Be the Change (or 5 reasons to join the Exploring What Matters course)

Change seems to be one of the few things we can depend on in life. However, how that change
happens and how ‘in control’ we feel of the process is something which varies greatly. One way to
claim some time and space to make intentional changes for the better is to join our Exploring What
Matters course. Starting on Thursday 4 th May and meeting for eight weeks, Action for Happiness has
designed this course for people looking to be change makers: for themselves; within their families
and social networks; in the organisations they work for; and as part of our community, both local
and global.

If you’re someone ready to make a change for a happier you and a happier world, here are 5 reasons
why our course could really work for you:
 
 A practical focus: This is a practical course created to give people the tools, ideas and
actions they need to make a practical difference to their own life and that of others, from
the first time we meet. We will be taking time to share the research which underpins all of
this and also offer you lots of resources to read and think more into the science of happiness
and wellbeing. However, making changes to feel good and do good are at the heart of our
course.
 
 Balance: When we’re deciding what and how to change, we know there’s no single way to
find what’s going to work for you. Our course embraces this. Each session taps into expert
views, group discussion and individual reflection, allowing you a whole range of perspectives
to draw on as well as time to plan week by week the actions you’ll take to make change.
 
 Community: Making change is often hard and rarely happens without a few set backs or
disappointments. Joining our course connects you with a group of people who will not only
celebrate your successes but will also understand and ‘know the feeling’ those weeks when
things don’t quite go to plan. We will offer a community to encourage you to give it another
go or find a different approach to keep the change process in motion.
 
 Experience: This course is built on experience: the experience of people who’ve made it
their life’s work to understand how we flourish and thrive; the experience of facilitators
working to create group environments which empower people; the experience that
everyone in the group brings with them from everything they’ve done with their life so far;
the experience that we create by practicing mindfulness and gratitude together. It’s a strong
foundation to build your own change making on.
 
 A different point of view: Making change takes courage. For every voice supporting you
there’s another voice ready to tell you that there’s not point, things aren’t going to change
and now is not the time to take a risk. Too much of our mainstream media is invested in
sharing views which tell us we aren’t pretty enough, rich enough, safe enough, smart
enough or good enough. The Exploring What Matters course gives you voices which share
their own experiences of making change and the imperative to do this for yourself. We work
to offer you a view of our society which affirms that we have the skills, resources and power
to make ourselves and other people happier if we find the will and take action to be the
change.
 
People who’ve already done the course have found it gave them the boost they needed to make
positive changes in the areas of their life which really mattered to them, from renegotiating their
working life to finding more meaning in their days, to launching into community activism. It’s a
course which is creating ripples of change across the world. As we embark on our journey here in
Edinburgh courses will also be underway in Singapore, Mexico and Australia. We’re excited to see
the changes we’ll make. Join us!
 
Register online now at https://afh-edinburgh- 4-may.eventbrite.co.uk. Participation is by donation. If
you’re unable to afford a donation at present, fully funded places are available. Please email
happyporty@gmail.com to sign up for one of these places.