/Resources.

They identified some talking points:

• UN Resolution on Happiness
• Happiness and wellbeing dovetails with your mission
• Give examples of what you plan to do
• Examples from elsewhere
• Each country defines happiness and well-being for itself
• Sustainability is a part of happiness and well-being
• Happiness and well-being is good for PR, who can object to this goal??
• Happiness and well-being leverages citizen action
• Promote local initiatives and improvements
• Participation improves happiness
• "If you are associated with this, you will look good"

The communications team called on a permanent secretarial that would oversee technical teams, communications and dissemination. They talked about a resting place for all the content out there: from social media to marketing and advertising campaigns. One comment was the need for un-branding the movement so it is not owned by any one or group of organization and thus more accesible. There was dissension with the idea of a business case - which is to make money, and the need for a moral case - because more than just money is at stake, but the future of the planet and people. One of the religious leaders asked what the impact of those who do not want a new economic paradigm will be.

Civic Group
This is the groups I was in. It was a rockin' day. We were supposed to plan a global movement to implement gross national happiness. Hunter Lovins presented to the group. We created a charter for the work : We as inhabitants of an interdependent global system... Three things to do: (1) Create a secretariat (just like the communications group said). (2) Create a Happiness Bank that is outside the debt based system which would fund projects outside the economic paradigm and raise 7B dollars, one dolar for each person on earth, then put place a board of elders from around the world. Lots of other plans for the bank were laid. (3) Conduct outreach to the world will, which includes building a new accounting system, using new indicators, transforming education, offering tangible toolkits, providing a databases of known solutions and many many other strategies. To get this work done, a shift in values is needed. A shift from the consumption society, a shift away from the goal of economic growth, a shift towards compassion and altruism.

World Religious Leaders Group
Our group had a subgroup of world religious leaders. They began their synopsis with a chant by a monk from Bhutan. In English it is: happiness, compassion, joy, equanimity, They spoke of the need for deepening and strengthen altruism and compassion. They called on a 1% campaign in which all people give 1% of their time and 1% of their money to a charity. They asked that all happiness meetings to open with a moment of silence. They crafted a statement which they all signed but I caught just a little bit: "As leaders representing various spiritual traditions, we believe that in the new economic paradigm, the role of spiritual traditions is to preserve and transmit to future generations the wisdom and love in their own religion, heritage... The new economic paradigm is based on compassion, altruism, balance, peace.... A pledge to ethical conduct..."

Planning Group
They all agreed that process is as important at the product. They identified the major conferences of initiatives coming up in the next 18 most. They looked to Occupy as an important player. They identified who in what group would conduct face to face meetings with people at RIon +20. They recommended a local strategy with local action. They decided they needed to offer a tool-box of established best practices. The importance of including and harnessing the power of youth was highlighted. Money and capacity building must be a part of the planning and strategy. They created a press release for the movement. During the planning group's Q&A, a woman asked: How will we know when we are successful. The outcomes need to be developed so they are adaptive.

Yesterday at our working group we closed with a blessing by each, all of us holding hands and each leader saying a prayer then a short song. Today the session was closed with a intergenerational blessing by Rabbi Soetendorp.

This is a synopsis of the work of over 200 people who stayed after the first day, when there were over 650 people. Each of these people are amazing, highly qualified leaders in their field. The work we did yesterday to lay the groundwork for a global movement was powerful, and the world needs us to take action now.

My day at the United Nations

My day at the UN was… spectacular, under-whelming, over-brimming, predictable- a paradox. The Prime Minister of Bhutan talked of a new dawn, the President of Costa Rica talked of the connection between society and the environment (imagine that education and a robust social policy is linked to preservation of the environment...), Vandana Shiva talked about local food systems, and the list goes on: Seligman, Jeffery Sacks, John Helliwell, Enrico Giovanni, Lord Layard, Secretary General Moon of the UN….. and these are only a few of those who spoke…. yet those listening could have filled an agenda in themselves.

