Blog: On International Happiness Day - Start the Conversation

Today marks International Day of Happiness, 2022.  If that sounds frivolous in a time of wars, pandemics, and climate breakdown, you could look to the United Nations’ rationale for the day.

This cites happiness as the goal countries should pursue, and suggests that ending poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet as actions that lead to wellbeing and happiness. Not at all fluffy.

While governments play a crucial role in our happiness, to rely on them solely is to overlook the steps we can all take towards better wellbeing. 

That’s why Age Scotland is hosting free Wellbeing Conversations for older people’s community groups.  Wellbeing Conversations offer groups an opportunity to explore what wellbeing means to them, to share tips and ideas for health and happiness, and to look at what they can do, individually and together, to boost wellbeing.

Wellbeing Conversations take it as given that older people already know a lot about wellbeing.  Indeed, collectively they are more positive than middle aged and younger people.  With challenges such as poor health more likely in later life, this may seem counterintuitive.

But according to psychologist Laura Carstensen, older people “have more mixed emotions, and are more comfortably with sadness.” This is called the ‘paradox of ageing’ - recognising we won't live forever means we focus on what matters, that we savour life, are that we are more thankful. 

Age Scotland Wellbeing Conversations focus on lifestyle and mindset, but of course there are many other factors that affect our wellbeing, for better or worse.   Groups that wish to explore these could use Towards a Good Life, a free self-help resource and toolkit to support wellbeing in communities.

This resource was developed by the University of Stirling, based on research it undertook in partnership with Age Scotland to find out what matters to older people for a good life in later years.  It covers topics including housing, environment, travel, services, money and planning for end of life.   Wellbeing Conversations could be used as a starter for a broader exploration of wellbeing over a period of time.

To request a Wellbeing Conversation email healthandwellbeing@agescotland.org.uk.