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Can Happiness Save the Planet?

Jenny Jenkins grew up caring for the planet, so it’s no surprise that she has instilled those same values in her children. Today, the mother of four says it’s become second nature for her and her husband, Cliff, to practice a low-impact, environmentally friendly lifestyle.“Because I grew up thinking this way, it’s not hard,” says Jenny, a high school guidance counselor in Cincinnati, Ohio. “I think we’re happier because we live a less cluttered life. And now we see our kids doing some of the same things.”Experiences over thingsWith an emphasis on shared experiences and family activities over products and purchases, Jenny’s family values togetherness and an active lifestyle. “We all love the outdoors, so we’ll walk wherever we can—like to the grocery store or the farmer’s market—instead of driving. It means that we spend more time together than a lot of families do, and it also is good for us because of the physical activity. And, even just walking to the hardware store, you’re getting outside and connecting with nature, and that makes you happier.”Today, experts say that mindset is just what the planet needs. People who are happier have been found to be less focused on “things” and more focused on fulfilling activities and social relationships, which brings with it a built-in benefit for Mother Earth.Happy people make more responsible consumers?In a recent study, Miriam Tatzel, Ph.D., of Empire State College, State University of New York, found that happy people share one very distinctive trait: They value and seek out experiences instead of possessions. This trait could be the key to creating a healthier planet, she told the American Psychological Association at its convention in August in her presentation, “Consumer Well-Being & Environmental Well-Being: A Surprising Compatibility.”“Consumerism and all the stuff we make harms the environment [through] pollution, climate change, degradation of natural resources,” she says. In the past, a popularscientific viewpoint has been that saving the planet would only be possible if consumers’ consumption habits could be changed. However, she now believes that saving the planet could be as simple as emphasizing happiness.“If people spend less time working and spending, they have more time for relationships and personal interests,” Miriam says. “People who are less materialistic tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives.”Teaching it to the next generationJenny says she has seen that mindset blossom in her children. “I’m not saying we don’t have any ‘stuff,’ because we do, but we mostly do activities instead of [giving traditional] gifts,” she says. For example, this year they bought family season passes to a ski slope instead of buying items like Xboxes and iPads.“When you start thinking that way, experiences become more important,” Jenny says. “The kids appreciate them more, and it actually is something they’d prefer over regular toys and presents.”Read more about cutting down on consumer clutter.Of course, convincing most consumers not to buy the latest gadget or to skip getting that shiny new car can be a tough sell. In America, consumer debt continues growing, inching up another 3.3 percent in 2014; credit card debt is outpaced only by mortgage and student loan debt.The consequences of consumer debt extend far beyond dismal credit scores; debt also can have serious side effects that impair mood and state of mind. It often is accompanied by stress, fear, anger and depression, according to debt expert Bill Fay of Debt.org. Making people happier with their personal lives could help them downsize their debts while having a ripple effect of creating a happier, more environmentally conscious society overall, Miriam says.Creating an upward spiralCatherine O’Brien, Ph.D., an expert in sustainability education, discovered the link between sustainable living and happiness while working on her doctorate at Barefoot College in Rajasthan, India, in the mid-1990s. “I found that not only did the people there live sustainably, but it was a culture filled with joy,” she says. “They were wildly creative and imaginative. And I had a novel thought that, if we live sustainably, we might be happier.”That thought became the basis for her concept of Sustainable Happiness, which combines principles of positive psychology with a sustainability mindset. As the positive psychology movement gained traction, Catherine saw more areas where it connected with sustainability and created a complete educational platform combining the two.A message of spiritual and emotional abundance“People were tired of hearing environmental messages,” she says, adding that many environmental messages were equated with making sacrifices and relinquishing creature comforts. “I