by Roland Majla | March, 2024 | Loneliness, Roland Majla, World Happiness Summit (Wohasu)
For those who are not aware of what WOHASU is, I’ll start my writing with a link: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/ WOHASU is The World Happiness Summit, and it was created to bring awareness about the benefits of happiness and wellbeing. Or as Karen Guggenheim the founder & CEO has said: “instead of letting life happen to you, show up to your life”. Listen to the audio version of this article At WOHASU 2024 in London, Karen had a brilliant conversation with Dr. Vivek Murthy, American Surgeon General who has a keen eye on loneliness and human connection. Dr. Vivek statistically explained the dire situation in North America and in general around the Western world, where 1 in 2 adults suffer a measurable level of loneliness, which leads to an increase of – 25% levels of anxiety and depression 29% levels of cardiovascular disease 31% levels of stroke 50% levels of dementia Ageing alone can lead to a higher level of all these morbidities, now, some of us are making things worse with our actions or inaction. In a world seemingly more connected than ever before, it’s paradoxical to acknowledge the epidemic of loneliness gripping societies worldwide. Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States, illuminated this sobering truth at the World Happiness Summit, shedding light on the staggering statistics that reveal the pervasive nature of loneliness and its detrimental effects on individuals and communities. According to Dr. Murthy’s insights, it’s alarming to learn that in the United States, one in two adults suffers from measurable levels of loneliness. This loneliness epidemic is not merely a matter of emotional discomfort;...
by Hayley Clark | March, 2024 | World Happiness Summit (Wohasu)
A last-minute ticket to the 2024 WOHASU event in London turned into an unexpected experience for me, one which I will treasure and reflect upon for many years to come. It’s hard to name a favourite speaker of the day, but the one who profoundly struck me was Alla Klymenko, a psychologist and happiness educator. Here was a woman whose words of encouragement about ‘feeling lost’ I could take seriously since Alla, being a Ukranian woman, understands first-hand, what it is to have her whole world, home, and foundation, entirely changed overnight. And here was a woman whose happiness was not only genuine but also infectious. Throughout her presentation, I typed furiously into my notes app, all the gems of wisdom she shared with the audience, not wanting to miss a single one. Alla reframed the sense of feeling lost and a lack of purpose into recognising that being lost means you are still moving, that you may be in the right place despite feeling lost, and that you can relearn what is right to trust in your life. Being lost is like losing a connection, but there is joy to be found in gaining new connections. Being lost can be freeing. You get to re-write, to start again, to rediscover (or discover) parts of you, and the world, that were not previously accessible. While absorbing these soul-quenching words, Alla asked the audience to participate in an exercise. She requested us to form groups of three people, causing the introvert in me to internally groan. Conversing with a stranger?! Please don’t make me! However, despite my typical knee-jerk reaction...
by Lee Newitt | March, 2024 | World Happiness Summit (Wohasu)
Wednesday 20th March was definitely not any ordinary day. Firstly, I was in London on the Southbank for WOHASU 2024 (I will come back to explain this). Even though I once lived in London nowadays (I live between a caravan on the Kent coast and the forests of Brittany), I find London instantly and completely overwhelming. Everything in London seems to happen at breakneck speed, there are so many people rushing, making noise, it Is dirty, expensive and have I said there are so many people! After a 30min cross London tube journey, I was anxious and drained of energy by the bombardment of my senses and attention. Wednesday 20th March was not ordinary because behind the scenes of a working life, a few days earlier my partner Bridget who I adore and love deeply, had been rushed into hospital with a perforated appendix while I was away working. Earlier that morning, through a series of texts on the train, my fears had been confirmed that Bridget was not recovering as expected from surgery because she had sepsis (blood poisoning), which is a potentially life-threatening infection. I know this because Bridget was a NHS nurse with 40 years’ experience and had told me about sepsis many times (she was specially trained in sepsis response and care). My mind was racing with worry and I was at the World Happiness Conference, WOHSU 2024 (I will come back to this, I promise). On reflection, it is perhaps in these moments of challenge and threat of loss that a person is confronted with what really matters most in life. Love of Bridget,...
