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#93 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:11 am
Subject: RE: UK happiness show for children 		mal4mac
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So concerned is the American Academy of Pediatrics that it is recommending a complete ban on television for children under two years of age. This is confirmed in an amusingly entitled paper, published by two Harvard academics, called Say No to Teletubbies: "Television viewing is exactly the opposite of what toddlers need for their development …[and] should be postponed for as long as possible."

TV adversely affects our children's behaviour and brain development, slows the metabolism, hinders educational progress, increases the likelihood of ADHD and is a major cause of depression. It is no wonder, therefore, that increasing numbers of professionals working with children are talking about decreasing attention spans and poor (even violent) behaviour.

Children these days spend 70 per cent less time being physically active than we did as children. The culprits for this inactivity include watching TV and playing computer and video games.

children only spend on average three hours and 30 minutes per week on active pursuits, whereas their parents spent at least 11 hours and 35 minutes. Musical and academic activities also suffer: children now only spend 75 minutes per week engaging in such pursuits, as opposed to the three hours spent by their parents.

Dr Sigman argues that it's not the content of the programmes that's to blame but the activity of watching TV.

Watching TV distorts the wiring in the brain," he explains. "When children are exposed to anything new and interesting, the brain releases a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is commonly associated with the 'pleasure system' of the brain and provides feelings of enjoyment and encouragement to continue doing what is releasing the dopamine. "Television represents the world in a much richer way than real life," explains Dr Sigman, "It is, in effect, a visual flavour enhancer, giving kids unnatural levels of sensory stimulation for very little participation." Why read a book, go for a walk, draw a picture if the rewards are fewer in comparison? If telly can give you so much pleasure, then surely there is no need to look elsewhere for contentment?

"The reality is, no matter how educational in content our programmes are, television cannot develop the brain as effectively as other activities," stresses Dr Sigman. "Watching people on the screen will not be as mentally stimulating as talking to another person face to face. And watching a factual programme will not develop the brain as much as looking at a book."

-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 16 December 2005 00:11
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

The research on TV being bad for toddlers does not take into account programs specifically designed to help toddlers understand happiness (since these programs have not yet aired).  Given all of the erroneous information children will receive regarding happiness (from parents, school, the media, etc.) throughout the rest of their lives, any harm caused by toddlers watching programs about happiness would probably be far outweighed by the benefit gained in raising a generation of children who will not as likely fall prey to the same mistakes their parents and grandparents made with respect to seeking happiness.
 
Happiness,
George
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

If you read the reference I gave you, you will see that the scientists there make a very good case for ANY television being
bad for toddlers. It doesn't matter if its a programme on happiness. "The medium is the problem", to paraphrase a famous
slogan.
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 15 December 2005 19:01
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

I appreciate the referral, however that article is not about Teletubbies per se; it is about toddlers watching TV in general.  I routinely advocate against watching TV (especially news and violence) on my own program, however I also understand that for something as little understood as happiness, TV can be a very effective vehicle for education.  We're not going to change viewer habits overnight; as long as children are still watching TV, its a step in the right direction that they watch programs genuinely designed to help them become happier.
 
Happiness,
George
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 8:03 AM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Happiness? Or adverse behaviour, warped brains, slowed metabolism, educational hindrance, increased
ADHD, and depression?
 
This programme is made by the same people who make teletubbies. See this for what top Brit &
Harvard psychologists think about teletubbies:
 
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 14 December 2005 18:42
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Hi Everyone,
 
I thought you might appreciate knowing that happiness is making its way to children's television.
 
 
Happiness,
George
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)
#92 From: George Ortega <g.ortega@...>
Date: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:11 am
Subject: Re: UK happiness show for children 		thehappiness...
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
The research on TV being bad for toddlers does not take into account programs specifically designed to help toddlers understand happiness (since these programs have not yet aired).  Given all of the erroneous information children will receive regarding happiness (from parents, school, the media, etc.) throughout the rest of their lives, any harm caused by toddlers watching programs about happiness would probably be far outweighed by the benefit gained in raising a generation of children who will not as likely fall prey to the same mistakes their parents and grandparents made with respect to seeking happiness.
 
Happiness,
George
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

If you read the reference I gave you, you will see that the scientists there make a very good case for ANY television being
bad for toddlers. It doesn't matter if its a programme on happiness. "The medium is the problem", to paraphrase a famous
slogan.
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 15 December 2005 19:01
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

I appreciate the referral, however that article is not about Teletubbies per se; it is about toddlers watching TV in general.  I routinely advocate against watching TV (especially news and violence) on my own program, however I also understand that for something as little understood as happiness, TV can be a very effective vehicle for education.  We're not going to change viewer habits overnight; as long as children are still watching TV, its a step in the right direction that they watch programs genuinely designed to help them become happier.
 
Happiness,
George
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 8:03 AM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Happiness? Or adverse behaviour, warped brains, slowed metabolism, educational hindrance, increased
ADHD, and depression?
 
This programme is made by the same people who make teletubbies. See this for what top Brit &
Harvard psychologists think about teletubbies:
 
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 14 December 2005 18:42
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Hi Everyone,
 
I thought you might appreciate knowing that happiness is making its way to children's television.
 
 
Happiness,
George
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)
#91 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:49 pm
Subject: RE: UK happiness show for children 		mal4mac
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
If you read the reference I gave you, you will see that the scientists there make a very good case for ANY television being
bad for toddlers. It doesn't matter if its a programme on happiness. "The medium is the problem", to paraphrase a famous
slogan.
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 15 December 2005 19:01
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

I appreciate the referral, however that article is not about Teletubbies per se; it is about toddlers watching TV in general.  I routinely advocate against watching TV (especially news and violence) on my own program, however I also understand that for something as little understood as happiness, TV can be a very effective vehicle for education.  We're not going to change viewer habits overnight; as long as children are still watching TV, its a step in the right direction that they watch programs genuinely designed to help them become happier.
 