knew that if people could hear the happiness message, it would accelerate their interest. Everyone has an interest in happiness.”Catherine’s Sustainable Happiness teachings look at how fewer material possessions and a deeper connection to the Earth can pave the way to a happier, healthier life. “This is not a new thing, and it’s not something I invented,” she says. “Many indigenous cultures are built on this. It’s about thinking about what we can do to live happily and connect with other people.And in doing so, you often begin making choices that reduce your footprint. It’s not necessarily that you’re thinking about being environmentally friendly, it’s that the activity you choose to participate in has other benefits [for the planet] associated with it.”Happiness as a side effectWhile many of the choices made by happier people are good for the planet, it has also been found that being good to the planet can generate feelings of happiness. So which comes first—personal wellbeing, or caring for the planet? Societies that practice sustainability are shown to be happier than their less environmentally minded counterparts.That’s the foundation of the Happy Planet Index, which was introduced in 2006 by the New Economics Foundation. The global measurement standard multiplies an index of life satisfaction and the life expectancy average of each country’s residents, then divides that by the ecological footprint of the country. Results consistently show that residents with a smaller ecological footprint register greater levels of happiness, satisfaction and wellbeing.Read more on sustainability and going green.In the “State of the World” report developed for The Worldwatch Institute, economist John Talberth, Ph.D., and then director of the Sustainability Indicators Program atRedefining Progress in Oakland, California writes that societies or individuals who practice sustainability and pro-environmental behavior have a greater sense of subjective wellbeing.Meanwhile, a study published in September in the journal Frontiers also found that people who exhibit pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors showed greater signs ofpositivity and well-being.“I think it depends on the individual,” Catherine says. “Some people may think about how they can live happily and connect with others, and that’s going to lead them to dothings that are good for the planet.” Others, she says, may be concerned for the planet and seek out earth-friendly activities that connect them with nature and with other like-minded individuals, both of which are known happiness boosters.Naturally happy“Being in nature, or even just looking at it, is associated with a number of positive physical and mental outcomes, including reduced stress, increased attention and greater self-control,” says Misha Voloaca of the University of Ottawa Well-Being Lab. His current research is centered on the role happiness plays in connecting with nature. “There is good evidence showing that people who are more connected to nature have smaller ecological footprints.Importantly, such people also tend to be happier and more mindful in everyday life. [It supports] both personal and environmental well-being.” Victor Corral-Verdugo of theDepartment of Psychology at the University of Sonora at Hermosillo, Mexico, agrees. His recent study, “Happiness as a Correlate of Sustainable Behavior: A Study of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Equitable and Altruistic Actions That Promote Subjective Wellbeing,” published in the journal Human Ecology Review, reviews numerous studies on the topic and introduces his own observations. He concludes that the benefits of pro-environmental practices are so positive that they lead to further conservation efforts, which in turn generates a continuing upward spiral of happiness.Victor and his colleagues studied the relationship between sustainable behavior and happiness among college students in Mexico, an area he intentionally selected because it has both environmental and social concerns. He was interested in learning if positive behaviors could offset some of the effects of the environmental problems while at the same time increasing the happiness of its citizens.“According to our results…the more pro-ecological, altruistic, frugal and equitable a person is, the more feelings of happiness (s)he experiences,” Victor finds. He echoes Catherine’s belief that if people knew about the positive consequences of adopting a pro-environmental lifestyle, more people would be eager to participate. And Jenny says it is something her family benefits from every day.“When you’re moving around in nature, eating better and spending time with your family, you’re naturally going to feel better,” she says. “Physically, you feel better. The way you’re living makes you happier. It’s kind of common sense.”

