Getting our priorities right
12 Apr 2011 | Mark Williamson
Today sees the launch of Action for Happiness - a new mass
movement for social change founded by three pioneering thinkers,
Richard Layard, Geoff Mulgan and Anthony Seldon. It is based on one
simple idea - that if we want a happier society, we've got to
approach our own lives in a way that prioritises the things that
really matter, including the happiness of those around us.
With families and communities across the UK facing
difficult economic times, uncertain job security and savage
spending cuts, it may seem counter-intuitive to talk about
happiness. But on the contrary, now more than ever we need to help
people build their emotional resilience and create a culture where
we are less preoccupied with material wealth and more focused on
each other's wellbeing; where people from all walks of life come
together to make positive changes in their personal lives, homes,
schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods.
Over the last 50 years we've made great progress in terms of
living standards and material wealth, reaching a point that
previous generations could only have dreamed of - and perhaps one
that future generations will look back at longingly. The engine for
much of this progress has been economic growth. But if we stop to
think about it, most of us recognise that material and financial
wealth are just a means to an end, not the end in themselves. We
care about them because they are seen as an indicator of how well
our lives are going.
But the shocking fact is that, despite massive material
progress, people in Britain are no happier than they were over five
decades ago. Over that same period our society has become
increasingly competitive and selfish, with a culture that
encourages us to pursue wealth, appearance, status and possessions
above all else. In the 1960s, 60% of adults in Britain said they
believed "most people can be trusted". Today the figure is around
30%. Our growing focus on self-centred materialism has also
contributed to wider social problems. We've seen huge increases in
anxiety and depression in young people, greater inequality, more
family breakdown, longer working hours, growing environmental
problems and crippling levels of debt.
But it doesn't have to be like this. The good news is that by
focusing our time and energy instead on things that have been shown
to consistently bring happiness, we can live rich, rewarding lives.
These things include loving families, close friendships, good
self-awareness, strong community ties, doing things for others,
keeping active, and having some kind of greater purpose to our
lives. If we could increase our levels of happiness to those
enjoyed in Denmark, Britain would have 2.5 million fewer people
suffering from unhappiness and 5 million more people who are very
happy.
These ideas are not new and we instinctively know their
importance. But this "wisdom of the ages" is now also backed up by
a significant body of research which confirms that our
relationships and mental health have a much greater impact on
our overall wellbeing than our beauty, possessions or income. The
evidence linking an upbeat outlook to increased longevity is
actually stronger than the evidence linking obesity to reduced
longevity. Our happiness in turn influences the happiness of people
we know.
Action for Happiness is based on this new science of happiness
and the evidence that we can affect our happiness. We have
identified 50 practical actions that people can take in their
everyday lives that not only help boost their own happiness but
contribute to building better, more positive environments in their
families, relationships, workplaces and communities. These include
simple things like finding things to be grateful for each day,
however small; trying out something new or different; and looking
for the good in others. They also include skills to be more
"mindful" in our thinking.
When people do good, they feel good. By choosing to live in a
way that prioritises the things that really matter we can create a
vital shift in societal values. So let's stop aiming for lives
filled with riches and focus instead on helping people lead richer
lives.
Tags:
Do things for others, Connect with people, Be part of something bigger, At work, Family & friends, Local community, Be a Happiness Activist