Happiness,
George
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 8:03 AM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Happiness? Or adverse behaviour, warped brains, slowed metabolism, educational hindrance, increased
ADHD, and depression?
 
This programme is made by the same people who make teletubbies. See this for what top Brit &
Harvard psychologists think about teletubbies:
 
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 14 December 2005 18:42
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Hi Everyone,
 
I thought you might appreciate knowing that happiness is making its way to children's television.
 
 
Happiness,
George
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)
#90 From: George Ortega <g.ortega@...>
Date: Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:01 pm
Subject: Re: UK happiness show for children 		thehappiness...
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
I appreciate the referral, however that article is not about Teletubbies per se; it is about toddlers watching TV in general.  I routinely advocate against watching TV (especially news and violence) on my own program, however I also understand that for something as little understood as happiness, TV can be a very effective vehicle for education.  We're not going to change viewer habits overnight; as long as children are still watching TV, its a step in the right direction that they watch programs genuinely designed to help them become happier.
 
Happiness,
George
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 8:03 AM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Happiness? Or adverse behaviour, warped brains, slowed metabolism, educational hindrance, increased
ADHD, and depression?
 
This programme is made by the same people who make teletubbies. See this for what top Brit &
Harvard psychologists think about teletubbies:
 
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 14 December 2005 18:42
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Hi Everyone,
 
I thought you might appreciate knowing that happiness is making its way to children's television.
 
 
Happiness,
George
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)
#89 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:03 pm
Subject: RE: UK happiness show for children 		mal4mac
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
Happiness? Or adverse behaviour, warped brains, slowed metabolism, educational hindrance, increased
ADHD, and depression?
 
This programme is made by the same people who make teletubbies. See this for what top Brit &
Harvard psychologists think about teletubbies:
 
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 14 December 2005 18:42
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] UK happiness show for children

Hi Everyone,
 
I thought you might appreciate knowing that happiness is making its way to children's television.
 
 
Happiness,
George
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)
#88 From: George Ortega <g.ortega@...>
Date: Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:42 pm
Subject: UK happiness show for children 		thehappiness...
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Everyone,
 
I thought you might appreciate knowing that happiness is making its way to children's television.
 
 
Happiness,
George
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)
#86 From: "George Ortega" <georgeo57@...>
Date: Tue Oct 4, 2005 1:43 pm
Subject: 2006 will be historic for happiness 		thehappiness...
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Hi Everyone,
 
With the documentaries "In Pursuit of Happiness" and "Making Slough Happy" set for release early in 2006, our world is poised to receive a serious dose of happiness.
 
Check out this unofficial site about the BBC-2 production;
 
 
Happily,
George

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#85 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Mon Oct 3, 2005 9:48 am
Subject: So what do you have to do to find happiness? 		mal4mac
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Cover article of UK Sunday Times magazine, yesterday:
 
 
It's a long article, below is a novel out-take from the British
perspective. This throws up many questions. Why is Brit. academia
so resistant to positive psychology? Do humility, modesty
and conformity lead to negativity, if so why? ...

----------------------------Out-take-----------------

Positive psychology has a schmaltzy American feel that might not translate well into a British setting. Dr Nick Baylis of Cambridge University is working with colleagues to "tweak" positive psychology for "British ears". He calls his research the "study of wellbeing" rather than the science of happiness. As a forensic psychologist, he worked with young offenders at Feltham and decided that studying what went wrong in damaged lives was not productive. "I had looked at broken lives. Now I wanted to look at lives that go well."

He founded the charity Trailblazers to give young offenders positive role models. In his Young Lives research project, he interviewed hundreds of accomplished people from Kate Adie to Jamie Oliver about their strategies for making the most of life. Their advice and ideas can be found in www.YoungLivesUK.com and in the book Wonderful Lives.

When Baylis went to Cambridge as Britain's first lecturer in positive psychology, he was treated as a "neo-Nazi", he says. The study of happiness was a "taboo subject". He sent an e-mail to colleagues who might have an interest in wellbeing, and received a reply from only one, Professor Felicia Huppert. She studies the secrets of a happy, productive old age, and theirs is now a fruitful collaboration. The British approach to wellbeing also emphasises good physical health and diet, proper sleep, relaxation and exercise, and spending time in the natural environment.

Given its famously bad health and diet, Glasgow is a city in need of positive medicine. It's become a live laboratory for the new science. Last month, Professor Seligman paid his second visit to Glasgow's Centre for Confidence and Wellbeing, to spread the happiness gospel to Scottish teachers, coaches and businessmen as part of the Vanguard programme, backed by the Scottish Executive. The sceptical Scots seem to welcome Seligman's empirical approach.

Dr Carol Craig, who runs the centre, is passionate about curing Scotland's epidemic of pessimism and low self-esteem. She points to many indicators of malaise: the Scottish suicide rate is double the English one, and antidepressant prescribing is 40% higher. A new UN report says that Scotland is the most violent country in the developed world. Scottish children are among the least confident anywhere, according to the World Health Organization.

Craig believes that the dark, forbidding nature of Calvinist religion is responsible for the dour Scottish psyche. "We're a culture that encourages feelings of lack of self-worth. We're a culture that goes out of its way to make sure people don't feel good about themselves," says Craig.

From a young age, Scots are taught humility, modesty and conformity. Scottish humour often pokes fun at those who "get above their station". Craig speculates that the high rate of emigration from Scotland has denuded the country of optimists and left too many pessimists behind. Could any of this be linked to the fact that men in one part of Glasgow, Shettleston, have a life expectancy of 64? (Scottish men, on average, live to 73.) And that west Scotland is the unhealthiest region in Europe, with high rates of heart disease, cancer and strokes? Has anyone found a causal link between happiness and health?