Lifestyle

Happiness is a Choice

As one of the world’s least-developed countries, Malawi has a low life expectancy, high infant mortality and a 74 percent poverty rate. Yet it is dubbed “the warm heart of Africa” and topped Forbes magazine’s 2010 list as the African country with the happiest people.Researchers say that happiness comes from its relative calm, peaceful environment, which allows the government to spend its limited resources on social or economic initiatives that positively affect the lives of Malawians.Official language: ChichewaLife expectancy: 59.99 yearsHappiness claim to fame: Named the happiest country in Africa by the World Database of Happiness and by Forbes; named one of the happiest places to visit by Lonely Planet.In the shadow of Mount Zomba, in the African country of Malawi, a young teacher named Mwaona Nyirongo has dedicated his life to helping his students reach new heights. Slender and gregarious, he lives and works in the eighth poorest country in the world, yet considers himself one of the happiest people on the planet. “I am not rich, but I am optimistic about life,” he explains. “I see possibilities everywhere and that helps me enjoy life and appreciate the love around me.”Growing up in the small town of Ntchenachena, where abject poverty, daily suffering and rampant HIV/AIDS infection were normal ways of life, he had no idea how desperate his situation was."I did not know life could be different"“The problems and deaths around me were what life was. I did not know life could be better or different,” Mwaona says. But when his father died unexpectedly, 12-year-old Mwaona went to live with an uncle who lived two hours away in Ekwendeni. Through his uncle, he met people who spoke of careers, education and life outside of Malawi. It was then that the young boy realized, “not everybody spends mornings without breakfast or sleeps without anything in the stomach.”As a teenager, he joined the Boy Scouts and was chosen to represent Malawi at the 20th World Scout Jamboree in Thailand in 2002. “What an eye-opener that was,” he recalls. “There were cellphones, Internet access, better hotels, a lot of food, better hospitals. Almost everything was way ahead of Malawi, and I started to feel extremely sorry for myself and my country.”A new awareness of the worldHis newfound awareness brought fascination but also generated pain and sadness because he was surrounded by so many things he could not have. “I realized my sadness was making me less productive, so I chose to cultivate happiness by focusing on the things that really matter,” says Mwaona, who currently teaches history and geographyat Mulunguzi Secondary School in Zomba and is pursuing a college degree in communications.He gives back to his community by volunteering with the organization Africa Classroom Connection, which builds much-needed classrooms in Malawi, and helps identify deserving students in need of scholarships.Giving backIn 2008, he raised money to organize a youth football league to keep young people involved and out of trouble. Although almost everyone in the village was destitute, the campaign was successful; neighbors gave what they could, and it was enough.“In Malawi, we believe in Ubuntu: ‘I am because we are.’ We are responsible for each other. Being involved in something big and honorable gives real meaning to my life and brings happiness,” he says. Now a scout leader himself, Mwaona surrounds himself with the love of relatives and friends. He enjoys Malawian dances like Malipenga and Beni, listens to American jazz standards and the music of The Beatles.Happiness is a choice“Happiness is a choice,” he says. “Our environment or situations do not make us unhappy. We make ourselves vulnerable and allow sadness in. We don’t need to wait for people to give us happiness; we must cultivate it on our own.”Click here to read more about happiness around the world.

Lifestyle

Be Happy in this Short Life

Bhutan, a tiny Buddhist kingdom in the eastern Himalayas, has gained international recognition for its concept of “Gross National Happiness,” an alternative to the gross domestic product as a measurement of a country’s standing. Created in the 1970s by the fourth king of Bhutan, who said he was more concerned with the well-being of Bhutan citizens than the country’s economy, the concept has been studied and adopted by other countries.Official language: DzongkhaLife expectancy: 68.98 yearsHappiness claim to fame:Developed the Gross National Happiness Index, which uses several indicators, including socio-economic development, environmental conservation, preservation and promotion of culture, and governance to measure the overall happiness of its residents.The concept of time is suspended as you enter the circumambulatory pilgrim stream at the National Memorial Chorten in Thimphu, Bhutan. The monument is a daily touchstone for worshippers in the capital city; Mahayana Buddhism is the state religion here. The clang of a giant, wobbly prayer wheel bell rhythmically punctuates an explosive clap of pigeon wings. Pilgrims shuffle over cobblestone, whispering mantras while handling long strands of mala beads.Practice of the MindInside the chorten’s Tshokhang, or ritual hall, Lama Namgay, a senior monk, sits cross-legged in a darkened corner, his broad shoulders draped in the folds of his maroon and saffron robe.“To realize happiness, I had to meditate,” he says in his native Dzongkha through an interpreter. “That is when I found the nature of true contentment. “For me, happiness is achieved by calming the mind and freeing oneself of desires.”He was 7 years old when he joined the monastery body and continued with a decade of study and meditation training at Tango Buddhist College. He refers to a stint where he spent three years, three months, three weeks, and three days in complete meditative seclusion as the most satisfying and content period of his life.Click here to read more about the culture of Bhutan.Now, as a learned monk, he teaches novice monks, performs rituals for Bhutanese pilgrims and oversees daily operations at the National Memorial Chorten, a monument dedicated to the memory of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third king of Bhutan.“To live this life, you often want more,” he says. “You want more cars, more houses. There is the feeling that the more materials you possess will lead you to happiness. Everything is impermanent. Once born, we have to die. It is a short duration. So, to dissolve your desires is very important. Train your mind and it will change your life.”To achieve more peace and well-being, Lama Namgay plans to retire from serving the monastery body and relocate to a remote place in the mountains to further immerse himself in meditation.Practice of the BodyIn the Paro Valley, an alloy-steel arrow whizzes 450 feet through the air. It just misses the target and punctures a haystack wall in a puff of dust. Seconds later, another arrow pierces a white wooden plank, inches shy of the bull’s-eye. A handful of men in knee-high socks erupt into cheers and begin to dance in slow circles, their bows lifted high in the air.Dorji is a native of Wangdi, in central Bhutan, and works as a tourist guide. As a boy collecting firewood in the forest, Dorji would take along his traditional bamboo bow and arrows. He has now graduated to an alloy-steel bow and takes great pride in the national sport of the Kingdom.“There is a feeling shared among all of us who compete that we are preserving our traditional culture. That brings me great happiness, as it keeps me connected to something that goes deeper than the sport itself,” Dorji says. “And to win the match is seen as an auspicious sign for the year to come!”Click here toread more about the archery of of Bhutan.Dorji explains that archery offers fierce competition, but it is also just good, clean fun. Tournaments require sustained physical strength and can often last eight hours. Dorji often practices at Changlimethang, the National Archery Stadium in Thimphu.“There is a focus that we must bring to these matches, but at the same time it is a form of tension relief,” he says. “It is a means of driving away the emotional stress that comes with our daily lives.”For Dorji, the sport seems to be the remedy. “From my perception, there is no real choice but to be happy in this short life. To be born into this human life, we have time to practice, to enjoy. The choice is in our hands.”Click here to read more about happiness around the world.

