1. From Depression to Happiness
Erick Messias, MD, MPH, PhD
Arkansas VP/Medical Director
Beacon Health Options

2. Studied under Socrates
Plato
( BC)
Studied under Socrates
Founded the Academy
Tutored Aristotle
Aristotle
( BC)
Studied under Plato
Founded the Lyceum
Tutored Alexander
The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato. Alfred North Whitehead, Process and Reality, p. 39 [Free Press, 1979]

3. Aristotle Insights into Happiness
Until then the concept of happiness was tied to the concept of pleasure – Hedonist View

4. Aristotle Insights into Happiness
Aristotle proposed that happiness is the expression of Arete (virtue/excellence) – Eudemonic View

5. What do we need to be happy?

6. What do we need to be Happy?
Aristotle’s Answer
Bodily Needs
Health
Vitality
Vigor
External Goods
Food
Drink
Shelter
Clothing
Goods of the Soul
Knowledge
Friendship, Love
Art
Abraham Maslow’s Answer

7. How do we go about being happy?

8. Aristotle’s List of Virtues
Deficit
Happy Medium
Excess
Cowardice
Courage
Recklessness
Insensibility
Temperance
Intemperance
Churlishness
Friendliness
Obsequiousness
Humorlessness
Wit
Buffoonery
Slothfulness
Physical Fitness
Fanaticism
Timidity
Confidence
Arrogance
Miserliness
Generosity
Vulgarity

9. Can we talk about Virtue without stating a war?
Confucian Virtues
Taoist Virtues
Buddhist Virtues
Hindu Virtues
Athenian Virtues
Judeo-Christian Virtues
Islamic Virtues

10. Can we talk about Virtue without stating a war?
Wisdom – creativity, curiosity, Open-mindedness, Perspective
Courage – Bravery, Persistence, Integrity, Vitality
Humanity – Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence
Justice – Citizenship, Fairness, Leadership
Temperance – Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Moderation, Self-regulation
Transcendence – Appreciation of Beauty, Gratitude, Hope, Humor, Spirituality

13. The Idea of Optimal Experience (Flow)

14. The Idea of Optimal Experience (Flow)

15. Characteristics of Flow
confront tasks we expect to complete
must be able to concentrate
clear goals
immediate feedback
deep but effortless involvement
sense of control
concerns for self disappear
sense of time diminished

16. Some Philosophical Thought Experiments
Not IRB Approved

17. Aristotle’s Deathbed Test
Imagine you are in your deathbed. Now, as you review the final draft of your curriculum vitae, what in your record will cause you to look back on your life with a sense of satisfaction?
In other words, how do you really want to measure the worth of your life?

18. Aristotle’s Deathbed Test
The measure of whether a man or woman is truly happy – is the degree to which one is free of deathbed regrets about his or her unfulfilled potential
Clip from Papillon
Existential Exercise: Write your own obituary

19. Conclusions and Summary
Since Aristotle there has been a tradition of Arete (Virtue/Excellence) Based Happiness
Virtues and Excellence need to be nurtured and celebrated – Good Habits
Recent research in positive psychology and intelligence measurement has contributed to an expanded view of these constructs
What’s your role in it? For yourself and for your patients/clients

20. From Depression to Happiness
Erick Messias, MD, MPH, PhD
Arkansas VP/Medical Director
Beacon Health Options

21. Exercises and practices

22. Gratitude Diaries (count your blessings)
McCullough, Emmons, 2003: Expressions of gratitude once a week for 10 weeks, better health, happiness 3 weeks later compared to: baseline control condition, a complaint condition
Lyubomirsky: 1 time a week write down what you’re grateful for, boosts in happiness; every day gratitude practice, no effects
Gratitude diaries promote
Reduced blood pressure
Better peer relations in kids
Boosts in test scores for kids
Emmons, 2008

23. Narrative See Expressive Writing Exercise Handout
Write about strongest emotions of trauma, or the facts of the event
Traumas studied: bereavement, divorce, holocaust survivors, 9-11 victims
Effects: increased well-being, enhanced immune function, reduced visits to health center, reductions in anxiety, depression
Narratives about positive self
Laura King

24. Contemplation Alan Wallace: Genuine Happiness
Attention
Breathing
Settle into relaxed posture
Focus attention in between what you’re looking at and eyes
Breathe 21 times
Attend to movements of lungs
Mindfulness
Of body
Imagine attention as curved surface
Move this attention up and down body
Be mindful of sensations throughout body
Loving Kindness
Bring to mind a person who is dear to you
Imagine person’s sufferings, yearnings
Wish for person’s happiness
Extend to another person, broadening circle of care

25. Positive Psychology Interventions
Have a beautiful day
Gratitude visit
Strength date
Fun versus Philanthropy
From Seligman’s TED talk 02/2004

26. Six Interventions to make you Happier
Have QUIET TIME
There are apps for it PowerNap HQ
Practice Gratitude: send out Thank You notes
Schedule workouts and Just Do It
Shut off your phone when hanging out
Write about negative experiences regularly
Improve resilience by narrative
Volunteer
(check out