 

 


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#84 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 3:54 pm
Subject: More Stinging for Nettle? 		mal4mac
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I'm still wondering if Nettle's book is worth buying. Here's part of a review from the Guardian, which kind of back's up Nozik's bad review:
 
----http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/scienceandnature/0,6121,1553069,00.html-----------
The only problem is that just as he throws in an idea which will appeal to the non-scientist, non-academic, he seems keen er to retreat to the lab and the experimental rats, like the good psychology lecturer he is.

I would like to have read much more, for example, on the levels of happiness (and how it is measured) as experienced in capitalist, communist and social-democratic societies. In the chapter entitled 'Bread and Circuses', Nettle presents a table denoting average life satisfaction of individuals in the West and developing countries during the early Nineties. The populations of the Eastern bloc show the highest degree of dissatisfaction. No surprise there, perhaps.

But why are Switzerland and Sweden, two countries with diverging political economies vying for the personal contentment honours? It can't simply be because they both enjoy nice countryside. Only a later passing reference to the role played by a strong sense of civic responsibility provides a possible answer. Britain, since you ask, comes in eighth out of the 40, ahead of France, but behind the US and Chile.

On a similar theme, there is little here on the history of happiness or, rather, its historiography. While it would seem to be almost a human right of today's homo sapiens, did our forefathers regard it in the same way? The Greeks formed opinions on the matter, but one would think that until Freud came along, there had been a philosophical void. And why have socialist and capitalist societies and, latterly, new age mysticism laid claim to deliver this commodity in a way that religion or pre-revolution monarchy never quite dared?

It is not that the author ignores the influence of class, ideology or gender in determining happiness, it is just that he appears reluctant to be drawn into conclusions on what are obviously sensitive, non-quantifiable fields. 'Happiness is a lot like love. If you have to ask whether you are in it or not, you are probably not,' reads his opening line. It's a slightly awkward start

-----------------------

I had similar questions on why countries and happiness after reading Layard and Seligman. Why are disparate poor countriy-folk ( Nigerians, El Salvadorians, Vitenamese and Indonesians...) as happy as Europeans when the countries are so much poorer and much less stable? 

The opening line is really bad, which puts me off. But this quote is good:

"Natural selection doesn't care about our happiness. It just wants us alive and making babies, miserably if need be."

The New York sun has an intruiging review, which puts Nettle back on to my "to read" list:

-------------

Daniel Nettle supplies at least part of the answer [as to why Americans buy into
self-help scams] in "Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile" (Oxford University Press, 216
pages, $21). Discussing new research in social and evolutionary
psychology in a short, dense, and highly accessible account, Mr. Nettle,
a lecturer at England's University of Newcastle, fingers nothing less
than evolution as the enabler of Dr. Gray, et al.

"Evolution has given us a strong implicit theory of happiness," writes
Mr. Nettle. "We come to the world believing that there is such a thing
as achievable happiness, that it is desirable and important, and that
the things that we desire will bring it about." Alas, he notes, "It is
not self-evident that any of these are true." Indeed, that's an
understatement. It turns out that our "pleasure system" and our "system
of desire" often work at cross-purposes, either leading us to pursue the
wrong things or leaving us unsatisfied if we attain them.

While this dynamic serves an evolutionary purpose - in direct and
indirect ways, it helps our genes to be fruitful and multiply - it
doesn't make our lives one long Tuesday with Morrie. Yet, as Mr. Nettle
makes clear, the best research shows that most of us, regardless of
circumstance, are more happy than unhappy. What's more, our general
level of happiness seems to be set fairly early in life and, with the
exception of short periods following both good and bad events, remains
relatively stable until we shuffle off our mortal coil. Suckers that we
are, most of us do think we'll be happier in the future, which leaves us
open to the predations of SHAM.

Although highly skeptical of self-help, Mr. Nettle does offer up his own
"design for living." Following William James, John Stuart Mill, and
others, he counsels readers not to worry too much about happiness per
se. Rather, we should strive to live a productive, interesting life. He
ends his book with a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Happiness is a
butterfly, which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which,
if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

Leave aside the fact that Hawthorne was a haunted, gloomy sort, wracked
by historical guilt, and even more annoyed at "the damned mob of
scribbling women" who sold better than he did. His advice about
happiness seems right on - and in any case, far cheaper than a $6,995
Life Mastery Seminar from Tony Robbins.

Mr. Gillespie is editor in chief of Reason magazine (www.reason.com).
http://www.nysun.com/article/16523

------------------------------------------------

 


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#83 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 3:16 pm
Subject: Stinging Review of Nettle's book - scuse pun :-) 		mal4mac
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>  The author completely missed the whole meaning of happiness.  
 
What is "the whole meaning of happiness", and how did Nettle miss it?
 
 >  Nettles used science and he arrived at the most absurd conclusions to happiness. 
 
Are you saying you can't take a scientific approach to happiness?
 
>  He does not know anything about happiness and some of his scientific information is wrong. 
 
What does he get wromg? And where can you find the correct information?
 
> In some cases he does not even understand what authors have written and has miss-quoted them as well.  
 
Any examples? 
 
> There is no agreed upon definition for happiness. 
 
There is no absolute, agreed upon definition of anything - but many authors I've read produce what seem to me reasonable pragmatic defintions (e.g. Seligman and Layard)
 
>  There is no objective way for measuring happiness. 
 
Depends on your definition of "objectiove", but there are reasonable ways to measure happiness.
 
> There is no proven system for teaching happiness. 
 
Again, there is no absolute certain proof of anything. But there are many happiness techniques which appear to work for many people, at least they have seemed worth trying to me, and they have increased my happiness.
 
> We aren’t even able to properly describe happiness nor do we have a sure-fire way for identifying  
>  individuals who actually are deeply happy. 
 
Why this demand for 'sure fire' certainty? Seligman and the Dalai Lama say they're happy, sound happy, appear very wise, give
'em a chance and their books may lead you to greater happiness (they certainly did for me!)
 
> While this appraisal is limited and not at all scientific 
 
And incredibly negative! Nozik certainly knows how to take the positive out of positive psychology :-)
 
>  I should point out that it seems that many of the scientists studying happiness do not appear to be particularly happy themselves.  
 