Lifestyle

Great Danes

Denmark is consistently ranked in the top of international happiness studies. A strong civil society, good work-life balance and a high level of social security (such as free health care and generous unemployment benefits) are often cited as reasons for its extraordinary happiness.Official language: DanishLife expectancy: 79.09 yearsHappiness claim to fame: Ranked No. 1 in the “World Happiness Report”What is happiness? It depends on who you ask, of course, but the Danes seem to have it figured out. According to yearly worldwide surveys dating to the mid-1970s, Denmark is consistently voted the happiest country in the world.It makes sense. This is the country that invented Legos. Its icon is a little mermaid. There’s even a pastry named after them. But breakfast goodies aside, Denmark’s penchant for happiness is rooted in its societal and political structure. The country has one of the highest income tax rates in the world, but this ensures a “cradle-to-grave safety net,” as The New York Times described it.Denmark’s key happiness variables are both quantifiable (free health care and university education) and less so—inherent trust in others. It’s not uncommon for doors to remain unlocked, particularly amid the quietly grazing cows of the countryside. There’s another important factor to happiness: health. PiaNorup Eriksen is a doctor, the health director at Kurhotel Skodborg, a wellness retreat and spa hotel north of Copenhagen, and the founder of My Life, a unique consulting company that works with professionals, exploring how health and wellbeing affects work capacity and performance.The well-being doctorFor Pia, “a healthy body and mind is a source of daily happiness,” and she practices what she preaches: She’s a certified aerobics instructor and formerly trained in triathlons at the Copenhagen Triathlon Club. Pia explains her career trajectory:“I love my education, although I am using it differently than other doctors. I have chosen preventive medicine as my specialty, and I enjoy the meaningfulness of helping people not to become sick. It’s a great intellectual challenge, but more so a psychological one, to understand the mechanisms of creating health. I think the body is a picture of our mindset.”Self-reliance and happinessOf course, a happy life is rarely just that. For many, a rosy existence directly correlates to how tough the challenges were to get there. Pia knows this well, having pursued a lifelong goal of launching her own company. Is she more or less happy than those around her? “Tough question—probably a bit of both. I have chosen a career as self-employed, which gives me freedom. Freedom is absolutely essential for my happiness. The backside of this is lots of hard work and the constant feeling of being fully responsible for everything regarding the success and failure of the company and therefore my personal finances.This can be very stressful. Especially in a country like Denmark, where very few people are self-employed and the society is simply not built to support small entrepreneurial initiatives.” That said, Pia says she fully agrees that Denmark deserves its badge for happiest country in the world. “We’re a small and very privileged country.”Nature = happinessAlso, she says, “since Danes haven’t experienced big disasters or war or likewise, we simply don’t expect it and sometimes act a bit spoiled.” Something else that may spoil the Danes? The views out the window. Sometimes happiness is rolling green hills glowing under the northern lights, with glimpses of the wild Baltic Sea beyond. How does the surrounding environment contribute to Pia’s happiness? “I live close to the ocean, which is fantastic. It means that I can walk out the door and have the ocean five minutes away, and the forest five minutes in the other direction. I truly enjoy our house. It is a log cabin which gives us the feeling of being in sync with nature.”"Start giving"In the end, Pia’s advice for a happy life is simple: “Find your life purpose, and start giving. Giving and being generous with all you have to give is a great way of becoming happier. Give attention, full presence, compliments, help, care, gifts and surprises. Giving is probably the single one thing that makes me feel happy most effectively, and that would be my advice to others.”Click here to read more about happiness around the world.

