Chirapon (Pete) WangwongwirojHappiness Initiative @ UM

chirapon@umich.edu

AASHE ConferenceOctober 8, 2013

Enhancing Social Sustainability on Campus:Starting a Happiness Initiative in Your

Community

Happiness vs Age

19-2

4

25-2

9

30-3

4

35-3

9

40-4

4

45-4

9

50-5

4

55-5

9

60-6

4

65-6

970

& ove

r

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

6.16

6.44

6.62

6.44 6.43

6.27

6.47

6.7

6.98

7.39

7.22

Age Group

Ove

rall

Wel

l-Bei

ng S

core

Seattle (2011)USA (2008)

Wellness Wheel

The 10 Domains of Happiness

USA Survey Results - Overall

USA Survey Results – Age 19-24

USA Survey Results

• See more at: http://www.happycounts.org/grossnationalhappinessindex/

SocialSustainability

???

Affordability

Stress

Job Prospects

Physical Health

Relationships

Sustainability

Diversity

Time balance

Grades

Student loans

Mental Health

Homework

Elitism

Inequality

Apathy

Social justice

Learned Helplessness• Martin Seligman’s 1975 paper• “Learned helplessness is the condition of a human

or animal that has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant circumstances or by gaining positive rewards.” -- Seligman, M. E. P. (1975). Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.

• My experience in sustainability.• Sandra Steingraber: Well-informed futility

We are NOT helpless

Let’s forget about the word “sustainability.”

Let’s talk happiness.

Happiness Initiative @ U of M

• Discussion groups• Love• Relationships• Religion• Meaning

That didn’t work.

Happiness Initiative @ U of M, Version 2.0

• Interactive and activity-based discussion groups• Different people leading discussions• Mix in social events• Takeaways

• Gratitude journals• Random acts of kindness• Meditation• Physical activity

• Time balance + community vitality

• Pursuit of Happiness Day – April 13• Earth Day – April 22• Part of a national movement• April 2013 = MHappy Month!

• Most stressful month of the year

• A way to reach out to campus.

What Was It?Three main components:• Happy hours (a new kind)• Pre-exam stress relief/wellness• What Makes Life Worth Living Conference

• Support/PR for other events• www.mhappy.org/events

Happy Hour

• Happiness is not just about drinks and bars.• So much more than that.• Activities

• Yoga• Mediation• Speakers• Movie screenings• Stress relief

How did this happen?

• ~$6000 in funding• Be resourceful.• April = Towards end of fiscal year.

• Find your natural allies…

Natural Allies

How did this happen?

• ~$6000 in funding• Be resourceful• April = Towards end of fiscal year

• Find your natural allies• We HAVE wellness teams and sustainability teams.

• Breaking down “silos”• Support from The Happiness Initiative: http

://www.happycounts.org/toolkits/

Lessons Learned

• Know how you like to create change.• Follow your passion!• Seek allies. Ask for help.• Embody the message: Find your happy

journey.

Final thoughts

• Yes, we need second-order change.• We also need a new language.• We need…

• Positivity• Optimism• Hope• Love• Interconnection

My Inspiration

John de Graaf- Affluenza- Take Back Your

Time- What’s the

Economy for, Anyway?

Laura Musikanski, JD MBA- DoShorts: How to Account for

Sustainability - Sustainability

Decoded: How to Unlock Profit Through the Value Chain

THANK YOU!

Q&A

www.mhappy.orgwww.happycounts.orgChirapon (Pete) Wangwongwiroj

chirapon@umich.edu