“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” - ARISTOTLE

Abacus Data created the Happiness Monitor, which was recently brought to our attention by an email from Ken Chapman and Reboot Alberta. Essentially, it shows how happier people seem to make the world better. “Happiness is also an important driver for behaviours. Happy parents are better parents. Happy people give more to charity and to others. Happy people are more generous. Happy people get more exercise, eat more healthily and live longer. Happy people are more resilient,” suggest the writers Richard Jenkins and Oksana Kishchuk, and back it up with their research and data. Below are some great stats that reveal how Canadians are feeling.

Mark Anielski also studies and writes about happiness and well-being and how it has economic impacts. Check out his blog post about a financial mechanism to help solve the climate emergency- by eliminating debt money.

Perhaps we need to reflect on what brings us happiness. How do we live life to the fullest potential? How do we change the state of the world so we feel we are progressing in a positive, regenerative direction? And haven’t the lessons from the pandemic shown us we need to change the world? That it might be time for Universal Basic Income to provide security to all? Or creating and distributing vaccines that aren’t given first to the rich and powerful nations first? Perhaps it’s also time to reimagine our economy and question how we create more value-aligned systems that strive to help everyone, not just a select few.

ASK for a Better World is all about striving for happiness in 2021, and motivated by making more just and equitable work.