Lifestyle

Happiness Is Just Around the Corner

Costa Rica typically ranks high on indexes that measure happiness, and much of that is attributed to a high life expectancy and high levels of general well-being. In other words, they enjoy their lives overall. Research by the Greater Good Science Center in Berkeley, California, also found that Costa Ricans are less lonely and rank high in the area of social connection, which research shows is important for overall happiness.Official language: SpanishLife expectancy: 78.23 yearsHappiness claim to fame: Ranked No. 1 by the Happy Planet IndexCarlos Arias admits that happiness is easy to find in his country. Living in Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose, he and his wife, Carla Araya, and 5-year-old son, Juan Jose, enjoy all the elements that make the area a magnet for vacationers and retirees from around the world. Four months out of the year, their country is blessed with clear blue skies and a cool breeze. The rest of the time, rain falls every day after 1 p.m. Fresh fruit is abundant and available yearr-ound, and the tropical warm water beaches are a constant attraction. But what makes the country even more appealing, Carlos believes, is that Costa Rica does not have a military presence.A land of peace“We are a happy country because we don’t know what it is to lose millions of people in a war. We have no army,” Carlos says. “Our happiness is easier to achieve because we are easily amazed, and maybe that has to do with the fact that we haven’t suffered any big wars, like the rest of the countries in our continent.”Carlos and Carla have known each other since they were teenagers, and married six years ago. They grew up in Desamparados, a low-income neighborhood in San José, but moved to Curridabat, a neighborhood considered by Costa Ricans to be much nicer and safer, a few years ago. The freedom to move from one social class to another and having friends with different social and economic backgrounds is part of what makes Costa Rica so special, Carlos says. “We live happily without those differences.”Weathering the stormsTheir longtime relationship is a big source of their happiness; together they have weathered storms common to any couple and have grown into adults together. They appreciate what they have learned through their struggles. “You need to go through tough times to realize that happiness is just around the corner,” Carlos says.Today, Carla works as an elementary schoolteacher, and finds it fulfilling to see her former students get into college. In addition to working as a creative director in an agency, Carlos also owns Tuanix, an online extreme sports magazine. The freedom and flexibility he enjoys as an entrepreneur further adds to his overall life satisfaction.Do what you loveThe magazine covers something he loves—extreme sports—and he also finds it gratifying to help unknown athletes get exposure while following his passion. “Another key element to being happy is doing what you love; I don’t see myself working in an office eight hours a day and wearing a tie,” Carlos says. “I love what I do. I don’t do it because I have to, I do it because I like to.”Click here to read more about following your passion.Stay curious and surprised by lifeCarlos and Carla emphasize that part of staying happy comes from never losing the ability to be surprised by the little things in life. They also perceive difficult times as a way to be reminded that happiness is about overcoming the challenges and working hard to get what you want. They have improved their own personal economy through hard work, and today their life is rich with family and friends. For them, that is plenty.“What we have, we have achieved with a lot of effort,” Carla says. “Right now we have everything we need.”Click here to read more about happiness around the world.

