Who is Teaching Us about Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being?

Authors

  • C O'Brien Cape Breton University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/hcs.2013.122

Keywords:

sustainable happiness, sustainable well-being, education, positive psychology

Abstract

The growing recognition that happiness and well-being are intertwined with sustainability is leading to new opportunities for enhancing happiness and well-being, sustainably. The education sector has a critical role in advancing this work but has been slow to incorporate sustainability education and applications of positive psychology. The concept of sustainable happiness (happiness that contributes to individual, community and/or global well-being without exploiting other people, the environment or future generations) (O’Brien, 2010a) offers an innovative perspective to re-invigorate sustainability education and shape priorities for 21st century learning – contributing to resilient, sustainable happiness and well-being for all.

Author Biography

C O'Brien, Cape Breton University

Associate Professor
Education Department
School of Professional Studies

Professor Catherine O'Brien is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategy of Nova Scotia and is a member of both the Active Transportation Coalition and the Active and Safe Routes to School Advisory Board. She has worked with Rick Foster and Greg Hicks to develop and deliver a course for UC Berkeley's School of Public Health and collaborated with CBU nursing faculty to explore the implications of sustainable happiness to nursing education which is now being incorporated into the nursing curriculum. Clean air Champions (CAC), a Canadian organization that uses the influence of Olympic, Paralympics and National team athletes to deliver messages on environment and human health, has decided to make sustainable happiness a key component of their education programs.

 

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Published

2013-11-15

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2013): Translating Happiness: Medicine, Culture and Social Progress

Section

Articles

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