Well, my day at the UN was overwhelming. Here is what happens: you enter the gate like anyone. You do through a screening like at the airport but you do not have to take off your shoes. You then walk through the main hall (with an exhibit about women and development – but through the day you notice how few women were speaking); you walk a windy path to a annex, and then find your way to a conference room – one among many. There is guard there with a tremendously watchful eye and deep deep circles under both eyes. Exceptions make him unhappy ( I am one, and so he is not happy) . You get in by the skin of your teeth because a place is reserved for you, and now you are sitting in a quite comfortable seat with headphones in front of you and a keypad so you can listen to the speaker in any language in an excessively pleasant voice.

And you listen. And listen. And listen: to world luminaries, to Noble Peace prize winners, to presidents, ministers. But even then, what do you do? I am just a person – no expert, no politician, no world leaders, no Ph. D., Nobel Peace prize winner; but I am there, in the U.N, and so, this must mean something. What to do?

I do now know, but for now it feels like the answer is to stay the course, but to do so in a way that walks the talk – this means no more sacrifice for the benefit of others; this means take only what is freely given, give only freely, this means practice compassion and mindfulness. Doesn't it?

Momsrising re-post by the Happiness Initiative

Just posted for the first time to Momsrising.

Here it is:

I just want her to be happy

Posted March 25th, 2012 by Laura Musikanski

I remember the moment I became a mother. It was like lightening and thunder inside my body, and then, suddenly and unexpectedly, a delightful soft and smooth swoosh. And there she was.

Like every mother, I wanted my child to be happy. That was 24 years ago, and instinctively, I knew that happiness was more than just a feeling, but I was not entirely clear what else it was.

The Ecological Footprint for USA from the Global Footprint Network

I did know it had something to do with our tie to the planet. It seemed so unfair to me that the ecological footprint of the average American was seven times greater than most of the rest of the world. That was why I decided to have only one child. Today -24 years later- we Americans are still using more natural resources than any other nation in the world and Mother Nature is running out of her supply.

Gross Domestic Product for USA from The World Bank

When my daughter was born, in 1988, the average American income was about $33,400 (adjusted for inflation). By the time she was 20, nothing had changed- except for the richest 1%; their income had risen by 33%. However, the gross domestic product (sum of all goods and services produced in a year) has increased almost three fold, from 5 billion in 1988 to 14.6 billion in 2010. When she graduated from college, unemployment rates were up from 7% to 9.6% and today, my daughter, a dean’s medalist, can’t find a job so she volunteers to create the job experience she needs. She volunteers long hours, and more often than not, she is sleep deprived. When I see her, I just want to hold her and sing her to sleep like when she was a baby. She has no health care, no dream of a secure future. She is not alone.

I still want my daughter to be happy. The difference between then and now is that I have a clear idea of what I mean, and today, I am doing all I can to help change the future so she, and all our children, can be really happy.

I am the executive director of a project called the Happiness Initiative. We are working on the transformation of a world run by money and greed to one based on true happiness. Now that my daughter is full grown, this is my life’s work. It’s also, in a way, the fulfillment of who I am as a mother

So what does it mean to be happy? I want my daughter to live in a world where she is not faced with the choice of taking a vow of poverty to follow her dream or compromising her soul to make ends meet. I want her to know that the food she is eating will not expose her to increased rates of cancer. I want her to be able to go to a doctor or dentist whenever she needs it, and not have to worry that she can’t afford it. I want her to live in a world where she can truly fulfill her potential. That is why I had her, and what I raised her to do.

But that is not the way the world is right not. The Happiness Initiative is part of a movement to change all that. We are bringing a new measure for our governments, businesses, campuses and our own lives to guide us towards real happiness – well-being, quality of life and sustainability. It starts with a simple self-assessment of your own well-being; a survey you cantake here. Our project is based on the Gross National Happiness Movement started by Bhutan. On April 2^nd, we will be joining other people and organizations from around the world at the United Nations headquarters in New York for a conference held by the UN and Bhutan to create a new world system for our planet’s wellbeing. This is exciting, but not as exciting as the idea of a future where happiness – real happiness- is possible for your child, and mine.

