“Authentic Happiness: People, Place and Purpose”
In this talk, Dr. Christine Whelan, clinical professor in the UW–Madison School of Human Ecology, invites us all to take a new approach to happiness — one that embraces our connections and interdependence. Using the academic lens of human ecology, Dr. Whelan will offer practical steps to recharge your inner self, see the beauty within those messy things called relationships, and draft your personal purpose statement. Life is complicated, and there are always changes ahead. Sometimes we are pushed by pain, other times we are pulled by possibilities. Wherever you are on your journey, you’ll leave with clear takeaways to guide your choices about what matters most to you, why it matters and how to make it happen in your life.
During this session attendees will:
- Explore a new approach to wellbeing by embracing a human ecological perspective toward happiness
- Create your own purpose statement that acknowledges the complexities of life — and empowers you to make purpose-based commitments you’ll actually achieve
About Dr. Christine Whelan
Dr. Christine Whelan is an author, professor and speaker. She’s the author of five books, most recently, The Big Picture: A Guide to Finding Your Purpose in Life (Templeton Press, 2016).
As a Clinical Professor in the School of Human Ecology at UW–Madison, Dr. Whelan teaches classes on happiness and well-being. In her consulting and media outreach, Dr. Whelan is a nationally recognized thought leader who has worked with major healthcare companies, financial firms and universities to bring purpose and joy into the workplace. Dr. Whelan earned a masters and a doctorate from the University of Oxford, and her undergraduate degree from Princeton University.
Professionally, her motto comes from Seneca: “Not for school but for life we learn,” so she’s been passionate about translating academic research for the broader public for more than 15 years, publishing in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New York Times, and appearing on live TV and radio programs across the nation.