Lifestyle

5 Expert Tips for Avoiding Burnout at Work

Soldier on. Suck it up and drive on. Hang in there.I can’t tell you how many times these phrases zipped through my head as a busy, practicing lawyer. If I was sick, I went to work. If I was exhausted from working 14 days straight, I dug in and did more. If my clients made unreasonable demands, I’d fake a smile, nod my head and do whatever it took to make the deal close smoothly.Those work growing pains were all part of the process, I told myself. To prove myself and make partner, I had to go through the wringer; after all, hadn’t every lawyer before me working in a firm done the same thing?I convinced myself it was just a rite of passage. Then, seven years into practicing law, I hit a wall—I burned out. I had been so busy putting my head down and powering through that I completely ignored the warning signs that I needed to slow down.Tuning in to burnoutBurnout is a process of chronic stress and disengagement typically related to work but can impact many areas of your life. The big three dimensions of burnout have been defined as: chronic exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy.Burnout doesn’t have to be an inevitable consequence of ambition. Here are five proven ways to avoid burnout on the job:1.Clear your mental clutterMost go-getters I know run on some combination of guilt and anxiety. When you catch yourself feeling guilty, do a mental check to see whether in fact you have something to feel guilty about. Have you let someone down? Your bosses? Your children? More than likely, you are busy judging yourself for imagined crimes. Try to give yourself a break.When you experience a stress-producing event at work, do you see where you have any control, influence or leverage, or do you fold?Some people jump to conclusions while others maintain a flexible and accurate thinking style. Some people catastrophize—their worst-case scenario thinking gets the best of them, and it stops them from taking purposeful action. Resilient employees under stress track their thoughts, emotions and reactions to notice counterproductive patterns that might undercut success.2.Let go of perfectionismPerfectionists are notoriously hard-working, conscientious high achievers—traits frequently rewarded at work. Their stress and calls for help tend to go unnoticed by parents, significant others and bosses.Perfectionists strive for “the best” even when “good enough” will do. As a result, they experience a lot of regret and anxiety about missed opportunities. You can minimize regret three ways: adopt a standard of “good enough;” reduce the number of options you consider before making a decision; and be grateful for the good decisions you make instead of focusing on disappointments.3.Change your job without leaving your jobJob crafting has been shown to be an effective strategy to prevent burnout. Job crafting is the term for actively changing the content or design of your job by choosing tasks, negotiating different job content and assigning meaning to different components of your job.One way to job craft is to re-order your day. What tasks are sources of energy and engagement for you? When do you do those tasks? Would you rather work on those most-engaging tasks in the morning or at the end of your day? Match the order to what works best for you.4.Manage your energy, not your timeGetting adequate opportunities for recovery during your workday, after work and on the weekend is critical. Pick one or two 5-minute strategies you can do daily. I downloaded an App called 7 Second Meditation, which prompts me to take a break each day at 2 p.m.5.Become more of a giverWharton professor Dr. Adam Grant has identified sub-sets of givers, two of which are “selfless” givers and “otherish” givers. Selfless givers give their time and energy without regard to their own needs (hey – it’s 3 p.m. and I haven’t eaten yet today!). Selfless giving, in the absence of recovery, becomes overwhelming and can drive burnout. Otherish givers, however, find a way to balance giving with their own self-interest and self-care. As you probably guessed, selfless givers are more likely to burn out. You can determine your giving style at www.giveandtake.com.It is possible to have the life and career you want and avoid burnout. Choose a strategy that will help you move forward in a less crazy busy direction and embrace the perfectly imperfect journey.Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP, is a burnout prevention and resilience expert who helps companies and busy professionals prevent burnout and build resilience to stress and change.Paula is the author of the e-book, Addicted to Busy: Your Blueprint for Burnout Prevention, which you can download at her website, www.pauladavislaack.com.To read more about happiness in the workplace, see the special section in the June, 2015 issue of Live Happy magazine.

Lifestyle

Lessons From My Father

Father’s Day is a very special holiday for me for many reasons. When I was a child, I remember my mother taking me out to buy gifts for my dad every June. My parents divorced when I was 5 years old and I missed a lot of time with my dad as I grew up. So, the time we did spend together was very important to me. Even though my mother and father divorced and went on to remarry, they both taught me to honor my other parent. Meaning Seeing my mother go out of her way to help me make Father’s Day meaningful for my dad taught me that, regardless of their past, she wanted me to appreciate him. This lesson went a long way for me and ingrained in me the need to always honor both my parents. Being a father myself has led to some of the proudest moments of my life. The sight of my children following my lead and watching everything I do with such curiosity is amazing to me. I feel so blessed to be the father of two beautiful children. Do you have enough meaning in your life? Take our questionaire. Impact Knowing I was loved and supported by my dad, when he was present or not, meant so much to me. I drew personal pride from the fact that I was a “junior” and shared the same name as my dad. From self-esteem, to confidence, to being a role model—as a father we have so many areas where we impact our kids. I am proud to be a dad, and even more focused on improving as an individual. I was also blessed to have an amazing step-dad later, with whom I still have a great relationship. Here are a few happiness lessons I learned from my dad growing up: 1. Be an optimist When I was younger my dad almost always had a smile on his face. He had an easy-going spirit about him, which made people around him relax. Even as he heard bad news, he listened, then smiled and replied with a comment about the bright side. He was an optimist in every setting, especially when it came to times when I messed up. 2. See the world My father served as a Marine, went to war and traveled a lot in the military. Growing up, I heard plenty of stories about other parts of the world and he encouraged me to travel whenever I had a chance. I’ve visited about 20 countries thus far, and seeing how others live in other parts of the world has helped me to be happier about how I live at home and to have a greater understanding of the world. 3. Take time to encourage children Little people look up to all adults, parents or not, and taking the time out to encourage them goes a long way. Many of my cousins call my dad their favorite uncle because he always took the time to encourage them. Children are full of life and expectations, and their happiness rubs off! Since I missed a lot of time with my dad growing up, I am passionate about bringing awareness to the impact of a father or father-figure. I work with Shoulder-to-Shoulderin Sacramento, California, to battle the impact of fatherlessness at home. There are many other opportunities to make an impact, including working with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. You don’t have to be perfect I hope everyone gets a chance to spend time and honor their fathers this year. As I’ve learned, perfect or not, fathers have an immense impact on our children, and Father’s Day is our special day, so here’s to you! Happy Father’s Day.

