Learning to be happy and healthy is an important goal of education and of preparing kids for all aspects of life.
The following quote from rock band The Beatles musician John Lennon shows us how the need for happiness is often misunderstood;
“When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life.”
There are many debates on what children should be taught and how. It is safe to conclude that business needs to be taught, as it is relevant in every ones life and an important element for success in life. The key is to find the right fit between success, happiness and good health. Often there are compromises of one over the other. If kids are better prepared with a strong foundation of life skills and an understanding of business; they will have a better chance of making the right choices to live a happier and healthier life.
If you take the time to understand happiness; you are more likely to be happy. If you understand there are many aspects of your life that contribute to your happiness; you can begin to develop happiness in the business aspect of your life.
Success in business and making lots of money is not necessarily the right formula for a happy and healthy life. Success in business should be a goal, but it is also important to understand the compromises often made to succeed. Kids should understand the common compromises for success in business by taking the time and setting priorities such as; getting a good education (in and out of school), paying your dues by working to gain experience, having to relocate to find the right work and focussing time away from friends,family and interests to get ahead in business.
An interesting perspective on this philosophy is provided by 13 year old Logan Lapante’s TEDx Talk.
It is worth exploring resources to truly understand how to live a happy and healthy life. The following are guiding principles to health and happiness by Dr. Roger Walsh (scientist studying how to be happy and healthy):
Exercise
Diet & Nutrition
Time in Nature
Contribution and Service
Relationships
Recreation
Relaxation and stress management
Religious and spiritual
The book “The Happiness Equation” by Neil Pasricha is an interesting read to help you understand ways to be happy in life and work.
A summary of some of the book’s findings;
People who are more physically active are more happy.
Reliving happy moments in our day.
Random acts of kindness weekly improve your happiness.
Downtime increases happiness.
2 minute meditations.
Write down things that you are grateful for.
Do it for you.
Our cooking program helps kids develop an understanding of healthy choices with many other outcomes to help prepare them for happiness and success.
What is your plan for happiness?