Happiness and Its Causes
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I returned from my holiday in the sun fully expecting a few days of lovely relaxation and gentle meditation at the Second Annual European Conference on Happiness and its Causes. But what I got was an incredibly compact program, exhaustive and stressful. And great.
During the three days of the conference, happiness was 'attacked' from all sides, examined in great detail, pulled apart, then finally reassembled into a more user-friendly concept - one that can be worked with everyday. With almost 30 presenters, no stone was left unturned. And because we all tend to mean different things when using big words like Happiness and Love, re-definition was essential each time.
Last year, Goldie Hawn had exploded her own myth as the ever-grinning, happy nymphet, talking about her long years of depression and how she overcame it. This year Ruby Wax followed in that path. It seems all these 'happy' people' aren't so happy after all, which is a good lesson in itself.
Then the big guns of happiness appeared (if you’ll allow this rather belligerent metaphor) - Buddhist monks, psychologists, social innovators and even a philosopher.
Alain de Botton led us very elegantly through a brief history of how to lead a happy life, while Matthieu Ricard, author of the best selling Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill, spoke in a usefully plain way: Happiness is a pursuit, not a gift. We have to cultivate it to make it blossom. The Kurdish poet Nazand Begikhani explained movingly about how to hang on to hope when there is so little.
The Austrian Stefan Klein led us toward a more scientific examination, and what a joy it was to discover more about the plasticity of our brains. No more excuses: we can all learn to manage our emotions better and lead happier lives. Of course, some people will be tempted to short-circuit this learning process and take pills - why not after all? This rather flippant attitude was quickly dispelled by Prof. Irvin Kirsch, who become a psychology superstar earlier this summer when he published the first meta-study of previously unpublished (and some might say suppressed) research on anti-depressants. He found that for only very severely depressed people should pills the first choice; for most people, alternative remedies were actually more effective.
A very poignant contribution was made by Lynne Friedly who reminded us all that in an age of inequality, the pursuit of happiness is actually more difficult for all of us, so some redressing of that social balance would produce a good effect for all of us.
Last but by no means least was William Bloom, who has been an inspiration to me for years, presenting his 'endorphin' techniques in a manner we could experience and understand at the same time.
I had been lucky to start the conference in that way too, with a workshop where I found myself dancing, singing, laughing and crying - all in one morning! In true Findhorn style, with the song still ringing in my ears now: I am the only one who can make myself happy....
Last year, Goldie Hawn had exploded her own myth as the ever-grinning, happy nymphet, talking about her long years of depression and how she overcame it. This year Ruby Wax followed in that path. It seems all these 'happy' people' aren't so happy after all, which is a good lesson in itself.
Then the big guns of happiness appeared (if you’ll allow this rather belligerent metaphor) - Buddhist monks, psychologists, social innovators and even a philosopher.
Alain de Botton led us very elegantly through a brief history of how to lead a happy life, while Matthieu Ricard, author of the best selling Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill, spoke in a usefully plain way: Happiness is a pursuit, not a gift. We have to cultivate it to make it blossom. The Kurdish poet Nazand Begikhani explained movingly about how to hang on to hope when there is so little.
The Austrian Stefan Klein led us toward a more scientific examination, and what a joy it was to discover more about the plasticity of our brains. No more excuses: we can all learn to manage our emotions better and lead happier lives. Of course, some people will be tempted to short-circuit this learning process and take pills - why not after all? This rather flippant attitude was quickly dispelled by Prof. Irvin Kirsch, who become a psychology superstar earlier this summer when he published the first meta-study of previously unpublished (and some might say suppressed) research on anti-depressants. He found that for only very severely depressed people should pills the first choice; for most people, alternative remedies were actually more effective.
A very poignant contribution was made by Lynne Friedly who reminded us all that in an age of inequality, the pursuit of happiness is actually more difficult for all of us, so some redressing of that social balance would produce a good effect for all of us.
Last but by no means least was William Bloom, who has been an inspiration to me for years, presenting his 'endorphin' techniques in a manner we could experience and understand at the same time.
I had been lucky to start the conference in that way too, with a workshop where I found myself dancing, singing, laughing and crying - all in one morning! In true Findhorn style, with the song still ringing in my ears now: I am the only one who can make myself happy....
Here Is The Writer : Annegret O'Dwyer
Annegret O'Dwyer is a psychotherapist who has had a practise in Harley Street for 10 years, and recently opened one in Southbank. She is accredited and licensed by the UKCP (United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy) and the EAP (European Association of Psychotherapists). Her favourite book is How to be Happy by the Dalai Lama, and The Right to Speak by Patsy Rodenburg, and she likes spending her evenings at the cinema or theatre.
www.annegretodwyer.co.uk
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