As parents, teachers or people involved with youth we are faced with the demands of making our youth happy. Often we hear parents excuse a youth’s non constructive behaviour by saying “Whatever makes them happy”. We use creative tactics to entertain them, we feed them “treats”, cloth them with the latest fashions and give them what they want so that we can be sure that they are happy. We work hard at our tasks and take our job of “making” them happy serious. We often find however that the youth are still wanting more and all that we have provided is not enough. Taking the responsibility on ourselves we then try to up our efforts. New TVs, more computer time, pizza nights.... the list goes on. 

The search for happiness is a quest that people are constantly pursuing and is often fraught with disappointment and dissatisfaction. This quest for happiness can lead us to continuously chase more and more material possessions, new fashions, fads or trends.  We work out more, make more money, have more holidays, want more rooms in our house, desire more property, more cars, more food, more exercise, more sports, more consumption and more fun. Through our own quest we hard wire our youth to expect happiness through the same process of acquisition- we have modeled behaviours that our youth can copy.

We often find that having more doesn’t relate directly to being happier. Often the happiness we find is only fleeting and gone as quickly as it arrived. Working long hours to buy a new car or acquire a new possession does not often bring lasting happiness.

The latest happiness studies have given us great insight into how to be happy. The findings parallel many of the ancient teaching and show that a reflective, meditative (mindful) lived life can bring lasting happiness. These teachings go against much of our materialistic upbringings. 

Our capitalist/growth society says that we want more- bigger- better. We are bombarded by messages that urge us to constantly have more. When we look at media depicting happy people we see someone smiling in the ad when they have a certain product. The popular culture leads us to believe that acquiring possessions will lead us to the land of “Happy”. Imagine if it was that easy! We would only have to possess the depicted product and then- voila- Happy!

When we teach youth to work and tell them to pursue their dreams are we including the concepts that will make them truly fulfilled and happy in their future? Are we providing the youth with the tools that can bring them happiness in life? Are we providing the tools they need to learn the skills to bring them real success. The lessons within lessons. The tools that compliment their life education. The leading question of “what do you want to be when you grow up?” could be answered with “I want to be happy when I grow up”

There are ways we can assist our youth find their definition of happy. As guides and mentors we can encourage thought that will give the youth working tools to find their truth. The list is not conclusive. It does not include obvious like exercise, diet and contributing to the community. The list is meant to stimulate thought, conversation and ultimately promote learning. 

Here are 4 ways to teach youth how to obtain happiness

1. Help them to be clear to their purpose
2. Encourage them to choose worthy friends
3. Teach them the the skills to live frugally
4. Show them how to find seclusion for inner peace