How to Cultivate Happiness in Organizations and Communities

Is happiness a skill that can be taught? 47*DURvyzblz.72 View this email in your browser How do we Cultivate Happiness? Our blog this week spotlights Dr. Ha Vinh Tho, a principal of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Centre, and a professor in several universities in Europe, Asia, Africa, American and the Middle East. He's also an author covering multiple topics that include education, engaged spirituality, intercultural dialogue and more. Dr. Tho poses the question "Is happiness a skill that can be taught?" He encourages mindfulness and mediation practices as a way to learn and cultivate happiness.  Traditional, contemplative wisdom, combined with the latest research in neuro-science, points to the fact that qualities like compassion, social behavior, altruism, generosity, and gratitude are inherent qualities in a human being. And, as we are all aware, these qualities are also very important components of happiness. However, happiness is not something that can be imparted from the outside.   Read More Would you like to visit Bhutan along with a group of authentic leaders, inquire directly with Dr. Tho and other principals of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness (GNH) Centre, and bring home transformational insights to apply within yourself, your organization or your community? Join our Leadership Pilgrimage to Bhutan to experience a once-in-a-lifetime full immersion opportunity. Learn More Register Today! Dr. Ha Vinh Tho Dr. Ha Vinh Tho is the Program Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan. He is in charge of setting learning objectives, developing the curriculum and the learning process both for Bhutanese and international participants. He is a Buddhist teacher in the Tradition of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism. Dr. Tho is the founder and chairman of Eurasia Foundation, a humanitarian NGO developing educational program for children and youth living with disabilities. He is a visiting fellow in adult education and humanitarian work in several universities worldwide, and has trained humanitarian professionals working in war zones and emergency response in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. His fields of research include: Cognitive and emotional development, social and motivational dimensions of learning, multiple intelligence, contemplative learning practices, interactive learning strategies, biographical dimensions of learning, mentoring and coaching. Learn More Register Today! Copyright © 2017 Naropa University - Institute, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you've attended a Naropa University event in the past or visited eNaropa.org Our mailing address is: Naropa University - Institute 2130 Arapahoe Ave Boulder, Co 80302 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

The Challenge and Gift of Diversity

In Conflict There is Wisdom 47*DURvyzblz.72 View this email in your browser In Conflict There is Wisdom Our blog this week features Aftab Erfan, a senior practitioner and instructor of the Deep Democracy method, a conflict resolution approach that encourages people to respectfully engage in and explore the differences that divide them in order to reach a mutually satisfying resolution. Deep Democracy is a very potent and versatile facilitation and conflict resolution approach that can be used all the time in all situations, large or small. The Deep Democracy method is distinct from many other approaches because of its orientation towards tension and conflict.  Read More This week we want to call your attention to two new blog posts both related to the ALIA Intensive starting June 22: Jessica James + Aftab Efran (above). This Thursday is the last day to register at the current pricing. Register Today! Aftab Erfan Aftab Erfan is a scholar-practitioner and the Director of Dialogue and Conflict Engagement at the University of British Columbia. In her youth, as an activist in the youth environmental movement, she became aware of social justice issues and the difficulties of working across socio-cultural, economic, racial, religious, sexuality and gender divides.  Aftab became interested in the Deep Democracy method when she met Myrna Lewis, a South African psychologist and the founder of the Lewis Method of Deep Democracy. Aftab immersed herself in the study of Deep Democracy over a period of 10 years and is now a senior practitioner and instructor in this unique conflict resolution method.  Aftab's PhD dissertation is based on a one-of-a-kind action research effort that applied the method of Deep Democracy within a small conflicted First Nation community on Vancouver Island. She has published many papers and book chapters and has worked in consultation with numerous private, public and not-for-profit organizations to find better ways to work across differences and use conflict as a fuel for transformation. Learn More Register Today! Copyright © 2017 Naropa University - Institute, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you've attended a Naropa University event in the past or visited eNaropa.org Our mailing address is: Naropa University - Institute 2130 Arapahoe Ave Boulder, Co 80302 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Is GDP Missing Relevant Measurements?

Consider sharing this thought-provoking issue. 47*DURvyzblz.72 View this email in your browser Gross National Happiness Uses Timely Principles ​Our blog this week focuses on Dr. Julia Kim, a global health and sustainable development specialist and a Senior Program Advisor with the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan. Dr. Kim poses a thought-provoking question to us: Does wealth equal happiness? By taking us through comparisons of gross national happiness (GNH) versus gross domestic product (GDP), Dr. Kim encourages us to re-think our perspective on the true meaning of happiness. The GNH Centre aims to integrate the principles of environmental conservation, cultural resilience, good governance, and equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development into the spheres of business, government, and civil society. In her capacity as a Senior Program Advisor, Dr. Kim has been leading a range of programs, including leadership development initiatives, multi-country education projects, and economics programs that seek to realign the values of work and entrepreneurship towards building a more sustainable and compassionate society.   Read More Would you like to pose a question to Guest Speaker Dr. Julia Kim? Then do consider our Leadership Pilgrimage to Bhutan to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, immersed in the world-famous Gross National Happiness (GNH) program. Early Bird price ends June 15, midnight (Mountain Time) Apply Here! | Learn More... Dr. Julia Kim Julia Kim, MD, is a global health and sustainable development specialist. She is currently a Senior Program Advisor at the GNH Centre in Bhutan leading a range of programs including: the "Global Wellbeing and GNH Lab" (with GIZ/BMZ and the Presencing Institute). Dr. Kim graduated from Cornell University, is a Specialist in Internal Medicine and Community-Oriented Primary Care (Tufts University School of Medicine) and holds a MSc. in Public Health in Developing Countries (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).  Watch an excellent video of Dr. Julia Kim speaking on the GNH of Bhutan. Apply Today! Copyright © 2017 Naropa University - Institute, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you've attended a Naropa University event in the past or visited eNaropa.org Our mailing address is: Naropa University - Institute 2130 Arapahoe Ave Boulder, Co 80302 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list