I have not made this observation.
 
> Nettle asserts this about happiness: “…if you are above neutral, but below the maximum most of the time, then this is probably as  
>  good as it gets.” 
 
I agree this is rather dour, as well as vague.  
 
> Nettle, our science proxy, considers no other source than science for steering us to happiness.   
 
This is simply wrong, check out the reviews on:
 
 
For instance, onre review states that Nettle quotes Nathaniel Hawthorne: 'Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.'"
 
>  While we eagerly wait for happiness science to mature past its awkward adolescence, 
 
I don't find Seligman or Layard awkward.
 
> there is another more immediately helpful wellspring available to us: happiness practitioners.  Examples of such  
> people include  Lionel Ketchian, founder of the Happiness Clubs, Julian Kalmar, author of the CD collection,  Happiness: The  
> Highest Gift, and Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, who wrote Gateway to Happiness.  
 
I'm an admirer of "the happiness club" and Pliskin's amazing "Daily Lift", but find Seligman, Buddhist and Layard's works just as helpful (in different ways). Nozick's review praises a  limited group of happiness practioners while slagging off scientists and ignoring other resources (Buddhist monks, ancient Greek stoics, modern philosophers of consolation) Why? He may have found happiness through his limited group of practioners, but (given there are no absolute answers) others may need other resources ... maybe even Nettle?
 
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#82 From: "George Ortega" <georgeo57@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 2:45 pm
Subject: Re: Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness 		thehappiness...
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Lionel,
 
I appreciate the review, however it would be helpful if you could cite some examples you disagree with.
 
You included Dr. Nozik's work as cited below to properly represent happiness, however these conclusions are contrary to the most authoritative scientific understanding of happiness we have.  Here are a few facts to hopefully clarify the matter.
 
1. The accepted definition of happiness from a psychology perspective is that it is comprised of positive and negative affect components, and a satisfaction component.  This has been the standard understanding of happiness for over thirty years.
 
2.  Happiness is called subjective-wellbeing because it relies on the self-reports of respondents.  However, the "objectivity" of their responses is well collaborated by peer and family evaluations, and by extensive psychological batteries.  According to Fordyce, these happiness measures are actually more reliable than most other kinds of psychological measures (see his on-line book) .   Most recently, Richard Davidson has been pioneering a way to use imaging like MRI to measure pleasure in subjects.  Although not yet sufficiently tested to prove as reliable as the other methods, this may ultimately represent an objective measurement.
 
3.  Dr. Fordyce created the first "proven" system for teaching happiness in 1977, and successfully replicated his results in 1980  (see episodes 2 and 11 at www.thehappinessshow.com for details). 
 
Lastly, Dr. Nozik's referring to the science of happiness as oxymoronic is unfair and misguided.  While there is certainly much we need to learn regarding how to become happier, we have a fairly clear understanding from over 3,000 studies spanning 40 years regarding what tends to make people happy, and what does not.
 
Happily,
George
 
Excerpt of what you cite from Dr. Nozik;
 
Also, happiness may well be second only to spirituality in the difficulties it presents for scientific study.  Some of these stumbling blocks include:

·        There is no agreed upon definition for happiness.

·        There is no objective way for measuring happiness.

·        There is no proven system for teaching happiness

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2005 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness

Dear Mal,
 
Yes, I read the book Happiness by Daniel Nettles. I rarely say what I am about to say but here goes. It was a book that was very well written as far as the words. The author completely missed the whole meaning of happiness. Nettles used science and he arrived at the most absurd conclusions to happiness. He does not know anything about happiness and some of his scientific information is wrong. In some cases he does not even understand what authors have written and has miss-quoted them as well.
 
I have included an article about this very subject from Dr. Bob Nozik below.
 
Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you,
Lionel Ketchian
www.happinessclub.com
www.thehappinessshow.com
http://happinessclub.blogspot.com

            THE NEW OXYMORON: HAPPINESS SCIENCE

                                                                   By Bob Nozik, MD

 

          British psychologist Daniel Nettle’s new book, HAPPINESS: The Science Behind Your Smile, really put a burr under my saddle.  Not because it isn’t well written; it is.  Not because it hasn’t enough scientific data; it has.  Not that it is lacking in humor or bounce; it isn’t.  No, I realized after reading it that my objection targets the domain of happiness science itself.  Let me be clear, I am a science lover having spent more than 35 joyfully productive years as a medical scientist prior to embarking on my second career as a happiness speaker, writer, teacher, and practitioner.

          Here are some of the problems with happiness science from my perspective.

          First of all, science is a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to happiness.  Most scientists studying happiness are psychologists whose training and experience come from their studies of patients with mental dysfunction and unhappiness.  For the most part, their training in happiness and the positive emotions is, well, limited.  But things are changing.  Because of the new burgeoning field of positive psychology, more and more psychologists are now studying positive mental and emotional functioning in addition to their dysfunction.

          Also, happiness may well be second only to spirituality in the difficulties it presents for scientific study.  Some of these stumbling blocks include:

·        There is no agreed upon definition for happiness.

·        There is no objective way for measuring happiness.

·        There is no proven system for teaching happiness.

·        We aren’t even able to properly describe happiness nor do we have a sure-fire way for identifying those individuals who actually are deeply happy.

          While this appraisal is limited and not at all scientific, I should point out that it seems that many of the scientists studying happiness do not appear to be particularly happy themselves.  Since happiness is universally desired, why should we believe the recommendations of those who would tell us how to be happier unless they are using their information for enriching their own happiness?

          Nettle asserts this about happiness: “…if you are above neutral, but below the maximum most of the time, then this is probably as good as it gets.† Despite this dour prognosis, Nettle, our science proxy, considers no other source than science for steering us to happiness. 