This is the first of a series of posts I intend to write for Momsrising about my journey as a mother and grandmother in the role of executive director of the happiness initiative. In the next post, I intend to explain more about how the Happiness Initiative can make a difference. In the meantime, I ask you- what do you really mean when you say you just want your child to be happy?

Read more: http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=16885#ixzz1qB1eb2m0

The frst National Happiness Report Card

Today was one of those grey Seattle days when it feels like the sun never has and never will come out. The rain fell in different shades –from pouring wet to those spring showers that seem to be falling upwards so they get you completely wet. It was one of those days when you have to make your own sunshine if you want to feel good. It was one of those days when you just want to stay inside all day.

Today I spent my time preparing the first National happiness report card with subjective and objective data. Here it is:

It took a really long time to get to this point- about 2 years. And as of yet, we only have the basic data, no in-depth analysis, so we rolled this out quietly, Later, when we have deeper analysis, we will generate some media, but for now – it's a quiet milestone, but one that brought a little sunshine into my day, and one that I hope leads to many more.

Personal Happiness

Happiness beings and starts at the personal level. If we were all really happy –meaning wellbeing was something we all enjoyed; quality of life was high enough for all of us; and sustainability – a holistic definition of sustainability – was in effect – we would not be doing the damage we do to our environment, society, economy and personal lives.

Today I finished “phase one” of personal happiness on the website. It took a while, but for each domain there are ideas that people can take to enhance their happiness. If everyone did each thing, we still would not have a sustainable world, equitable quality of life, wellbeing for all. Furthermore, neither myself nor the people I work with are experts in personal happiness. So, in a way, this work is for naught. But then, something has to be done.

The plan is to now take the personal action ideas to our advisory committee and continue to develop them. At the same time, develop educational resources for each domain-preferably in the form of short vids outlining the substantial educational resources we already have and develop partnerships with organizations that have expertise so people have a reliable go-to for each domain.

Over 16,000 people have taken the happiness initiative survey, and this without a concerted effort to get people to take it. We hope many more take it in the next year. And when people take it, feedback we regularly get is “what next?”

So today, I put the first foot forward to answer that question. All that said, the most important thing I keep in mind, is that people inherently know how to be happy We just have to clear away all the confusion.

Laura Musikanski. ED of HI

Packets

Today was one of those days when a little work goes a long way. John wants to do happiness initiative packages for cities, but we can’t do that without random sample surveys. So today, I put together the pricing for a package, talked with a survey provider, talked with our expert in random sample surveying, Ryan (who is awesome BTW), and set things in motion so we can offer packages, but more importantly, get happiness initiates going in cities where dependable science based data is part of the project.

You know when you are on the edge of the high dive, and that feeling of whether to go for it or turn back comes one? Well, I think there are a series of those feelings in life, and as much as we can have them, we know we are on the right track. I always chose to jump – even if not to dive.

Yesterday I wrote about releasing success. Part of that is just doing things – but doing things wisely. And that requires, among other things, partnership. Partnership at the deepest level is giving away power, control and sharing. Today was the first step in such partnership. With Ryan, who would control the random sample surveys in a happiness initiative survey for a city, town or rural community, partnership with a service provider that would gather survey responses, but more importantly, partnership with a part of myself that never trusts anyone deeply.

Releasing success

I met Swapan in Hungary. He had lead a demonstration of thousands in the streets of New Delhi protesting corruption. We had both been awarded Donella Meadows fellowships and flown to Balatonszemes, on the shored of the giant lake Balaton. We spent a lot of time talking about social activism, and swapping wisdom and jokes. He can say things in just the right way makes total sense to me.

