Happy Nation is based on two basic ideas

  1. Focussing on what makes us happy can bring us to greater heights of joy and fulfilment than focussing solely on the problems we wish to solve. This is the philosophy inherent in Positive Psychology.
  2. Happiness, like any other emotional state, is not an isolated phenomenon – it affects, and is affected by, the people around us. To reach fulfilment we must work towards enhancing the happiness of all, using love, compassion and gratitude. This social happiness philosophy is consistent with the principles of Deep Ecology.

Stephanie Hills has thirty years’ experience working with people in distress, both as a social worker and a counsellor.

A large part of her work has comprised using narrative and art therapy to help people move on from depression. While still helping people facing difficulties, Stephanie’s work has broadened to include the promotion and enhancement of individual and social happiness.

Using the principles of Positive Psychology and Deep Ecology, she assists individuals and groups to improve their functioning in various life spheres, taking into account the social, cultural, economic and environmental context of people’s lives.

  • Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy

    Active Hope: How to Face the Mess we’re in Without Going Crazy by Joanna R Macy and Chris Johnstone Climate change and other problems faced by the world need to be addressed urgently, yet our most common responses – either panic, or trying not to think about it – are unhelpful. This book gives practical […]

  • Is Happiness a Choice?

    Decades ago, researchers discovered that individuals appear to have a ‘set point’ of happiness. For example, if someone scores 6 out of 10 for happiness, that score may slightly increase or decrease according to life’s ups and downs, but they’re likely to keep returning to a 6 over their lifetime. A year after a big […]

  • Doctor’s diagnosis

    I went to the doctor. He said, “I see you have an iron deficiency.”I said, “How can you tell?”He said, “Your shirt’s really creased.”

  • Gloves returned

    Many thanks to the young woman who ran after me when I accidentally left my favourite gloves on a park bench. They would have been sorely missed. Thank you for taking the trouble to notice and act. May strangers be just as kind to you.

  • Random Acts of Kindness

    On 1st September, New Zealand celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Day, a tradition started in 2005 by Josh de Jong and some friends. After witnessing a road rage incident, Josh thought how good it would be if people could be kind to strangers, even if only for one day of the year. The result was […]

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Stephanie Hills

Promoting Individual and Social Happiness

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