The Happiness PhD Project
“There’s no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” — Thích Nhất Hạnh
The Happiness PhD Project is an independent learning and research initiative to advance our understanding of happiness and wellbeing.
My mission is to develop and share practical insights from the art and science of happiness studies. In doing so I hope advance happiness for one and for all.
My name's Jackson Kerchis and I’m creating my own Happiness PhD.
I'm a former startup executive, management consultant, and Zen monk. I created the world's first bachelor's degree in Happiness Studies and taught the first happiness course at the University of Alabama. My life’s work is to study happiness.
There was a famous Sociologist named Niklas Luhmann who, after years of independent study was awarded a professorship. He was asked to name his project and he said — My project was entitled, at that time and since: Theory of Society; term: 30 years; costs: none.
I’d say the same for my work — Theory of Happiness; duration: lifetime; costs: none.
I’m organizing this knowledge into resources and essays which you’re reading now (StudyHappiness.blog) and an open-access digital encyclopedia of insights and research: StudyHappiness.notion.site.
I’m also writing a practical textbook on happiness inspired by Josh Kaufman’s The Personal MBA.
I want to understand as well as (more importantly) embody and experience happiness. And I want to support others in the same endeavor. I take a very practical approach. I am not as concerned with philosophy or publishing academic research. I am concerned with:
How do you become happier?
How do businesses and organizations support happiness?
How do we create a happier world?
I address these questions through research and study from neuroscience, psychology, economics, contemplative/religious traditions, philosophy, and life experience.
When you’re ready to explore, I suggest one of my favorite essays — The Path of Unconditional Happiness and this introduction to The Learned Happiness Model (LHM).
Please consider donating to support my work. My goal is to become self-funded at $4,000 per month so I can dedicate myself full-time to The Happiness PhD Project.