Tonight we skyped - to get caught up on the work we are both doing. He told me about his latest projects – developing a forest protection project in the heart of the most biodiverse land in India, working with Bhutan officials on ecosystem valuation, and mediating the largest carbon trade to date in his country. I told him about the latest on the happiness initiative, and expressed my concern about low barriers to entry in spite of being first to market.

There is a burst of movement right now in the Gross National Happiness (GNH) field. A conference I long to go to is being coordinated in NYC, where officials from the UN and Bhutan will come together to discuss GNH, and prepare for a summit in Rio. We received an invitation to a conference about designing a new economic operating system - verbiage we use in our grant applications. “We should be on the agenda!” I tell him “not invited to attend!!” My heart tightens. Fear comes up – “what if all this work is for nothing” I tell (not ask) Swapan. “What if another organization, well funded, decides to do the work we are doing, and just takes it and runs us out of the court?”

“Then you will be a success!” Swapan answers. “After all, this is one of the signs of success – and the aim of every non profit is to no longer be needed, right?”

It takes a moment to soak in, but yes, it will be okay. I’ve been grappling with this fear for a while now, and usually the response from ohers is not to worry, no one would do that, no other nonprofit would do that, or that being first to market in this field is enough to keep the leadership position. I doubt that, and would be happy to be wrong.

After talking to Swapan, I think this bigger view is a better perspective. I decide to expand my definition of success for this project.

Laura Musikanski - ED of HI

spreading happiness

Today was full of telephone conversations spiked with follow up emails. With my ear hurting and my tongue talked off, I had one last call to make. It was minutes before 5 pm - the polite time to end business calls - when I pushed in the numbers.

Dave had contacted us almost a month ago to tell us he had coordinated a kick-off meeting in his town to spread the word about the happiness initiative. We had been exchanging erratic emails, and each time I made that to-do list, having a conversation with Dave came on the list, and did not get crossed off. Today I finally had the time to give him a call.

He said he had run into the Happiness Initiative when doing a web search for issues related to Israel and Palestine, and had decided to bring the idea to his area. I told him about the tool-kits, oriented him to the presentation John and I give that is now one of the “tools” in the toolkit, and a link to the videotape of a few talks we have given.

My day began with a long talk to a woman from Earth Institute coordinating a conference in NYC about the happiness movement. They plan to bring together leaders from the United Nations with leaders from Bhutan in preparation for a summit in Rio de Janeiro. I told her about our work, and how it is inspired by Bhutan, and how we are the only organization in the US offering anybody tools, resources and education to measure and manage the happiness (or rather, conditions of happiness/wellbeing/quality of life/sustainability). I asked her if we could attend the conference, because it would be really good for those who attend to know about what we are doing. It was a hard sell – not one of those conversations that leaves one feeling that hopeful. But the day ended with talking to Dave. And this felt really good. This project is designed to empower people so they can take the measuring of the wellbeing of their community into their own hands, and gather the data they need to work with policy makers to make meaningful changes. I believe that if we can make a difference, it’s going to be from the ground up. It would be nice for the officials from the UN and Bhutan to know about us, but its even better to be able to work with people like Dave.

Laura Musikanski- ED of HI

Happiness, Work and Rest

I still feel guilty for taking a weekend off from work – and my work is not even paid. This puritanical American history combined with the fury of capitalism had cast us into a culture where work reigns supreme. It is the be-all and end-all, the answer for everything. While I was in the law/MBA program, a single mom, as well as the sole supporter of my child, a weekend off was not even a remote possibility. I remember the first time I did not work for a weekend after “getting out” and the deep feeling of guilt that followed. It has lessened over the years, but not by much.

Intellectually, I know the best thing for work is to take time off. Yet, I expect myself to be a work-horse until the last minute of life. When I was young, I believed my main virtue was that I always worked hard. Now I know I am more than just a worker, but still; some part of that sentiment remains.

I took the day off today. I spent the morning dozing and thinking about dreams, and then lazily went about my morning exercise routine. All the while keeping thoughts of work at bay. The to-do list generated in my head and I kept pushing it aside, though I never really forgot.

