“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
It’s stated right there in the Declaration of Independence. The pursuit of happiness is at the heart of America’s founding, so why does it feel out of reach for so many Americans? Hosted by Amanda Brinkman and produced by Minnesota PBS in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ is a new three-part docuseries that attempts to answer this very question.
Courtesy of Minnesota PBS.
After reading a study about how Minnesota was one of the happiest states in the country, docuseries producer Kate McDonald was curious not only how happiness is defined, but also how the founding fathers’ words have been interpreted over the last two and a half centuries.
“What were those ideals that the founding fathers were thinking about? Then, what does that mean to Americans today?” says McDonald.
The So-Called American Dream
Examining themes of wealth, resilience, technology, purpose, and well-being, the series weaves together a compelling narrative through deeply personal stories and historic insights.
Featuring a trapeze artist, comedian, and the artistic director for the Penumbra Theater Company, as well as a defense attorney and both birth and death doulas, Brinkman embarks on a journey to explore how Americans are defining and pursuing happiness today. The answers she found were surprising.
“No one responded that the reason they were happy had anything to do with what kind of car they drive, or the size of their house, or the size of their bank account,” says Brinkman. “We didn’t hear anyone respond with the traditional ‘American Dream’ answers. They talked about their family, about loving one another, about those more community and service-minded ideas.”
Traditional success metrics—the title at work, the financial well-being, the material accomplishments—didn’t make the list.
“We hear a lot in the media now about how divided we are, but really, people want some of the same things. They want to feel like they matter, and that they’re able to be in service to other people,” explains Brinkman.
In Pursuit of Service, Community
Americans want to provide for their families. They want to feel as though they have autonomy and freedom. They want to feel included. And perhaps most importantly, they also want to leave the world better than they found it.
“We think about America as this individualist society. But looking at the founding fathers and what their theories were about happiness, it was about living a life of virtue, of taking care of your community. It was a much more communal idea,” says McDonald.
This communal concept of living is most evident in Brinkman’s time spent with David Wise. A native buffalo farmer, Wise’s family has worked the same land in Minnesota since before it was a state.
“Indigenous cultures think about everything that they are doing in terms of seven generations from now. How are we treating our land? How are we thinking about our food? How are we thinking about our investment in people and passing wisdom and legacy? Not just for our own kids, but how will that affect the world seven generations from now?” Brinkman says, reflecting on her conversation with Wise. “I had never been exposed to that concept before. For me, that has been super impactful, and I think a very resonant message for right now with everything that’s going on in the world.”
The Power of Play
Pursuing happiness isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Across America, individuals are forging their own paths, seeking happiness and fulfillment in unique and surprising ways—including while flying on a trapeze.
Clinical psychologist Sherry Walling, PhD, felt hopeful the first time she stepped off the trapeze platform. After experiencing deep loss, Walling was searching for a way to reconnect her mind with her body. The trapeze did just that.
Courtesy of Minnesota PBS.
“You can’t really think of anything except for, ‘Ooh, I might be falling to my death.’ So, it’s an interesting way of getting yourself out of your head and into your body, of focusing on something immediate and present,” says McDonald.
Luckily, jumping off a platform 30 feet in the air isn’t required. Laughter, creativity, and play are all powerful tools to rediscover what happiness means to you.
“If we all think more consciously about every interaction with other human beings, I think we’ll see more happiness, we’ll see more lightness, we’ll see more joy. That’s what I want people to walk away with—just finding these moments to bring kindness into the everyday practices,” says Brinkman.
Happiness Is Not the Absence of Struggle
Life isn’t without its struggles, though. The goal isn’t to experience happiness every minute of every day. That’s simply not realistic.
“We don’t want to portray happiness in rose-colored glasses that everybody in America is happy, or they all have the same opportunities to be happy,” says McDonald. “Happiness is about building a life of meaning, of purpose, of community, of contentment that can withstand some of those bumps in the road that we’re all going to face at some point.”
Resiliency—our ability to overcome and move through struggle—is a crucial component to leading a life of contentment and happiness. Minnesotans know a thing or two about resilience and the importance of service and community, especially in recent years. And we are proud that our fine state is on the national stage once again—for good.
The new Minnesota PBS series premiered locally on Oct. 5. The national release is slated for Nov. 1 through American Public Television as part of a package of shows celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Learn more and watch the documentary at PBS Minnesota, and follow host @amandakbrinkman on Instagram.