          I disagree.  While we eagerly wait for happiness science to mature past its awkward adolescence, there is another more immediately helpful wellspring available to us: happiness practitioners.  Examples of such people include Lionel Ketchian, founder of the Happiness Clubs, Julian Kalmar, author of the CD collection,  Happiness: The Highest Gift, and Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, who wrote Gateway to Happiness.  These are people who, through a combination of serendipity and great effort, discovered what actually works for cultivating deep abiding happiness. 

          We all want happiness, although few of us actually experience the happiness of our dreams; happiness that is independent of external events, happiness that doesn’t leave just as we begin enjoying it, happiness that arises from deep within us.  Someday science will provide the best answers; of that I am certain.  But we’re not there yet.  Until we get there, I suggest we make use of the wisdom and methods of those of us who have already succeeded in finding lasting happiness; the happiness practitioners.

                                                                                             
 
In a message dated 10/1/2005 7:51:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, mdmacg@... writes:
Has anyone read Daniel Nettles book "Happiness"? Is it worth buying? I notice it has 30% off on Amazon.

 - Mal
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#81 From: PRINTLRK@...
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 9:38 am
Subject: Re: Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness 		PRINTLRK@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Dear Mal,
 
Yes, I read the book Happiness by Daniel Nettles. I rarely say what I am about to say but here goes. It was a book that was very well written as far as the words. The author completely missed the whole meaning of happiness. Nettles used science and he arrived at the most absurd conclusions to happiness. He does not know anything about happiness and some of his scientific information is wrong. In some cases he does not even understand what authors have written and has miss-quoted them as well.
 
I have included an article about this very subject from Dr. Bob Nozik below.
 
Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you,
Lionel Ketchian
www.happinessclub.com
www.thehappinessshow.com
http://happinessclub.blogspot.com

            THE NEW OXYMORON: HAPPINESS SCIENCE

                                                                   By Bob Nozik, MD

 

          British psychologist Daniel Nettle’s new book, HAPPINESS: The Science Behind Your Smile, really put a burr under my saddle.  Not because it isn’t well written; it is.  Not because it hasn’t enough scientific data; it has.  Not that it is lacking in humor or bounce; it isn’t.  No, I realized after reading it that my objection targets the domain of happiness science itself.  Let me be clear, I am a science lover having spent more than 35 joyfully productive years as a medical scientist prior to embarking on my second career as a happiness speaker, writer, teacher, and practitioner.

          Here are some of the problems with happiness science from my perspective.

          First of all, science is a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to happiness.  Most scientists studying happiness are psychologists whose training and experience come from their studies of patients with mental dysfunction and unhappiness.  For the most part, their training in happiness and the positive emotions is, well, limited.  But things are changing.  Because of the new burgeoning field of positive psychology, more and more psychologists are now studying positive mental and emotional functioning in addition to their dysfunction.

          Also, happiness may well be second only to spirituality in the difficulties it presents for scientific study.  Some of these stumbling blocks include:

·        There is no agreed upon definition for happiness.

·        There is no objective way for measuring happiness.

·        There is no proven system for teaching happiness.

·        We aren’t even able to properly describe happiness nor do we have a sure-fire way for identifying those individuals who actually are deeply happy.

          While this appraisal is limited and not at all scientific, I should point out that it seems that many of the scientists studying happiness do not appear to be particularly happy themselves.  Since happiness is universally desired, why should we believe the recommendations of those who would tell us how to be happier unless they are using their information for enriching their own happiness?

          Nettle asserts this about happiness: “…if you are above neutral, but below the maximum most of the time, then this is probably as good as it gets.† Despite this dour prognosis, Nettle, our science proxy, considers no other source than science for steering us to happiness. 

          I disagree.  While we eagerly wait for happiness science to mature past its awkward adolescence, there is another more immediately helpful wellspring available to us: happiness practitioners.  Examples of such people include Lionel Ketchian, founder of the Happiness Clubs, Julian Kalmar, author of the CD collection,  Happiness: The Highest Gift, and Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, who wrote Gateway to Happiness.  These are people who, through a combination of serendipity and great effort, discovered what actually works for cultivating deep abiding happiness. 

          We all want happiness, although few of us actually experience the happiness of our dreams; happiness that is independent of external events, happiness that doesn’t leave just as we begin enjoying it, happiness that arises from deep within us.  Someday science will provide the best answers; of that I am certain.  But we’re not there yet.  Until we get there, I suggest we make use of the wisdom and methods of those of us who have already succeeded in finding lasting happiness; the happiness practitioners.

                                                                                             
 
In a message dated 10/1/2005 7:51:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, mdmacg@... writes:
Has anyone read Daniel Nettles book "Happiness"? Is it worth buying? I notice it has 30% off on Amazon.

 - Mal
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#80 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 11:50 am
Subject: RE: Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness 		mal4mac
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Has anyone read Daniel Nettles book "Happiness"? Is it worth buying? I notice it has 30% off on Amazon.

 - Mal
 
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#79 From: "Meredith" <meredith@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 11:40 am
Subject: RE: Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness 		meredith_cary
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So did I & thanks for introducing me to singing fish!
 
Meredith Cary, PsyD

From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Malcolm Macgregor
Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2005 6:46 AM
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness

Thanks George, I enjoyed the first interview with Daniel Nettles and others, only another 29 to go!
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 01 October 2005 05:55
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness

Hi Everyone,
 
Recently I've been listening to a few very good interviews on happiness originally presented on National Public Radio through this audio/video site called Singing Fish (here is one search I made and the results);  http://search.singingfish.com/sfw/search?a_submit=1&aw=1&sfor=a&dur=a&fwin=1&crad=1&coth=1&ctv=1&cnews=1&cspt=1&rpp=20&persist=1&exp=0&query=happiness&a_eml_search=1&email_type=2&x=37&y=11
 
Happily,
George

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#78 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 10:46 am
Subject: RE: Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness 		mal4mac
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Thanks George, I enjoyed the first interview with Daniel Nettles and others, only another 29 to go!
-----Original Message-----
From: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Ortega
Sent: 01 October 2005 05:55
To: a HappinessGroup
Subject: [happinessgroup] Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness

Hi Everyone,
 
Recently I've been listening to a few very good interviews on happiness originally presented on National Public Radio through this audio/video site called Singing Fish (here is one search I made and the results);  http://search.singingfish.com/sfw/search?a_submit=1&aw=1&sfor=a&dur=a&fwin=1&crad=1&coth=1&ctv=1&cnews=1&cspt=1&rpp=20&persist=1&exp=0&query=happiness&a_eml_search=1&email_type=2&x=37&y=11
 
Happily,
George

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (8)
#77 From: "George Ortega" <georgeo57@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 4:54 am
Subject: Singing Fish for Audio/Video on Happiness 		thehappiness...
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Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Everyone,
 
Recently I've been listening to a few very good interviews on happiness originally presented on National Public Radio through this audio/video site called Singing Fish (here is one search I made and the results);  http://search.singingfish.com/sfw/search?a_submit=1&aw=1&sfor=a&dur=a&fwin=1&crad=1&coth=1&ctv=1&cnews=1&cspt=1&rpp=20&persist=1&exp=0&query=happiness&a_eml_search=1&email_type=2&x=37&y=11
 
Happily,
George

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#76 From: <georgeo57@...>
Date: Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:50 am
Subject: Canadian Happiness Documentary 		thehappiness...
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Hi everyone,
 
I thought you'd be interested in this piece about a new Canadian documentary on happiness.
 
George
 

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#75 From: <georgeo57@...>
Date: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:21 am
Subject: Canadian Documentary on Happiness to air in 2005-06 season 		thehappiness...
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Hi everyone,
 
I thought you might like to know that a Canadian  TV station will be airing a documentary described as follows during this next season.
 

In Pursuit of Happiness
A colourful, celebrity host will take us on a journey though all the latest cutting edge research into what makes really happy people HAPPY! Using techniques from the pop best sellers to the scientific breakthroughs, we try to find out who are the happy people in Canada. Produced by Spin Free Productions in association with CTV.

 

 
Happily,
George

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#74 From: "Al Cannistraro" <al@...>
Date: Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:03 pm
Subject: Re: What Have You Been Up To? 		alcannistraro
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Malcolm,

You say I've achieved "a state of equanimity," and that make me feel
so accomplished!  But actually, I was merely describing my new-found
sense of satisfaction with my life situation.  I don't know how I
would in fact have reacted had my news been very, very bad.

You mention Jon Kabat-Zinn's "Full Catastrophe Living."
Coincidentally, I do happen to teach, from time to time, a proprietary
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course that's largely based on
Kabat-Zinn's work.

Also, as most of us are, I am a student of positive psychology (and
now an instructor/coach).

Another significant influence in the way I expereince life is the
book, "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment," by
Eckhart Tolle.

So, if I have indeed achieved a "state of equanimity," which still
sounds way overly exalted to me, I'd have to credeit those three
influences.

Rather than characterize my "state," I'd prefer to say merely that I
am happier now than I have been in the past, but I could stand to be
happier.

Al C.


--- In happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Malcolm Macgregor"
<mdmacg@d...> wrote:
>
> I'm following a mindfulness meditation course based on
>
>  <http://www.321books.co.uk/reviews/self-help/full-catastrophe-
living.htm>
> Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
>
> Highly recommended!
>
> > But, by Sunday afternoon, I was able to put it all into perspective
> > and I was at peace with whatever was coming my way.
>
> Could you tell us more about how you achieved this state of
> equanimity?
>
> Kabat-Zinn's work is all about achieving the state you describe.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)
#73 From: "Aymee Coget" <positiveleadership@...>
Date: Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:16 pm
Subject: Re: What Have You Been Up To? 		positivelead...
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Hello Happiness Group!  Thank you Al... for kicking this group in the rear and getting us to talk, :-)
 
I would love to take this opportunity to tell the group what has been consuming my happy time...
 
1) I have compiled a 104 page "treatment" (a business plan for a TV show) based on positive psychology principles.  It is now in the hands of the former head of ABC, Brandon Stoddard, and it will be pitched to several major production companies on March 29th.  I am trying to bring happiness to the television!  Worst case scenario, for this is that I will be getting great feedback from real industry professionals so I can improve it and keep plugging along until it works.  Best case scenario is that they love it!
 
2) We are starting up the happiness club again here in San Francisco with the next date being April 17th.  Our topic of discussion is "Happiness Free-for-All".  I am looking forward to it.
 
3) Writing my dissertation proposal on Authentic Leadership Development, graduation is expected June 2006.
 
4) Trying to connect with other people who are working in leadership with a positive focus.
 
 
I would love to exchange ideas and so forth if anyone is interested,
 
Sending love and happiness to the group!!!
 
Aymee
 

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)
#72 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Sat Mar 26, 2005 6:47 pm
Subject: RE: What Have You Been Up To? 		mal4mac
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> I'll take this opportunity to invite members to let us know what
> you've been up to, in terms of promoting, studying or enhancing your
> own happiness.

I'm following a mindfulness meditation course based on

Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Highly recommended!

> But, by Sunday afternoon, I was able to put it all into perspective
> and I was at peace with whatever was coming my way. 

Could you tell us more about how you achieved this state of
equanimity?

Kabat-Zinn's work is all about achieving the state you describe.

 


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#71 From: PRINTLRK@...
Date: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:09 am
Subject: Re: What Have You Been Up To? 		PRINTLRK@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Dear Al,
 
I am truly moved by your experience of happiness. Congratulations to you my friend. Continue to keep choosing happiness no matter what and you will have untold power!
 
Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you,
Lionel Ketchian
www.happinessclub.com
www.thehappinessshow.com
http://happinessclub.blogspot.com

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)
#70 From: "Al Cannistraro" <al@...>
Date: Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:47 pm
Subject: What Have You Been Up To? 		alcannistraro
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I'll take this opportunity to invite members to let us know what
you've been up to, in terms of promoting, studying or enhancing your
own happiness.