It did not make me happy to try to forget, and it does not make me happy to be working on a weekend. I am caught in this paradigm of work and work – where rest is something you do when you die. Just like so many others in the “developed” and “developing” nations, and if our current system has its way, like everybody on this planet.

Do we want this? Do we want a world where work reigns supreme? Where being a hard worker is what defines us? I do not, but really, I do not know how to escape this way of thinking. It will take a rethinking in our society to understand that work is not the be-all and end-all, and I hope that the work I am doing will help make this happen – for future generations, and maybe even for ours. In the meantime, its Sunday night – time for rest.

Laura Musikanski, ED of HI

"I just want her to be happy"

With relief I hit the send button on an article written with Richard Conlin, a Seattle City Council member. It’s been over two months of writing and rewriting, review and rewriting. Just as my thumb released the mouse, I started girding my loins for a post to Momsrising.org. It's a privilege to be able to write these articles, and I do not take it lightly. For this next one, I want to write about how we say about our kids, “I just want her to be happy,” and what that means to me now, as a mother and grandmother.

At least once a week, I take a day and entirely focus on my grandson. He is two and a half and in full swing of “Why”, “No – I don’t like that”, and “What?” Both of us have coughs and runny noses this week, so we spent the day napping and snacking. When his mother was a babe in my arms, I wanted her to grow up feeling confident, strong and caring. I wanted her to live a life that is fulfilling to her on every level – to have all her needs in Maslow’s hierarchy met; I wanted her to be happy. I was one of those mothers. I had a homebirth, homeschooled her, and read everything I could on mothering and babies. My friends thought I was crazy. They also used to tell me she was smart – and I would respond, “The proof is in the pudding.” She graduated two years ago from the University of Washington as one of four of the dean’s medalists from the entire undergraduate class, and today, in an economy where she can’t find a satisfying job, is volunteering at four different nonprofits while starting her own resale business. Today, I would not say my daughter is living in a world where she can really be happy.

And I fear much worse for my grandson. While I hope that my grandson has the chance to be happy when he grows up, what I really dream of is a world where he can meet his own needs, and he also do so in a way that does not impede others from meeting theirs. This is not the case today. Our snack today, before our nap, was raspberries and a banana. The bananas came from 4,000 miles away, the raspberries 1,000. I want my grandson to eat food from which the farming leaves the soil fecund, that reinforces his local economy, and that he knows will not leave nasty chemicals accumulating in his body.

Like any mother, I want my child, and my grandchild, to be happy. I want them to live in a world where everybody – from human bodies to river bodies - thrive. And yet, I doubt that is possible in their lifetimes. We are seeing so much suffering now, and so much of what we do – even with a simple life – is depleting our future. I fear that fewer and fewer people on this planet will get even their rudimentary needs met, and even with inventiveness and resourcefulness, like my daughter is using – the opportunities for happiness are running out. And so, while I don’t think my daughter is living in a world that really allows for happiness, she is working to try to bring about a planet that will.

Laura Musikanski, ED of HI

Happiness, Love and Letting Go in the Nonprofit World

In the nonprofit world, there is a lot of "wooing" to do. If you are good at it, then “you're in the money,” so to speak (ha ha). If “wooing” or salesmanship is not one of your core strengths, well then… you have to go with your heart and gut.

I am not a salesperson. I never was and never will be. That said, in my high school days when I sold Birkenstocks (dating myself!), I would tell people to go home and thing about it. My sales would jump through the roof some days, I think because people could tell I wanted them to do what was right for them.

And now a big part of my job is to “sell” my project to funders, potential board members, volunteers and other supporters. Every time I think of it as selling, I fail and I ask myself, why is this?