by Lesley Lyle | March, 2024 | World Happiness Summit (Wohasu)
Heather White, the founder & CEO of OneGreenThing.org, addressed the World Happiness Summit (WOHASU) on how the climate crisis is impacting our mental health, leading to eco-anxiety, especially among young people. Many of us feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to contribute to meaningful change when systemic shifts seem out of reach. Heather, a mother of two teenagers, understands the stress that young people feel from the constant stream of unsettling news about the environment seen on the news and social media that can make it seem like we are powerless to make a positive difference. However, Heather emphasised that individual contributions do matter. Although not everyone can be an eco-warrior there are vital roles for the supporters, encouragers and cheerleaders as well. She advocates matching one’s contributions to personal interests, strengths and communication styles. Taking small, consistent steps towards sustainability can, not only give individuals a sense of agency, but also help to drive cultural change within our workplaces, friends and families. Heather’s book, ‘One Green Thing,’ set to be released in April 2024, contains a 21-day kickstarter plan that details specific steps we can take. She reminded us, “Without clean air, clean water and a livable climate there is no wellbeing and our purpose is intrinsically linked to sustainability”. WOHASU plays such an important role by providing a platform for world experts like Heather to share key insights and the practical guidance we need to make a significant difference in the world both collectively and as individuals. Find out more about The World Happiness Summit (WOHASU) and add your name to the waiting list for WOHASU 2025...
by Sarah Monk | March, 2024 | Sarah Monk, World Happiness Summit (Wohasu)
Dr Amit Sood is a former professor of medicine at The Mayo Clinic and founder of the Global Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing. His Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) model helps people understand the ways in which our brain functioning can be unhelpful for our wellbeing and teaches strategies to help combat this. This program has considerable empirical research supporting its effectiveness at promoting wellbeing outcomes in a range of populations. At The World Happiness Summit (WOHASU) in London on the 19th of March 2024 Dr Sood shared, through engaging personal anecdotes, some of his ideas and demonstrated some positive brain hacks through experiential practice. He highlighted how difficult it is for us all to disconnect in our digital world and the impact this has on our brains. Common issues of human suffering such as chronic stress and long-term health conditions like back pain are significantly impacted by the way the human brain works. For example, studies indicate that the brain has two major modes; the focused mode in which we are engaged and absorbed “on task” and the default mode in which our mind wanders reflecting the pattern of distraction. The brain toggles between these modes of functioning. When too great a percentage of our time is spent in default mode, this is associated with poor mental health outcomes and given the cultural pressures of our fast-paced world distraction is a constant pressure. Our brain becomes fatigued every 60-90 minutes when we are engaged in moderately challenging cognitive tasks but we are generally unaware of this as the brain functions automatically below our level of consciousness. We...
by Lesley Lyle | March, 2024 | World Happiness Summit (Wohasu)
Troy Armour accidentally turned a personal hobby into what is now known as Junk Kouture, the global competition where more than 100,000 young people have transformed recycled materials into high fashion. At the World Happiness Summit (WOHASU) 2024 in London, Troy revealed that he started the initiative because he was a creative child but all attention and popularity seemed to be focused only on the sporty kids, which he wasn’t. He describes Junk Kouture as “sport for creative kids” where everyone is encouraged to “find the diamond inside themselves and let it shine”. To enter the competition entrants choose a theme and create a costume around it using recycled materials before modelling their design on stage to music. It is much more than just a fashion show, it is an expression and celebration of identity, creativity and commitment to sustainability from each participant. On the WOHASU stage, seven finalists and winners from the 2023 Junk Kouture competition showcased their costumes to a standing ovation from the audience. One, the ‘Wishing on a Ribbon’ dress, was created by Livi and Clem and won in the Young Designer of the Year category. The dress was made from 283 reclaimed silver ribbons, with a handwritten wish from the pupils of Wadhurst Primary School. Junk Kouture reflects the mission of WOHASU – to spread ripples of happiness to a global audience and cultivate a community committed to co-creating a happier, healthier and more sustainable world. Find out more about The World Happiness Summit (WOHASU) and add your name to the waiting list for WOHASU 2025 ...
