Reading Time: 4 minutesA good friend once told me, “Life is not what happens to you; life is what happens for you” (Renata Farah). To cope with distressing circumstances, people need to learn to stay upbeat, control their stress, reduce their anxiety, and manage their frustration at the possible loss of a job and/or social involvement. Self-Management Life […]
Bouncing Forward…Not Back! Read More »
Reading Time: 5 minutesParaphrasing Ernest Hemingway, unfolding developments move slower until they happen suddenly. Today, the coronavirus outbreak may lead to a tipping point at which gross domestic product and its supporting metrics are supplemented by alternatives more conducive towards a sustainability transition. Disruptions related to COVID-19 are predicted to become more severe in coming weeks. They could
Sustainability in a ‘pandemic’ world Read More »
Reading Time: 2 minutesMany of the thorniest issues we face in our lives are less about right versus wrong than about right versus right. Across cultures, most people feel a strong sense of right and wrong. When facing an ethical dilemma, they generally want to do the right thing. Yet they often fail to follow through for fear
The “Thought” Experiment Read More »
Reading Time: 3 minutesWe’ve heard about the effects a high-sugar, high-fat diet can have on our health, yet we shouldn’t overlook the impact of our dietary choices on the environment. From growing crops to packaging and transporting goods, up to a third of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the agriculture sector. As Australia (and Victoria) become more
Reading Time: 2 minutesComparing rates of happiness across countries can be tricky, given cultural, economic and social differences that testing may not capture. However, while some “outliers” defy the idea that wealthier nations are happier – Nigeria is very happy; Japan, not so much – other factors, such as age, marriage and jobs, regularly show up in happiness
Money Makes the World Go Round, or Does It? Read More »
Reading Time: 2 minutesEconomics may be a great science for understanding numbers, but it does a poor job of predicting wellbeing. “When income exceeds a certain threshold, it no longer brings more happiness,” according to the “Easterlin paradox.” Within a country, the rich are generally happier than the poor, but that’s not true over time or in comparisons
Is Money the Root of Happiness? Read More »
Reading Time: 2 minutesHealth and Happiness Worldwide, health is the major variable that influences joy, even more than money. Contented people are healthier, and healthy people are more content. In the developed nations of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the higher the blood pressure, the lower the happiness level, and vice versa, indicating a “virtuous
Love, Health and Happiness Read More »
Reading Time: 2 minutesHappiness matters greatly in both philosophy and economics. Aristotle said that happiness is the supreme good, the end to which everything else is a means. However, he defined happiness quite differently than economists do today. In Aristotle’s view, happiness was not a matter of pleasure but a matter of morality. The moral person was happy.
The Weight of Happiness Read More »
Reading Time: 3 minutesOur environmental impact might not be at the forefront of our minds during the rush of the festive season and many of us are more concerned about just getting through it. However, the lead up to the end of the year is the perfect time for us to reflect on our habits and excesses. Christmas
A sustainable festive season Read More »
Reading Time: < 1 minute“People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher well-being and are more engaged in their jobs.” Most people do not realize how much their social connections mean to their emotional and physical health and wellbeing. Those with friends, family and significant others derive great benefit from their
The Importance of Social Networks Read More »