I think it has to do with the poverty mentality. I grew up poor - spent enough of my childhood hungry that I identified that hollow cold feeling in my stomach as normal- so I understand and have worked on the poverty mentality in my own personal life. However, I was not prepared to face it in the nonprofit sector (especially coming from a business education and background) when I started three years ago as ED of Sustainable Seattle. But the poverty mentality is so pervasive in this field, it's phenomenal. The idea that there is not enough, we can never have enough, the resources out there are so limited, there is so much competition, and on and on. It’s debilitating, and coupled with the idea you have to sell something to get funding, well, for someone like me – forget it.

And so, for someone without the magic of woo, what is there to do? We have been meeting with potential funders, supporters, volunteers and board members for a while now. Long enough that it's time to figure out what works and what does not. Today, regardless of whether the outcome is a success or not, worked.

When I feel like my heart is shining out with this true and real deep love I have for this project, things are working. When the person across the table is starting to vibrate in a way that gives energy to the work, things are working. When the questions and comments that come out are worth the entire day, things are working.

So, for a girl without woo, in a world where you live and die by the woo, I guess I learned an important lesson: to be true to my love for this work, and not to try to sell or even try to promote, just – essentially – be in love with what I love. Will it work? Will we build a great board, bring in great staff, get the project funded? I do not know, but I do know that feeling full of love along the way works a whole lot better right now.

Take care, Laura Musikanski, ED of HI

Messaging Happiness

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Today, my work on the Happiness Initiative included refining messages about who we are, what we do, the problems we solve, and why anyone should care. We are getting it down to an “elevator speech,” meaning that we know what we are talking about if we can say it simply and briefly. An acquaintance I made - a judge for the Supreme Court in Buenos Aires - once told me that if someone can not state something simply, but must use convoluted sentences and long technical words, they themselves probably do not know what they are talking about. I think there is some truth to this; even complex ideas can be broken down into simple steps.

People keep saying that if we get our messaging right, then everything else will follow. A quote I lost (by Borges?) goes something like, "There is no possibility of communication between what one person thinks, says, what is said, and what the other hears and thinks they hear," and so on. Yet we keep trying – reforming our words, our expressions, our tone and our timber.

Compounding the difficulty in communicating about this project is that we are on the “bleeding edge” – far enough in front of the cutting edge that most people don't or can’t “get it” because the idea is so new and different. The only thing to do is stay the course until this work becomes the cutting edge, then mainstream (and hopefully someday, for a good reason, outdated).

And still, in my experience, it is not so much what you say, but the timing of it. With a new idea, or an idea new to someone, it takes I would say between five and seven times for someone to “get it.” You know they got it when they correct you – telling you what you mean. This is a good sign, because now conversation can really begin. And so, we hack away at our messaging, trying to craft the words just right so they reflect our heart and soul, are simple and clear, and are meaningful to those we are trying to reach. (here I must mention thanks to Laura Vander Pool, a consultant who helped us last week).

Well, we're here in the rough draft of our elevator speech. I am sure these will change as we massage and mold the words but hey, maybe we just need to hear them 5-7 times before we understand ourselves….

The Happiness Initiative is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Seattle, Washington. We are a resource to measure and improve personal, community and global well-being. We are part of a global happiness movement that is shifting society’s perception of money, wealth and economic growth as the driver for well=being to a comprehensive measure of well-being.

Cheers, Laura Musikanski. ED of HI

You would think that as executive director of the Happiness Initiative, I would be deliriously happy. In fact, I am often asked that question in interviews or when speaking. I usually laugh, and answer yes and no – then explain the difference between effect (how you feel) and wellbeing (a comprehensive fairness, health and resilience for all), but the truth of the matter is, I am not happy. Perhaps, if I were, I would not be doing this work.

It’s been almost two years of unpaid 40+ hours a week on this project and my belief in it has not faltered. I truly do believe the Happiness Initiative is a fundamental tool that can open the door to a world where we all live in conditions that allow us to be happier - but at times it feels a lot further away and less probable than likely. And still, I am no trust fund baby- quite the opposite – and this work, particularly when we need financial support so badly, takes its toll. If I were well connected or someone on my team were, we would be funded the way values. org, actionsforhappiness.com or other similar projects were. But instead we are doing the work, “funded” by our own belief in the work.

