For our first Happiness Futures edit of 2021 we are focusing on resilience. We do not underestimate the tough outlooks we have for this year and some experts say this decade, but the same way we would aim to lift a friends’ spirit up during tough times, we feel it’s important to remind our community at large to focus on the good that is happening in the world because there is a lot of it too. It’s encoded in our brains and survival mechanism to focus on the negative, but true survival instincts would also have you engage with hope and innovations pointing to a better future.

Discover some inspiring projects and what is being done to change the world 👇🏻

PHOTOGRAPHY | To kick off this month with resilience and positivity, Photographer Jenny Brough celebrates model Akinbolaji who was left with scars after treating scoliosis of the spine. Here, he embraces his body’s resilience and strength, both emotional and physical, through a series of inspiring photography.

MINDSET | This month is all about resilience and in a time like this, we all need a little help to cope up and tune into the good. We stumbled across resilience researcher, Lucy Hone sharing her strategies for overcoming struggle and developing the capacity to be brave and face the tough moments.

BREAKTHROUGHS | New innovations that could get us back to “normal” can gives us something to look forward to in 2021. The steady roll-out of the vaccine is set to have a global impact, we are hopeful 2021 will be a year of improvement. We see case rates and death rates remain low in most of sub-Saharan Africa due to their preparedness post Ebola, younger population who are less susceptible to the virus and its large rural population spending most of the time outdoors.

TECH | Having found ourselves back into lockdown for many of us in the western hemisphere, it can be tempting to be consumed by technology. Data detox is a simple guide that offers steps you can take towards a more balance and healthy digital lifestyle, by creating an increased online security and wellbeing for a better relationship with technology.

JOYFUL MOMENTS | 2020 was a dark year for almost everyone but there have been moments of lightness along the way that kept us going. The New York Times showcased readers sharing snapshots of the good moments of 2020 and reflecting on what they mean now, from joyous weddings to emotional births and the wonders of nature.

SUSTAINABILITY | Would anyone like to start their own ocean farm and own a piece of water covered land? Regenerative Ocean Farming has become a new way of rebuilding the reef ecosystems and lowering our carbon footprint. GreenWave’s polyculture farming system is making the most sustainable form of food production by growing a mix of seaweeds and shellfish. Their training program now has a 6000 member waitlist as many see ocean farming as a viable professional alternative.

ECO-LIVING | Ever wonder if you could live in place where you could grow your organic food, that advocates sustainable living and can power clean energy into your home? With the growing population, food shortages and increasing urbanization, ReGen village is a sustainable community that practices a holistic approach to innovative self-reliant homes and combines a variety of technologies such as energy positive homes, water management, high-yield organic food production and renewable energy.

WELLBEING AND MINDFULNESS | We are all in need of some mental wellbeing tools at a time of increased isolation. Visions of the Future is an exhibition of optimistic projects presented by DesignSingapore Council, featuring designs that suggest new lifestyle trends and rituals that could emerge in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic such as new ways of maintaining personal hygiene, inflatable textiles and a soap-making machine.