Giving

7 Tips for a Memorable Mother’s Day

Mothers give us endless time, energy and unconditional love all year. So, this Mother’s Day, May 10, show mom how much she’s appreciated and loved by creating a lasting memory she will cherish. 1.Go to her favorite restaurant and share the love You always hear it’s the thought that counts, so put some thought into selecting her favorite spot. Make a reservation, enjoy a meal out as a family and then make the experience more memorable by taking the time to go around the table and share what you love most about mom while you wait for your food. 2.Give mom a free day Plan an outing with your kids and give mom a day off and the house to herself. Come back at night with dinner in your hands, and you’ll have created a day truly to remember. Mom can have time to do exactly as she wants: go to a yoga class, stay in her PJs and watch a movie, sip a mimosa, read a good book or go get a massage. The best part? After she has a day off to replenish, she can spend the evening with the family she loves so much. 3.Make her homemade gift cards Get your little artists to make mom gift cards with small promises. Let your kids come up with their own ideas. Here are some ideas to get you started: This card is good for help with the laundry. Redeem this card for help in your garden. Hand me this card and I will dry the dishes. Give me this card and I will help clean up a room. Show me this card for a big smile, cuddle and laugh from me. 4.Schedule a photo shoot Go DIY or professional. Select a beautiful park, arboretum or spot in nature and capture the family for a memory that lasts. Pack a picnic lunch and soak up some sun to make the day even more special. 5.Buy jewelry with meaning If you want to go conventional with jewelry, make it sentimental with your child’s birthstone. Celebrate the day your wife became a mom and choose a special ring, necklace, pair of earrings or bracelet adorned with your children’s birthstones. 6.Write letters Handwritten letters are a rarity these days. Have everyone in the family sit down and write a heartfelt letter to mom. Share a favorite memory, what you love best about her or why mom is so special. If you really want to go over the top, have each family member read the letter to mom while she’s enjoying breakfast in bed. 7.Plan an unforgettable experience What has your wife (or mother) always wanted to do but never has? Plan it. Even if it doesn’t happen on Mother’s Day, you will be giving mom double the happiness with the anticipation of the event, and the event itself. Maybe it’s as elaborate as a weekend getaway, adventurous like zip-lining or simple like a family bike ride. And as you plan this special day for the mom of your children, don’t forget about showing your own mom the love, too. Happy Mother’s Day!