This raises the question of whether the kind of work we are doing is sustainable if not funded by super wealthy individuals or foundations. I used to hang Margaret Meads quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." on the office wall. Now we don’t have a wall, because we don’t have an office. Sounds kind of pitiful.

But, at the same time, we are having some great success with the project. People in cities and towns across our country are using our toolkits to start their own happiness initiatives. Thousands have taken the survey and we’ve caught the attention of some major media.

I kind of knew, when I started down the path of this project, that we would get to a place where things would get really tough. Well, we are here now. It's not so great, but at the same time, one can’t expect that changing the world is going to be easy. This is part of the path- living in irresolvable dilemma. Working for happiness, and not being happy is just one of the many I am living with now.

This is the first leaf in a series of my thoughts about the progress of this project. I will keep writing, and would love to hear your ideas and thoughts about irresolvable dilemmas, doing the good work and feeling bad, and any shards of wisdom from you. Laura Musikanski, ED of HI

Does Your Town Need a Happiness Initiative?

The benefits would be numerous: Policymakers would have a better sense of where to direct limited resources and policy attention. Nonprofits and businesses would be able to identify specific areas for community improvement. And residents would be able to assess how they compare, on average, with each other and with people in other regions, on everything from time availability to financial stability.

Fortunately, a relatively simple tool has been designed to do just that. The Seattle-based Happiness Initiative recently updated a carefully vetted, scientific survey to help individuals, businesses, and local governments measure people’s “life conditions and satisfaction” in 10 “domains” of happiness: Material Wellbeing, Physical Health, Time Balance, Psychological Wellbeing, Education and Learning, Cultural Vitality, Environmental Quality, Governance, Community Vitality, and Workplace Experience.

“The survey makes people think about their lives and about what’s important to them,” says Happiness Initiative Outreach and Media Director John de Graaf, author of the books Affluenza, Take Back Your Time and What’s the Economy for, Anyway? “It encourages us to take a more holistic view of ‘progress’ that extends beyond just GDP. Communities can get a sense of where they’re thriving and where they’re hurting, not just economically but in areas that really matter to people.”

How It Works

De Graaf believes the survey, created by psychology professor Ryan Howell and a research team at San Francisco State University, is “the best measurement of well-being out there anywhere.”

So how does it work? It’s simple: a person goes to the Happiness Initiative website and answers a series of online questions in each of the 10 domains of happiness. The site quickly compiles the results and provides an assessment of how the person compares in each of the 10 areas to a baseline sample of 700 Americans, where a score of 50 is the average. If a person gets a score of 75 in “Environmental Quality," for example, this indicates the person’s above-average satisfaction with the environmental amenities in his or her community. Similarly, a score of 25 in “Governance” suggests that the person has low confidence or trust in local government.

In addition to providing individual responses, the Happiness Initiative team is aggregating the survey responses (while carefully respecting people’s privacy) to obtain an overall national assessment score. The most significant findings so far? “We’re discovering the huge

importance of community-building for people’s well-being,” says de Graaf. “Perhaps not surprisingly, we’ve found that people who live with others, for example, are happier than those who live alone.”

But one of the more unexpected recent findings, according to de Graaf, is that young people (ages 19 to 24) are not faring as well as they once were. “Typically, when we do happiness surveys, we find that people are happy when they are younger, less happy in middle age, and then happy again when they get older. But this isn’t necessarily the case anymore as young people face greater college debt loads and uncertain job futures.”

The potential applications of the Happiness Initiative’s approach are numerous. In addition to local governments or community groups using the survey to assess the well-being of local residents, a business or workplace could, for example, use it to measure employees’ satisfaction with their work environment, and tailor its responses accordingly. “Our results show that the lowest scores are consistently in the domain of ‘Time Balance,’ indicating that many American workers face high levels of stress,” explains de Graaf. “If companies are smart, they will make institutional changes to address this, such as instituting paid vacation or sick day policies, or flexible workweeks.”