My own happiness promotion activities are beginning to coalesce.
   Examples can be found at
http://www.thehappinessfoundation.blogsopot.com and at
http://www.happinessgym.com

The Happiness Gym website is merely a placeholder for what will be
my permanent site hosted at Zaadz.

I strongly urge anyone who might be looking for a web services
provider for their own business to check out http://www.Zaadz.com.
Ask to be notified of their debut.  If you do, please use my
referral code, which is alcannistraro.

Zaadz will be providing a complete list of services for one flat
annual rate.

I'm in touch with the founders/leaders of this group, and they are
good people, and this will be a good company to be associated with.

I believe the web serbvices will sell themselves once examples
become available.

In terms of my own happiness, I know that I've never been happier or
more at peace.  This was brought home to me over the past week.  A
week ago yesterday, my dentist discovered a suspicious-looking
growth in my mouth.  Later that day, my family physician confirmed
my fear that it could be something very serious.  I was not able to
get to a specialist until Tuesday.  Naturally, I researched the
possibilities.  I knew that it could be malignant, and that the
treatment options could be disfiguring and might rob me of my
ablility to speak.  I knew it could have meant a death sentence.
But, by Sunday afternoon, I was able to put it all into perspective
and I was at peace with whatever was coming my way.  I figured that
there was a slightly better than even chance that the growth was
benign.  I learned Tuedsay that was.

So many good things happened to me as a result of this episode.  It
helped me grow, it brought me and my wife closer, it gave me an
enhanced appreciation for everything, and it prepared me to better
deal with future repititions of such scares.

Plus, the specialist diagnosed the reason for my years-long
annoyingly chronic cough, and he prescribed an effective remedy!

By comparison, about 15 years ago I learned that I had a chronic but
not life threatening disease.  That sent me into a serious period of
pessimism and varying degrees of depression.

So that's how I know for sure that I'm happier and more at peace
than I've ever been before.

Another reason is my comfort level in telling these stories --
somehting that i would not have been able to as my former self.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (5)
#69 From: "Al Cannistraro" <al@...>
Date: Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:15 pm
Subject: A Reminder that the HappiessGroup Exists 		alcannistraro
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I'm posting this as a reminder that the HappinessGroup is still in
existence as a Yahoo Group.

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#68 From: "George Ortega" <georgeo57@...>
Date: Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:55 am
Subject: Austrailian Broadcasting Corporation's Happiness 		thehappiness...
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Merry Christmas everyone.
 
I also posted the ABC happiness show message on another list and was informed that the ABC station is in Australia!  With any luck a PBS station here will re-broadcast the program.
 
George
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Ortega" <georgeo57@...>
To: "a YahooPositivepsych" <positivepsych@yahoogroups.com>; "a
HappinessGroup" <happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 6:58 PM
Subject: [positivepsych] ABC Happiness Program March 3rd


Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if all of you know that ABC is planning a program on happiness
on March 3rd.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200403/highlights/220198.htm

Happily,
George



Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#67 From: PRINTLRK@...
Date: Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:25 pm
Subject: Re: ABC Happiness Program March 3rd 		PRINTLRK@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Thank you George.
 
I want to wish you the very best for the holidays. Much happiness to you always my friend.
 
 
Sending Love, and Happiness to you,
LionelJKetchian

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (2)
#66 From: "George Ortega" <georgeo57@...>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:58 pm
Subject: ABC Happiness Program March 3rd 		thehappiness...
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Hi Everyone,
 
I'm not sure if all of you know that ABC is planning a program on happiness on March 3rd.
 
 
Happily,
George


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#64 From: <georgeo57@...>
Date: Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:20 pm
Subject: Re: Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities 		thehappiness...
Offline Offline
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Malcolm,
Thanks for the complements and the referral.
 
I'm interested to know what you've been doing to study/ teach/ promote happiness; perhaps we can work together.  For example, if you would like to do a 10 minute video interviewing people about happiness or explaining/promoting an important aspect of happiness, I would be glad to append it as the last ten minutes of one of our episodes.  This same invitation goes out to everyone else in our happinesssgroup!
 
George
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 7:03 PM
Subject: RE: [happinessgroup] Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities

A very impressive web site George! I like the stress you have on "the Fordyce program". I came across this in Michael Eysenck's book simply called "Happiness", and some othere serious psychology books.. Michael is,of course,  a serious Cognitive Psychologist (son of Hans) and gives Fordyce a big thumbs up. I found Fordyce's free online book and was amazed at such a resource being given away free - shows Fordyce cares more about increasing happiness than making big bucks. Nice to see you link to it very prominently from your site. I look forward to the videos!
 
The vanguard people are very good at giving short summaries of their teleconferences in their yahoo group, so I recommend simply looking back over their postings.
 
Please remind us when you put your next great video up. You want to get in touch with BBC2 or Channel 4 in the UK, they are the channels most likely to be interested in the kind of documentary you are working on. They also have roving reporters like Louis Theroux who look into zany aspects of US cable TV and the like - and will do 'zany but good' as well as 'zany and weird' (you  are in the former category :-)
 
Malcolm
-----Original Message-----
From: georgeo57@... [mailto:georgeo57@...]
Sent: 12 November 2004 19:43
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities

Hi Al and Happinessgroup,
 
Recently I've been working with an author and an artist to bring happiness instruction into elementary schools,through their reading curriculum.  We have also begun work on a happiness-themed comic strip for newspaper syndication.
 
In September, I debuted a twenty eight 1/2 hour segments presentation of Michael Fordyce's "The Psychology of Happiness" 14 hour video series in a new cable television program here in White Plains.  Michael suggested that I place a few of his hour long episodes on The Happiness Show website, and three episodes should be ready to view from there before next Friday.
 
My www.thehappinessshow.com website is shaping up, and I'm waiting for Google to fully index the site before I begin to promote it.
 
