Happiness Alliance, home of The Happiness Alliance and the Gross National Happiness Index survey: our theory of systematic social change. This model encompasses the activities that we have control and influence over: grassroots activism, generation of memes, creation of trim tabs, and formation of a new economic theory of change.

1. Our Model for Systematic Social Change
What does it take?
Policy makers enacting policy
and allocating resources
for people’s
happiness
What does it take?
Policy makers putting
people’s happiness
before economic gain
What does it take?
Using the happiness,
wellbeing and
sustainability metrics
to demonstrate impact
of projects and policies
What does it take?
People & communities
working together towards
collective well-being and
sustainability
What does it take?
Evolving of happiness, wellbeing and sustainability
metrics
What does it take?
Sharing stories, lessons
and successes
What does it take?
Individuals working
towards their own
happiness
What does it take?
Access & development of
tools and resources
Happiness Alliance, home of The Happiness Initiative & the Gross National
Happiness Index

2. Memes: memes are to our culture what genes are to
our selves – they inform who and what we are. The
creation and generation of memes - ideas that are
mimicked - is based on a real or visionary experience of
what we want our future to be. This happens through a
series of discoveries of what is, fueled by positive actions
for what could to be.
Our role is to provide the tools and resources including
information, educational materials and trainings to
generate and shape a cultural shift.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org

3. Trim tabs: Trim tabs are the tiny element that tells the
controller where to go. They are the nexus of leverage
points, the pinnacle of tipping points, the core of
connections. The alignment of trim tabs is based on
shared experiences, visions and dreams; and our shared
evolution. This happens when we actualize at an
individual and community level, thereby taking action for
our shared happiness, wellbeing and sustainability.
Our role is to provide the tools including the Gross
National Happiness Index and platforms for sharing
experiences and building on knowledge that form the trim
tabs steering us into our future.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org

4. Grassroots Activism: Grassroots activism is acting
aligned to your values, vision and beliefs. As an individual
or in a group, grassroots activists promote their cause by
spreading the word, educating people, gathering and
developing tools and resources and taking action.
Our role is to inspire, foster and support grassroots
activism.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org

5. A New Economic Paradigm: A New Economic
Paradigm is realized when our federal, state and local
governments use happiness, wellbeing and sustainability
as the goal and metrics to guide their decisions and
actions. A shift to a new paradigm requires both top down
and bottom – up efforts.
Our role is to provide evidence of the data and bottom-up
support for a new economic paradigm based on
happiness and well-being for policy makers.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org

6. Our Beliefs
We believe that individual happiness is
intrinsically linked to societal well-being -
the domains of happiness - and that there is
a deep interrelationship between individual
happiness and the well-being of our society,
economy and environment.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org

7. Our Beliefs
We believe in grassroots activism; that while
change happens from the bottom up, you
also need the top. We support the spread
of Happiness Initiatives at all scales. Our
tools and resources for cities, campuses,
companies, communities and groups as well
as our education programs and individual
happiness programs are ways we are a part
of grassroots activism.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org

8. Our Beliefs
We believe that you get what you measure,
and that measuring the happiness of our
society, companies, campuses and
institutions will set us all on the path for
happiness. Our Gross National Happiness
Index is the measure we provide. We
provide happiness data at the individual,
community and national level.
Happiness Alliance – home of The Happiness Initiative & Gross National Happiness Index Survey
happycounts.org