Other areas with lower aggregate scores are confidence in government and financial security, which may not be surprising given today’s economic and political climate. “International studies show that greater economic inequality decreases happiness,” says de Graaf. “If you look at the Gallup-Healthways rankings, which are based on very solid science, the world’s happiest countries—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands—are the most egalitarian, have the best time balance, and also pay the highest taxes. The U.S. is eleventh on the list.”

The Gallup-Healthways U.S. Well-Being Index, as of 11/01/11.

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

This idea of measuring happiness on a broad scale isn’t new. As early as 1972, the Kingdom of Bhutan launched an ambitious large-scale effort to measure “Gross National Happiness,” basing its assessment on nine of the 10 domains outlined above. A group in Victoria, British Columbia, took on the task of adapting the approach to Western audiences. U.S. researchers later added a tenth variable—Workplace Experience—because polls show that, for good or for bad, a person’s place of work occupies a good portion of his or her mental and physical space.

In some ways, the Happiness Initiative is helping America return to its roots. “In reality, happiness is the original American Dream,” says Happiness Initiative Executive Director, Laura Musikanski. “Thomas Jefferson once wrote that the sole purpose of government is to increase the happiness of people.” With this in mind, Musikanski’s team is promoting Jefferson’s birthday, April 13, as “Pursuit of Happiness Day,” encouraging communities that are using the survey to look at their scores and engage in broader conversations around the issues they illuminate.

Across the country, interest in the Happiness Initiative—and the opportunities it offers for community development—is growing. Seattle, where the group is based, has taken the concept the furthest, with the City Council unanimously adopting the approach as a means to assess citywide well-being.

At least 20 other U.S. cities are interested in the Happiness Initiative, from Santa Fe, New Mexico and Montpelier, Vermont to Decorah, Iowa, a town of 8,000 in America’s heartland. Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a city of 66,000, developed a city happiness partnership and its own Happiness Initiative website,www.eauclairehappiness.com. The president of Seattle’s City Council recently suggested that the National League of Cities—a nonprofit that serves as a resource to and an advocate for more than 19,000 U.S. cities, villages, and towns—consider the methodology. In doing so, a community can access tools to create its own tailored “Happiness Initiative” website to serve as a hub for survey results and related information.

De Graaf notes that some 100 colleges nationwide expect to use the survey to assess students’ well-being, and that people in at least eight other countries—including Spain, Hungary, Sweden, the Netherlands, Japan, Mexico, India, and Namibia—are investigating using the approach on a national scale. According to de Graaf, students in Sâo Paolo, Brazil have been going door to door in slum neighborhoods encouraging residents to take a version of the survey, in an effort to better gauge community needs.

De Graaf acknowledges that some of the policy implications of the survey may be clearer at the national level than at the local level. For instance, countries like the U.K., Brazil, Canada, and France are now considering the use of well-being indicators, in addition to GDP, to assess progress. And certain domains of happiness, such as “Time Balance,” may be harder to address than others. Broader solutions include steps like reducing commute times, tackling urban sprawl, and increasing density. But local governments can also pass more discrete measures such as requiring employers to provide paid sick days, which is currently law only in Milwaukee, San Francisco, Seattle, and the District of Columbia.

In addition to the survey, the Happiness Initiative will soon be offering more specific modules to enable communities to perform more in-depth assessments in particular areas like the environment, consumerism, and even compassion. People could then compare these results to their overall happiness score.

Interested in Bringing the Happiness Initiative to Your Community?

Contact the leaders of the initiative at happy@happycounts.organd download the toolkit from the Happiness Initiative’s website atwww.happycounts.org.

Also, watch this 9-minute video from KCTS9, the Seattle PBS affiliate on how the Happiness Initiative got started [the happiness segment starts two minutes into the program].