Sharing

6 Reasons Why You Need More Hugs

Hugging can be described as a handshake from the heart. The simple action of embracing creates feel-good energy for both the giver and recipient. Science has been looking into its positive effects, and numerous studies related to hugging, cuddling and touching have been reaching the same conclusion: Hugging is a crucial part of human development. 1. Hugging is good for your heart Embracing activates the hormone oxytocin, which makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. In an experiment at the University of North Carolina, participants who didn't have any contact with their partners developed a quickened heart rate of10 beats per minute, compared to the five beats per minute among those who got to hug their partners during the experiment. (The slower resting heart rate is healthier, representing a person who is more relaxed and at ease.) 2. Hugging is a natural stress-reducer If you are feeling a bit drained or pressured, find someone you care about and give them a all-enveloping hug.Research has found that embracing reduces the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in our bodies, releasing tension and sending calming messages to the brain. 3.Hugging helps babies' and children's development Touch is critical to infants, especially in their early stages of life as it helps them bond with others as they get older. A study was conducted that compared a group of adopted children whose first years were spent in Romanian and Russian orphanages where they didn’t receive physical contact, to kids who were raised by an affectionate family. Research found that the kids raised in the low-touch orphanages had significantly lower levels of vasopressin—a hormone that plays a role in familial recognition and bonding—compared to their peers. 4. Hugging is good for adults, too Physical touch and hugging can combat feelings of loneliness that arise as people get older. A retirement home in New York conducted a study in which they implemented a program called ‘Embraceable You.’ The idea was to encourage cross-generational contact and touch between residents and staff members in order to improve the residents’ well being. The results were conclusive, with residents who were touched or hugged three or more times a day having more energy, feeling less depressed, better able to concentrate and more restful sleep than their less-hugged counterparts. 5. Hugging can make you more mindful Zen MasterThichNhatHanhhas created ahugging meditation, which can be used to bring more awareness, presence and togetherness into people’s lives. The meditation aims to connect people to each other and to the present moment, with a focus on mindfulness and a powerful awareness of gratitude and love. 6. Hugging can help minimize fears A study by VU University in Amsterdam looked into the connection betweenhuman touch and reducing the fear of mortalityin some people. Researchers found that participants were more likely to have less anxiety about death when being lightly touched or hugging an inanimate object like a teddy bear.

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The 3 Secrets of Happy Employees

Shhh….Can you hear it? There’s a revolution taking place in our workplaces, and employees like you and I are leading it.Fed up with energy-draining bosses, soul-sucking jobs and the financial uncertainty that cheats us of our choices, a grass-roots campaign is underway in a growing number of workplaces that’s aimed at restoring people’s happiness—and new data suggests it’s about to hit a tipping point.What are your signature strengths?I recently partnered with the VIA Institute on Character to release the 2015 “Strengths @ Work Survey,” and here’s what we discovered:While in 2001 only 2 out of every 10 people said they had the opportunity to do what they do best each day at work, this number has increased by 30 percent to 5 out of every 10 people.Today, 56 percent of employees can name their top five strengths, compared to estimates a decade ago that only a third could.A resounding 64 percent of employees say they believe developing their strengths will make them more successful at work, compared to the 63 percent in 2006 who believed they’d grow most in their weaker areas.Even without organizational and supervisor support, 49 percent of employees can name their strengths and 26 percent still find the opportunity practice them each day.So why are these employees bothering to take time to grow their strengths? Because it makes them happier.We found that 70 percent of the employees who say they have the opportunity to use their strengths regularly look forward to going to work. Not only that, but 78 percent report feeling engaged and energized in their jobs because they believe they’re making a difference and their work is appreciated. And, most important, 70 percent of these employees describe themselves as flourishing at work over the last six months.How are they achieving these results, even without a supportive boss? Many are doing three simple things:1. Discovering their strengthsThe best way to identify your strengths is by taking the free, 10-minute strengths assessment at viacharacter.org. Then pay attention to your best moments at work—when you feel really engaged, you’re energized and you enjoy what you’re doing—to see which of your top strengths are at play so you know how to apply them to your role.2. Meeting their best-possible future selvesOnce you’ve discovered your strengths, boost your optimism and self-belief by imagining what might be possible in the year ahead if everything went as well as possible and you were using your strengths daily. Journal whatever comes to mind for 15–20 minutes a day, three days in a row. Try to detail what you’d spend your time doing, what your colleagues or clients might say and which strengths you’d be using.3. Creating a small, daily strength-development habitPick a strength to develop that will bring you closer to the future you’ve described. Think about how you could use this strength for at least 10 minutes each day as you go about your job. For example, use your curiosity to learn one new thing, your gratitude to genuinely thank a client or a colleague or you persistence to power through on a task you’ve been putting off. (For more ideas, check out this free e-book with over 70 strength-development habit ideas.)Are you ready to join the revolution? It is possible to feel more engaged, energized and happy at work—you just have to take a moment each day and do what you do best.To read more about happiness in the workplace, see our special feature section in the June 2015 issue of Live Happy magazine.Michelle McQuaid is a best-selling author, workplace well-being teacher and playful change activator. She is passionate about translating cutting-edge research from positive psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies for health, happiness and success.To learn more about Michelle visitwww.michellemcquaid.com.

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