July 2, 2026

Why Politics Matters for Our Happiness

My brother recently came across a 1960s-era archived newspaper clipping featuring a photograph of our grandmother. To my brother and me, Gloria Simpson—or “Grandma,” as we called her—was simply the loving, affectionate woman who always cooked more food than we could eat and let us sneak in coffee sips at breakfast against our mom’s wishes. “This is our little secret,” she would say as she winked with a playful grin. Unbeknownst to us, it was decaf Sanka, likely more cream and sugar than coffee. But she made us feel grown-up and important when in fact, we had no idea just how extraordinary and special she really was.

Later, I learned from her surviving sisters that my grandmother was deeply involved in advocating for democracy and Black political engagement at a time when doing so required immense courage. I remember her telling me stories about the Klan burning a cross in her front yard when she was a young woman, and about her sister, my Aunt Ruby, who once came home terrified as a teenager because she had refused to move to the back of the bus when ordered by a white bus driver.

As an adult and with the benefit of perspective and research, I came to understand why our family might have drawn the suspicion, jealousy and rage of some Whites in Atlanta, and specifically the Klan.  My grandmother’s father, John Fred Gholston, was college educated at Morris Brown College, a Deacon in his church and an owner of numerous properties in Atlanta. John’s father, George Washington Gholston, was born enslaved but became a prosperous Georgia businessman and dairy farmer, a founding pastor of a church that still stands today and a Trustee of Morris Brown. George and his family were visible examples of progress and quiet resistance. I also found the names, listed in Freedman’s Bureau records, of the first men in my family to vote during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era in 1867.

Given this legacy, it is no surprise that my grandmother felt compelled to advocate for advancement in her own way: serving as an election poll manager in Fulton County, Atlanta. She did this for most of her adult life.

A few months ago, nearly twenty years after my grandmother passed, headlines flared when the Fulton County Election Facility became a flashpoint of tension after a FBI raid and seizure of voting records—a reminder of the very voter suppression and intimidation she had spent her life resisting.

When an Atlanta Journal-Constitution photographer captured Dr. King and fellow Civil Rights icon Julian Bond casting their votes in Fulton County during the 60s, they inadvertently also captured an image of my grandmother volunteering right behind them, standing in solidarity with Dr. King and a community of freedom fighters that brought her profound pride and joy.

Carrying the legacy of my courageous ancestors who first registered to vote in 1867, and of a grandmother who volunteered in every election, I find myself following in their footsteps. In 2026, I joined some of America’s top business executives and most respected political figures—including mayors, governors, and representatives—at the Leadership Now Summit in New York. Some are even presidential hopefuls. I engaged with leaders like Governors Josh Shapiro and Andy Beshear, Senator Elissa Slotkin, and TIAA President and CEO Thasunda Duckett. We convened not just to analyze today’s political friction, but to build a shared blueprint for a more hopeful, stable future. I left the summit feeling a profound sense of hope—perhaps the same hope that sustained my ancestors during dark and dreary times.

Her quiet resistance in the 1960s paved a path for the collective, cross-sector work I now find myself doing at the front lines of democracy.

For years, I have been working and advocating for an inclusive and fair democracy as a founding member and board director of the Leadership Now Project. But more recently, on the heels of years of research and a book published about purpose and fulfillment, I found myself wondering about something more profound: What does political leadership look like for this nation’s next chapter and is it possible for it to make America happier again?

This question is particularly timely for America as it approaches its 250th anniversary in light of three pressing concerns: 1) the nation's declining happiness rankings in the World Happiness Report, 2) a hyper-partisan political environment that fuels widespread anxiety, distrust, and unhappiness and 3) an upcoming election cycle where we will have an opportunity to assess, engage and rally around leaders capable of seizing this moment and offering solutions that could elevate us all.

Can We Find Joy In Political Chaos?

This wasn’t the first time I explored the role of national political leadership and policy in individual wellbeing. Earlier this year, I visited Finland, the “happiest country in the world” in my quest to better understand the science of well-being at scale. Despite a history defined by centuries of foreign occupation, Finland possesses the collective resolve to maintain its independence while providing a robust social safety net that ensures food, housing, and education for all. Clearly, a nation plays a pivotal role in its constituents' ability to thrive. However, the state's responsibility extends beyond basic survival needs; it must foster an environment where true fulfillment can be attained.

When operating effectively, our political system and its leaders can act as a powerful engine to deliver what I call the fulfillment trifecta: purpose, belonging, and growth. Inspired by Viktor Frankl’s foundational work on individual meaning, my framework seeks to scale personal fulfillment into broader community and national dimensions. Perhaps it can help make America happy again.

Throughout our history, America has continuously strived for greater innovation, competitiveness, employment, and better living standards. From the Declaration of Independence to the Emancipation Proclamation, we have been on a challenging but progressive journey to perfect our union. While we remain far from the goal, we press onward—not just to be a more productive or prosperous nation, but to be a happier one.

Cont’d

In each chapter and example of American resolve, the following components of the trifecta were present.

Purpose

At a national scale, purpose is expressed through our core values and collective meaning. It shapes our resolve, dictates what we are committed to achieving, and establishes what we will absolutely not tolerate. Our democracy is the vehicle through which we articulate and champion these defining ideals.

Belonging

Belonging anchors national identity in community. While it takes root locally—in neighborhoods, schools, and civic spaces—it extends across cities and states to unite the country. That unmistakable collective feeling of standing together in a crowded stadium to sing the national anthem exemplifies belonging at scale.

Growth

Growth is the shared capacity to tackle immense challenges and achieve extraordinary breakthroughs. When purpose and belonging align, a nation can do the impossible: expand healthcare access, land humans on the moon, develop life-saving technologies in months, or rise above tribalism to embrace equity—just as America did during the defining moments of the Civil Rights movement.

Outstanding examples include President Roosevelt’s New Deal and the landmark legislation of the Civil Rights movement. During the Civil Rights movement, for example, my grandmother, who did not have much, found great purpose, belonging and growth in serving as an election poll manager. I believe, as a result, she found joy and fulfillment. 

Looking Ahead

Just as the leaders I met at the summit are demonstrating today, our trajectory is defined not merely by the policies we adopt, but by the spirit in which we lead. By prioritizing purpose, belonging, and growth, the next generation of leaders has a profound opportunity to heal our divisions and restore national well-being. Ultimately, they possess the power to offer every citizen what my grandmother experienced at that Fulton County polling place: the chance to contribute to something hard, worthwhile, and far bigger than themselves. That is the true path to fulfillment, and the key to making America happy again—not just for my grandmother, but for all of us.

Happy Independence Day!

-Craig