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.

  • Keeping your head above water

    In tough times, it’s easy to lose equilibrium. Overwhelming feelings can take our rational mind offline, while our fight-or-flight responses take over. These responses come in many forms, such as panic, which destabilises us; anger, which can have us lashing out at whoever is closest; hopelessness, which renders us inactive; or numbness, which has us […]

    ,

  • Entangled Life

    Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures                                                                          by Merlin Sheldrake Written by a leading expert on fungi, this book stretches our usual understanding of life. There are slime moulds that can design efficient transport systems, fungi that render ants into zombies, others that enhance human understanding by […]

  • Car story 2

    Electric Car Owners Alert!  It was announced today that if you break down in an electric car, you can still use the AA. But if you break down in a small electric car, you have to use the AAA.

  • Car story 1

                  Fred was telling his friend how his uncle tried to make a new car for himself… “so he took wheels from a Cadillac, a radiator from a Ford, some tyres and fenders from a Plymouth…”               “Holy Cow,” interrupted his friend, “What did he end up with?”               Fred replied, “Two years.”              

  • Happiness at Your Workplace

    This half-day workshop gives an overview of happiness research and why happiness is important at work.  Practical exercises are used to infuse participants’ own work with meaning and fulfilment, and to generate ideas to lift workplace cheerfulness. Content can be tailored to your unique work situation. Contact steph@happynation.co.nz to find out more, or to order […]

Stephanie Hills

Promoting Individual and Social Happiness

Categories