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When I began Schwartzreport my purpose was to produce an entirely fact-based daily publication in favor of the earth, the inter-connectedness and interdependence of all life, democracy, equality for all, liberty, and things that are life-affirming. Also, to warn my readers about actions, events, and trends that threaten those values. Our country now stands at a crossroads, indeed, the world stands at a crossroads where those values are very much at risk and it is up to each of us who care about wellbeing to do what we can to defend those principles. I want to thank all of you who have contributed to SR, particularly those of you who have scheduled an ongoing monthly contribution. It makes a big difference and is much appreciated. It is one thing to put in the hours each day and to do the work for free, but another to have to cover the rising out-of-pocket costs. For those of you who haven’t done so, but read SR regularly, I ask that you consider supporting it.
Stephan: Here is yet another proof that fostering wellbeing is more efficient, more productive, easier to implement, nicer to live under, and much much cheaper.
Happy worker Credit: Getty
For many companies, their bottom line is–well–the bottom line, and rightfully so, especially during this pandemic. But what research shows us is that there is tremendous value in ensuring employees are well supported throughout challenging times, and it’s not just about good benefits.
Gallup research has found that people thriving in the five elements of wellbeing–career, social, financial, physical, and community–are better employees. Career wellbeing is defined as liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals; physical wellbeing comprises having good health and enough energy to get things done daily; social wellbeing means having supportive relationships and love in your life; community wellbeing is liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community; and financial wellbeing centers on managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security.
Gallup’s research has established that wellbeing is about much more than just physical wellness or happiness. Here are four ways employees thriving in all five elements of wellbeing demonstrate better performance.
They Rebound Better Following Adversity
Employees whose wellbeing is properly maintained are 36 percent more likely to report a full recovery after an illness, injury, or hardship. According to the American Psychiatric […]
Stephan: I wrote this because a reader wrote to challenge me, saying "you say all these negative things about conservatives and the Republican Party. Can you prove any of it with facts, or is it all your political orientation and dislike of Trump?" Here is my answer, and today's only story. Are you listening Georgia? Your vote for two senators is going to change America's future for good or ill.
For the past 15 years I have published in Explore I have tried to make the point that social values determine social outcomes, based on objective quantifiable social outcome data. And that on the basis of that data, it is clear that when forming social policy the best option is always the one that is the most compassionate, life-affirming and fostering of wellbeing. That option proves always easier to implement than the alternatives: more productive, more efficient, nicer to live under, longer enduring, and much much cheaper.1
I know this is going to be controversial, but I want to talk about a second point this data teaches, a trend that is shaping the United States in many ways. It’s components are frequently discussed, but the over-arching trend is rarely mentioned. I am speaking here of the objectively verified failure of conservative social policies to foster wellbeing. Where conservative social policies prevail, Americans, men, women, children, regardless of race or gender, are less healthy and have shorter more miserable lives than people in other developed nations. So it may be controversial but I […]
Stephan: Over the last several days several Republican readers -- yes I have Republican readers -- who saw my piece on the Inferiority of Republican governance wrote to challenge me to prove my assertions at the individual level. I thought it was interesting that they did not dispute the earlier piece but just asked for more granular proof. Well, I am happy to provide it, so today's edition provides that proof. I could have added an additional 20 stories or more, but these four represent the reality.
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Stephan A. Schwartz, Columnist - Explore - The Journal of Science and Healing
Stephan: I spent five weeks recently searching the research literature and the websites of the most reputable polling operations in search of an answer to a question a reader posed to me: "You make a big deal out of not being political and only using verifiable social outcome data. I agree with you that fostering wellbeing is the right criterion to use. But, can you prove on your own terms that conservative politics are inferior and produce less successful outcomes?" Here is the answer that I found.
Trump and Republican leadersCredit: USA TODAY
For the 15 years I have published in Explore I have tried to make the point that social values determine social outcomes, based on objective quantifiable social outcome data. And that on the basis of that data, it is clear that when forming social policy the best option is always the one that is the most compassionate, life-affirming and fostering of wellbeing. That option proves always easier to implement than the alternatives: more productive, more efficient, nicer to live under, longer enduring, and much much cheaper.1
I know this is going to be controversial, but I want to talk about a second point this data teaches, a trend that is shaping the United States in many ways. It’s components are frequently discussed, but the over-arching trend is rarely mentioned. I am speaking here of the objectively verified failure of conservative social policies to foster wellbeing. Where conservative social policies prevail, Americans, men, women, children, regardless of race or gender, are less healthy and have shorter more miserable lives than people in other developed nations. […]
Stephan: This is wonderful good news. This is what a properly run government makes its first priority. Bravo New Zealand.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during the 2019 budget presentation at Parliament on May 30, 2019 in Wellington, New Zealand. Budget 2019, known as the Wellbeing Budget, has a heavy focus public welfare alongside economic growth. Credit: Hagen Hopkins/Getty
Pledging to follow through on her promise to form a new kind of government focused on benefiting those often overlooked by lawmakers, the prime minister of New Zealand on Thursday unveiled her proposed spending plan for the coming year—the world’s first “wellbeing budget.”
The proposed 2019 budget includes billions of dollars for mental health services, support for indigenous people and victims of domestic violence, and funding to help pull children out of poverty.
“We said that we would be a government that did things differently, and for this budget we have done just that,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “Today we have laid the foundation for not just one wellbeing budget, but a different approach for government decision-making altogether.”
Ardern and her finance minister, Grant Robertson, shared a video on social media ahead of […]
