Take action for happiness!
We're very taken with Action for Happiness. And in the spirit of seeking to make 2013 that bit happier for all our Beauty Bible readers, we want to tell you about who they are and what they do.
Action for Happiness is 'a movement for positive social change'. It's about bringing people together to create a happier society - which doesn't mean having more 'stuff'. (Something many of us are aware of as we stare at a pile of superfluous-to-requirement Christmas presents and wonder whether we can off-load them at the local Oxfam, or for reasons of tact might need to venture further afield...!) They've identified, for instance, that if you want to feel good then do good... And if you can't change something, the best tactic is to change how you feel about it...
There's actually sound scientific evidence for all of this being good for your heart: Harvard School of Public Health assessed 200 separate studies on psychological wellbeing and heart health, and established that optimism and positive emotion were protective against heart disease, reducing risk of a heart attack by around 50%.
The organisation also organises great events, including one in London's Red Lion Square later this month called Values: at the heart of a happier world. It promises to be a fascinating evening, with a suggested donation of £15. (But because they want to open the event out as widely as possible, they ask for a donation of your choice to support their cause. (Booking details are below.) They invite attendees to fill in a 'Personal Values Assessment', and bring the results along.
But because we know not everyone can get there, you might alternatively like to visit their website, where you'll find a brilliant Happiness Action Pack - and actions that can be easily followed, such as Find three good things each day...
Even Grinches can surely manage that, in 2013...?
Values: at the heart of a happier worldis at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL on Thursday 24th January 2013 from 6.30 - 9 p.m. - click here for tickets
