Pathways to Happiness are policy suggestions for communities using the Happiness Index and scoring low in an area. Each one suggests policies and programs for when a community scores low in one area.

1. Pathways to Happiness
for communities where people feel rushed

2. rushed
Pathways to Happiness are ways communities can decrease
the sense of feeling

3. Communities
everywhere
score
low
in
time
balance. 100= happiest

4. Let’s look at one aspect of Time Balance:
Feeling rushed…or not

5. On average,
people feel
their life is too
rushed.
a score below 40 means we agree or strongly agree our life is too rushed, below 60 means we feel indifferently

6. Courageous Policies
3

7. mindfulness practice
integrate mindfulness in school curriculum
integrate mindfulness into work
integrate mindfulness into each day

8. mindfulness resources
What is Mindfulness? published by Greater Good:
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition
Dharma Teachers Recorded Talks on dharma seed: http://dharmaseed.org/teachers/
about mindfulness in general
for individuals

9. mindfulness resources
Resource Hub for Mindfulness provided by Eutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/article/mindfulness-
resources
Mindfulness teaching curriculum on page 108 of Proceedings on Educating for GHN
http://www.slideshare.net/TheHappinessInitiative/educating-for-happiness-go-to-page-108-for-a-mindfulness-training-curriculum-for-
teachers
for educators
mindfulness module for educators:
about mindfulness for educators:

10. priority counseling
for grief processing
wide range access to therapists and other healthcare providers
and other psychological health support

11. so each of us comes to a space where we
and treat ourselves with love and kindness
fully value ourselves
example of a citywide mental well-being program: Chirlane McCray announces city-wide mental
heath hotline article in NY Post: http://nypost.com/2016/10/24/chirlane-mccray-announces-citywide-
mental-health-hotline/
example of a citywide mental well-being access to resources: NHS Mental Health Services
directory of services in Bristol, UK: http://www.mindcharity.co.uk/mind-directory-categories/nhs-mental-
health-services/

12. public transportation
that really works

13. a system that works faster & cheaper than the car
Shanghai metro system is one of the newest and fastest growing. Wikipedia article on history of Shanghai
Metro: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Metro#History
Ten of the Best City Train Networks - photo journal of metro systems in Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2014/feb/18/ten-best-city-train-networks-in-pictures

14. bicycle friendly cities
Urban transport transitions: Copenhagen, City of Cyclists. A white paper on bikes in
cities: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259138837_Urban_transport_transitions_Copenhagen_City_of_Cyclists
It Turns Our That Protected Bike Lanes are Fantastic for Walking Safety too: an
article on bikes in cities: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/it-turns-out-that-protected-bike-lanes-are-fantastic-for-
walking-safety-too

15. What’s it
going to
take??

16. if you practice mindfulness
practice
if you manage others
practice
walk the talk
start meetings with a short mindfulness practice

17. public awareness campaigns
on a small or large scale
education

18. build partnerships
speak loudly
public demand
use public transportation 1x more a month

19. get help for your problems – nobody gets through
life without grief and everybody deserves help
be kind to yourself, especially when it comes to all
the ways you feel like you fail, then be especially
kind
take care of you
join a community that meets regularly and where
when you leave, you feel good or better

20. Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool series
Campaign finance reform
Guaranteed basic income
Media reform
Massive public transportation
Local food reliance
Village living (cities and rural)
Multi-use zoning
Public spaces
Political festivals
Participatory governance
Participatory budgeting
Anti-corruption policies
Transparency in government
Compassion training for police
Community-based monitoring
Sousveillance
Vote holiday
Vacation laws & Vacation Incentives
Family & Sick leave laws
Flex time and job share laws
Telecommuting policies
Babies at work policies
Intergenerational care
Department of Neighborhoods
Volunteer programs
Mindfulness practice in schools
Social justice awareness raising
Mental health –priority counseling
Same Sex Marriage Laws
Public child care
Age-friendly cities
Loneliness awareness campaign
Heritage Programs
Rural Colleges
Arts & Culture Policy
Lifelong Learning Programs
War on Adult illiteracy
Low Cost & Tuition Free College

21. We envision a world where all beings can
thrive.
Can you envision it too?
happycounts.org