If we want to cultivate a sustainable society, a sustainable world, let's make it a good one. Let's make it one in which people know how to lead happy, engaging, and meaningful lives. One in which people don't want to pursue things that ultimately damage their own well-being, other people's well-being, or our environment. Let's start by sorting out the world inside our heads, and make it one that is sustainably positive and healthy.

If people are honest, our first priority is usually our own well-being. If we are languishing personally, then we're probably not going to have much energy or enthusiasm for thinking outside of our immediate concerns and attending to greater social concerns. Research by Barbara Fredrickson shows that it is when we feel positive that we broaden our awareness and build for the future. We might expect that we first need to fix the ecological, political, economic, social and personal problems in our world, and then we will feel more positive. Science tells us it's the other way around. If we our sense of well-being is strong, we will naturally be more inspired, motivated, creative, and productive at reaching out to others and solving the problems we face.

That's why I've started this group. There are plenty of groups that deal with the many and very important issues out there. Those groups are doing a great job. But we mustn't forget about the world inside our heads, since that's the one that determines so much of our overall well-being. Building a better world to be in is important, but it is no less important to learn how to be well in the world we are in.