Good Life Institute

I would use the Elevate grant to promote and inculcate a value-based and disciplined lifestyle which enables everyone to understand the true nature of life with a focus on Gross Individual Happiness, Inner Wealth and being 'Better than I used to be'.

I plan to use this platform to share lessons the classroom didn't teach about through self-assessment and inner growth to be a kinder global citizen.

In a world consumed by desire and greed, trapped in an endless rat race when people suffer from burnout, exhaustion and the inability to gain self-actualization and fulfillment even in the face of material success, I wish to help people uncover true inner happiness and contentment based on my journey and experiences in life.

In the event that we are granted the prize one of the major aspirations of the Good Life Institute is to create a value-based mobile game for children which will be a guideline for a more humane global citizen. This sort of value addition game is not currently available in the market, instead, it is saturated by the glorification of violence such as the popular ‘Angry Birds’ game based on destruction rather than goodness.

I wanted to uplift my ancestral village and the surrounding region through compassionate and loving-kindness, having always made use of adversity by turning it into productivity and the work of my charitable organization, the Foundation of Goodness, has flourished during the tough times.

I have raised USD 20 million over 16 years towards humanitarian activities not by asking but showcasing what I do, year after year surpassing donor expectations.

 The outcome of all this are the small steps taken to bridge the urban-rural divide producing hundreds of rural kids, youth and women to excel in life through the Foundation of Goodness, which now reaches over 35,000 beneficiaries across 500 villages in Sri Lanka, annually, free of cost.

I have now gathered my experiences as a humanitarian, philanthropist, goodwill ambassador, successful entrepreneur and a man who has built a trusted international brand that has overcome insurmountable odds over the past 20+ years to create the curriculum for success and inner happiness which I want to share with the world, in the hope of creating a happier and better future for everyone the world over through my initiative, The Good Life Institute under the theme of ‘Better Than I Used To Be’.

People are consumed by the rat race of modern life, defining success by positions and material possessions but unable to find contentment and happiness within that framework.

This consumerist and self-centered attitude also leads to competition, dissatisfaction, depression and destructive behaviour which is a detriment to the community and the planet at large.

These problems are reflected in a world of increased inequalities among groups and communities and a world facing numerous crises, which drives home the point for a desperate need for value-based learning and lifestyles.

The Good Life Institute hopes to teach people to care for themselves, care for each other and care for the universe.

It helps people realize that while their daily struggles are filled with stress, anxiety and tension, they can learn how to let go of the tough times in order to be happy, content and fulfilled by utilizing the curriculum and toolkit introduced to them by the Good Life Institute.

These include an introduction to things like Supreme Qualities, Mind Make-Up, 10 Perfections, Royal Qualities of Governance, Goodness Capsules for the mind, Lessons the Classroom Didn't teach,  the study of Life and Inner Peace, the Art of Gifting, and a focus on Inner Wealth and Gross Individual Happiness to name a few.

The Good Life Institute’s programmes seek to create a better world by supporting the growth and development of the individual into a better person. 

Until we truly understand ourselves and how to find personal happiness and contentment which education alone does not provide, but must be achieved through balancing education and values without which we will not be able to create a sustainable and long-term future of positive growth within ourselves, communities, nations and the planet.

The Good Life Institute combines inner development with outward actions such as an altruistic lifestyle leading to happier times.

We also seek to introduce good values to children through fun, by way of an engaging mobile game which subtly introduces kids to the joys and rewards of a value-based lifestyle.

Generosity, Patience, Humility and Integrity coupled with the realities of life that one’s actions are the ground upon which they stand.

The Good Life Institute primarily promotes values targeting early learners to reflect upon contributions for the good of others rather than only competing all the time. A key feature of this is developing a Goodness Game which through fun gameplay will deliver a subtle message about a value-based lifestyle. These are lessons classrooms do not teach and a game that currently does not exist in the children’s gaming market.

The Good Life Institute has also conducted mentorship programmes that help young children and youth become active philanthropists who make an impact on the world, one of whom was motivated to establish his own charity at 16 years through which he donated cricket gear to underserved players around the world.

The programme also has a curriculum for adults and professionals for a mind-detox, self-assessment and inner growth.