“In the twenty-first century, we are on the verge of the “digitalization” era. In such circumstances, the paradigm at issue is happytalism. Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins are essential happiness hormones.”
Aziz Akgül, Ph.D.
Poverty, terrorism, climate change… These and other global issues limit people’s expectations of life and lead to unhappiness. The world order has become solely concerned with growth. However, unless a solution to the global problems at hand is found quickly, there will be no world to protect from the wrath of nature and people. However, this rapidly deteriorating order can be avoided by prioritizing development over growth and happiness over pleasure. This is precisely what happytalism states.
Let’s begin by defining happytalism specifically. A new economic framework, sociopolitical philosophy, and paradigm for cultural growth known as “happytalism” aims to maximize the understanding of happiness rather than wealth. A paradigm that advocates a dramatic revision of the current capitalist economic structure and management style with the goal of promoting happiness among people.
Unfortunately, the existing system in place makes people more susceptible to stress, egoism, racism, injustice, poverty, and other negative human traits. People get more and more miserable, despondent, and angry as a result of their living circumstances as well as their mounting anxiety. It wouldn’t be incorrect to claim that the current pandemic has spiced things up in this situation. Health issues were also a worry for people, and virtually every aspect of the world’s order changed.
History books can be rewritten with happytalism
Together, we have witnessed how nature renews, heals, and comes to life when people are forced to stop moving due to a pandemic. People need to refresh themselves, purge themselves of the demands of capitalism, and concentrate on happiness just as nature renews itself. Happytalism emphasizes localization and simplicity in order to obtain happiness, subjective well-being, and freedom in life. Returning to nature is the only way to create a world that is livable, orderly, healthy, and sustainable.
It is important to keep in mind that the economy is just a tool. When societies come together and return from the tipping point in the production and consumption of natural resources like oil and climate change, while focusing on the local and bringing the economy in the house, more human-scale and ecological economies can be built, and adhere to the demands of happytalism, positive steps can be taken. People who take this path can not only make the world a better place, but also find their own happiness and well-being again.
Happiness is in development, not growth
In a more compassionate and peaceful society, where wealth is divided evenly, where differences are celebrated rather than suppressed, and where unity is bolstered, social pleasure can be attained. We have witnessed several occurrences over the years that demonstrate that discrimination has very negative effects. In contrast to concepts that isolate people, such as discrimination and egoism, the world needs more perspectives like empathy, tolerance, accepting differences, justice, respect for the environment, and equality.
The term “happytalist” refers to someone who seeks to achieve happiness, freedom, tranquility, love, environmentalism, justice, fairness, and tolerance through ease. We will be able to put in place the systems that will ensure happiness more quickly if we can put the general welfare ahead of economic growth and increase the number of happytalists day by day.
I applaud Professor Aziz Akgul for tackling this problem and delving deeply into it during his visit to Bhutan, the land of happiness. I strongly urge you to read the book titled “Happytalism,” which is offered in all bookshops in both English and Turkish, in order for the paradigm of happytalism to first expand in our nation and then all over the world and establish itself as working model.
Happytalist