In San Francisco I also met with Edwin Edebiri, Chief Happiness Officer of “I’m Happy Project” that has representatives in 62 cities in 18 countries with the biggest number of members in India ~ 1000.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=vxYyZiferEk
Just by looking at Edwin, you can tell he is a happy person, and you genuinely want to respond back with the same kind smile he approaches everyone. I met with Edwin and his lovely wife at the Pier 3 the day before his birthday. They were going to take an evening cruise for dinner and dancing while in the city. I felt very special that they found time to meet with me on a short notice. We were sitting at the pier on a sunny Saturday and discussed happiness as something you can learn but you don’t need a degree for it.
I asked Edwin how he came with an idea of starting this movement. Back in Sacramento during the financial crisis of 2008, many people in the area were unemployed and distressed and he felt compelled to change it.
It was hard in the beginning because you realize that there are many people and how can you possibly help them all, but he decided that one person at a time is a good start.
Just by talking to a person in difficult time and telling him/her your own experiences and stories about other people’s lives, you can make a huge impact. That happened to Edwin several times: he spoke to a stranger who looked gloomy and later Edwin learned that the sad stranger was going to commit suicide as soon as he got home that day. Thanks to Edwin, it didn’t happen, because a caring human is all he needed to keep living.
A conversation after conversation, step after step, Edwin’s desire grew into movement. Edwin interviewed thousands of people and wrote a card with 10 ways to be happy.
On 10.10.10 he organized the Happiness Summit in the Bay Area with 16 speakers. It was a great event with many happiness professionals and enthusiasts, including members of The Happiness Club. Here is what Edwin’s movement is about today:
We are a non-profit organization focused on spreading happiness globally in the following ways:
1. Happiness at school sessions
2. Focus on Happiness Global teleseminars
3. My Happiness Journals
4. By wearing the “I Am Happy” pin
5. Distributing the “Ten ways to be happy” cards
6. Efforts of local “I Am Happy Project” meet up groups
7. Performing a series of “Ten Days Of Happiness”
8. Networking with other “Happy People”
9. Promoting Random Acts of Kindness
10. Community outreach including schools, children hospitals, nursing and retirement’s homes
I asked Edwin, why is it important to teach children about happiness and how to learn it? He said:
“Children are taught a lot of things with the goal of hopefully helping them live a productivity and happy life. By teaching them how to be happy, you cut through the chase and go directly to the source. Once they realize that happiness is an inside job and theirs to choose, it affects the rest of their decisions and actions. All we need to do is continue to reinforce that and it could become second nature to them like learning music, bike, reading and writing, they have it for life. They will not need gangs, clicks, or the most popular person or toys as much if at all.”
I got “I’m happy” pin and a card with 10 ways to be happy. The first one is the most important: Decide that you want to be happy. There are other ways, like attending a conference call with happiness professionals, starting your happiness journal, joining one of I’m happy chapters or starting your own and leading happiness events in your town. Great work, Edwin!
According to Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego:
“When an individual becomes happy, the network effect can be measured up to three degrees. One person’s happiness triggers a chain reaction that benefits not only his friends, but his friends’ friends, and his friends’ friends’ friends. The effect lasts for up to one year.”
Imagine a world with happier people!
“One person can make a difference and every person should try”.
The Ultimate Answer 