Project Happiness Articles — educator

If happiness is available to us at any moment through the power of our minds, why does it sometimes seem so hard to do? When our thoughts run amok, how do we choose better ones? We’ve all had those experiences (moments, hours, even days!) when finding a happier thought seemed nearly impossible. When endless loops of worry, frustration, overwhelm, etc. not only challenged our ability to find our happy place, they caused us to forget we even had the choice.

Adam, an English teacher addressing the skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety in teens, implemented the Project Happiness Curriculum for his junior English classes over the course of six weeks. He says that while kids sometimes may seem outwardly apathetic, deep down they want to “contribute in a really deep way.” He created a safe space and taught them that they are in control of their own happiness despite the overwhelming environmental pressure to succeed.