From Living the New Story –  Series 3

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the new economy movement and a recipient of the Alternative Nobel prize, the Arthur Morgan Award, and the Goi Peace Prize for her contribution to “the revitalisation of cultural and biological diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide.” She is author of the inspirational classic Ancient Futures and producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness. Helena is the director of Local Futures and The International Alliance for Localisation, and a founding member of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network. She is also a Fellow of the Findhorn Foundation.

Questions for ongoing reflection and dialogue

1. What is your present understanding of ‘the big picture’ global neoliberal economic system in your own life and locality and what effect has this had on your ancestors, your culture and your worldview?

2. What experiences do you have of being disconnected from yourself, from others and from Nature? How did this feel and how did it affect your life? Conversely, what experiences do you have of being connected to yourself, to others and to Nature? How did this feel and how did this affect your life? What are the active ingredients that can support your ability to sustain connection now and into the future during these challenging times of crises and transition?

3. What are the core aspects that bring you happiness in life? What would an Economics of Happiness look like to you if you dared to dream expansively and boldly, no-holds-barred?

4. What local initiatives do you know of that you can perhaps participate in to support the emergence of a new story of economics? If none exist in your location of which you are aware, what is a small step you might take to start exploring such an initiative, even with a small group of friends, family, neighbours in your local community?