I've been communicating with a film producer from Los Angeles and a film producer from Norway.  They are working on happiness documentaries.  The Norwegian film is intended for Scandinavian audiences. 
 
Recently I enrolled in Empire State College.  My mentor there, Miriam Tatzel, published a paper on happiness and consumerism for The Journal of Happiness Studies last year.
I'm hoping to work with her on promoting the "happiness as a product" concept in academic and business forums.
 
Lionel and I are still taping episodes of The Happiness Show (there are over 70 so far).  Recently I've been experimenting with a happiness-increase method I refer to as the "Bliss Mantra Method" which is derived from Transcendental Mediation and affirmations research.   Last week we taped an episode that describes it, and it should be available for viewing from the website before Christmas.
 
I'm interested in knowing how happiness coaching has been progressing.  I haven't been keeping up with The Vanguard group's teleconferences; can you provide a brief update on what they've been working on?
 
George
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 8:39 AM
Subject: [happinessgroup] Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities


This group has been inactive for awhile.  What happiness-promotion
or study activities are members currently pursuing individually?
Al Cannistraro







Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (4)
#63 From: "Malcolm Macgregor" <mdmacg@...>
Date: Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:03 am
Subject: RE: Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities 		mal4mac
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
A very impressive web site George! I like the stress you have on "the Fordyce program". I came across this in Michael Eysenck's book simply called "Happiness", and some othere serious psychology books.. Michael is,of course,  a serious Cognitive Psychologist (son of Hans) and gives Fordyce a big thumbs up. I found Fordyce's free online book and was amazed at such a resource being given away free - shows Fordyce cares more about increasing happiness than making big bucks. Nice to see you link to it very prominently from your site. I look forward to the videos!
 
The vanguard people are very good at giving short summaries of their teleconferences in their yahoo group, so I recommend simply looking back over their postings.
 
Please remind us when you put your next great video up. You want to get in touch with BBC2 or Channel 4 in the UK, they are the channels most likely to be interested in the kind of documentary you are working on. They also have roving reporters like Louis Theroux who look into zany aspects of US cable TV and the like - and will do 'zany but good' as well as 'zany and weird' (you  are in the former category :-)
 
Malcolm
-----Original Message-----
From: georgeo57@... [mailto:georgeo57@...]
Sent: 12 November 2004 19:43
To: happinessgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [happinessgroup] Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities

Hi Al and Happinessgroup,
 
Recently I've been working with an author and an artist to bring happiness instruction into elementary schools,through their reading curriculum.  We have also begun work on a happiness-themed comic strip for newspaper syndication.
 
In September, I debuted a twenty eight 1/2 hour segments presentation of Michael Fordyce's "The Psychology of Happiness" 14 hour video series in a new cable television program here in White Plains.  Michael suggested that I place a few of his hour long episodes on The Happiness Show website, and three episodes should be ready to view from there before next Friday.
 
My www.thehappinessshow.com website is shaping up, and I'm waiting for Google to fully index the site before I begin to promote it.
 
I've been communicating with a film producer from Los Angeles and a film producer from Norway.  They are working on happiness documentaries.  The Norwegian film is intended for Scandinavian audiences. 
 
Recently I enrolled in Empire State College.  My mentor there, Miriam Tatzel, published a paper on happiness and consumerism for The Journal of Happiness Studies last year.
I'm hoping to work with her on promoting the "happiness as a product" concept in academic and business forums.
 
Lionel and I are still taping episodes of The Happiness Show (there are over 70 so far).  Recently I've been experimenting with a happiness-increase method I refer to as the "Bliss Mantra Method" which is derived from Transcendental Mediation and affirmations research.   Last week we taped an episode that describes it, and it should be available for viewing from the website before Christmas.
 
I'm interested in knowing how happiness coaching has been progressing.  I haven't been keeping up with The Vanguard group's teleconferences; can you provide a brief update on what they've been working on?
 
George
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 8:39 AM
Subject: [happinessgroup] Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities


This group has been inactive for awhile.  What happiness-promotion
or study activities are members currently pursuing individually?
Al Cannistraro






Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (4)
#62 From: <georgeo57@...>
Date: Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:43 pm
Subject: Re: Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities 		thehappiness...
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Hi Al and Happinessgroup,
 
Recently I've been working with an author and an artist to bring happiness instruction into elementary schools,through their reading curriculum.  We have also begun work on a happiness-themed comic strip for newspaper syndication.
 
In September, I debuted a twenty eight 1/2 hour segments presentation of Michael Fordyce's "The Psychology of Happiness" 14 hour video series in a new cable television program here in White Plains.  Michael suggested that I place a few of his hour long episodes on The Happiness Show website, and three episodes should be ready to view from there before next Friday.
 
My www.thehappinessshow.com website is shaping up, and I'm waiting for Google to fully index the site before I begin to promote it.
 
I've been communicating with a film producer from Los Angeles and a film producer from Norway.  They are working on happiness documentaries.  The Norwegian film is intended for Scandinavian audiences. 
 
Recently I enrolled in Empire State College.  My mentor there, Miriam Tatzel, published a paper on happiness and consumerism for The Journal of Happiness Studies last year.
I'm hoping to work with her on promoting the "happiness as a product" concept in academic and business forums.
 
Lionel and I are still taping episodes of The Happiness Show (there are over 70 so far).  Recently I've been experimenting with a happiness-increase method I refer to as the "Bliss Mantra Method" which is derived from Transcendental Mediation and affirmations research.   Last week we taped an episode that describes it, and it should be available for viewing from the website before Christmas.
 
I'm interested in knowing how happiness coaching has been progressing.  I haven't been keeping up with The Vanguard group's teleconferences; can you provide a brief update on what they've been working on?
 
George
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 8:39 AM
Subject: [happinessgroup] Current Happiness Promotion/Study Activities


This group has been inactive for awhile.  What happiness-promotion
or study activities are members currently pursuing individually?
Al Cannistraro





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