Happiness Boot Camp: What Would It Look Like?

A while ago, I gave a sad and sorry account of a dinner table conversation at which I was mauled for my supper.

Listening to the people around me it seems as if happiness is even less worthy of serious consideration than David Icke’s theories on world government. I was surrounded by people who believe in the virtues of cosmetic surgery as a means of enhancing quality of life and defying our genetic heritage. Yet, when it comes to happiness, the overwhelming consensus was that either one is born happy, or one isn’t and there is nothing that can be done to alter that.

So, it was entertaining to watch the BBC test out what seemed to be a blend of scientific opinion and home-remedies in Get Smarter In A Week. The tips range from drinking water and eating wholefoods to showering with your eyes closed and practising Sudoko or crosswords. The test group of volunteers who tried the regime before the TV group showed an improvement of up to 40 per cent better than in the initial assessment. There was no assessment of the placebo effect or the Pygmalion effect (so-called for the improvement that occurs from having an interest taken in you). But a lot of it sounded like good advice of the sort that couldn't do anybody any harm and might do some people a lot of good.

In the post programme interviews, a lot of the candidates were very positive about the benefits of following the recommendations. A number of them commented on how much it had taught them about themselves and their own strengths. It seemed like one of the biggest shifts in behaviour was that the subjects agreed to devote time to themselves, to cultivating their own well-being. So, often, spending time on ourselves seems like selfishness yet it is absolutely necessary if we are to meet our own needs and responsibilities, and to contribute successfully to our relationships with others.

Many people believe that intelligence has a substantial genetic component, and that we could learn while we are young but not older. Without addressing the contentious area of intelligence testing, it does seem as if we can increase our 'smart' scores in several areas by following some techniques, and that we flourish when others take an interest in us. The participants felt that they got a lot out of the regime and that being 'smarter' had added considerably to their quality of life and their relationships with others. Which highlights a newstory of several weeks ago in which most women reported that (given the choice) they would rather be prettier than be more intelligent (and again, there are many contentious issues there, but this was probably one of those simple surveys rather than one that allowed complex caveats). Anyway, the BBC had demonstrated that it is possible to take something with a significant genetic component (probably) and add to it, at many different stages of life.

These boot-camps like Get Smarter are very popular. There are all sorts of fitness boot-camps from marine style to pilates. What would a happiness boot-camp look like? I wonder what would happen if people took some of the recommendations from Get Smarter and mixed them in with the Happiness Manifesto? One of the biggest changes that people made was watching less television which can free up time for other, healthier, intellect and happiness promoting activities. There are many stories of people borrowing money from friends and family so that they can have plastic surgery. I can believe that some people borrow money to finance a holiday or similar. I wonder how many people would borrow money to pay for a language course, or navigation lessons or to learn a musical instrument. Something that they are learning for themselves and to enrich their lives, rather than for a job or similar reasons.

Many of us do not direct our energy and resources (e.g., time) to activities that increase our happiness or well-being. What would convince us that this would be worthwhile? Especially carers who have so many other calls on their time?

Copyright 2006, Tony Plant Happystance Project