The emotional wellbeing of Australian families is under strain, and for parents, the happiness and emotional wellbeing of our kids and loved ones, as well as juggling our own mental health, is a top priority.

Today, 1 in 4 adolescents and 1 in 7 primary school kids have a mental illness. and 1 in 5 adults will experience mental ill-health throughout the year (Source: Resilience Project, 2023). While research shows that half of all mental health conditions emerge before the age of 14 (Source: National Mental Health Commission, 2021), an estimated 25-50% of adult mental illnesses can be prevented through early intervention during childhood and adolescence, by supporting and teaching kids the skills to thrive and look after their mental health and wellbeing (Source: Smiling Mind, 2023).

An abundance of research shows that when we write down and share the good things in our lives, our brains release 'happiness' hormones like dopamine and serotonin. These bring emotional and physical benefits like improved emotional wellbeing, reduced stress, stronger connections, and increased energy.

By choosing joy, we turn our attention to finding the good moments to treasure amongst the not-so-shiny ones. As humans, we tend to dwell on negatives, often overshadowing our little joys amidst daily chaos (kids fighting, refusing to go bed sound familiar?!), so reflecting on the things and people that made us smile can help rewire our brains for happiness, increase our ability to think more positive thoughts and build resilience to help us bounce back when we experience disappointment or when life gets tough.