"Bright Friday" - Interview with Martina Lehane Sheehan (Programme excerpt) - 18th Nov 2018

On this weeks programme Martina Lehane Sheehan to talk to John and Shane about the proposal to hold a day of calm and reflection in opposition to the increasing dominance of so-called ‘Black Friday’, the annual shopping frenzy which sees customers queuing and shoving to get bargain deals. ‘Bright Friday’ which is on November 23rd will have periods of reflective music, mindfulness, meditations and poetry readings. People wanting an antidote to the consumerism of the day are being encouraged to drop by.

Martina Lehane Sheehan, discusses on the programme how modern research in psychology shows that “our externals can only contribute to our happiness by 10% (what we buy, what we own etc). Yet we chase it – especially on Black Friday!” She says that approximately 50% of our happiness levels are determined by genetic inheritance and 40% is in our own control when it comes to things like attitudes beliefs, etc.” She describes this as the 40 % solution.

In the United States, ‘Black Friday’ is traditionally the day after the Thanksgiving holiday when many retailers offer incentives to shoppers. Despite the fact that Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Ireland, ‘Black Friday’ is now a ubiquitous day on the Irish shopping calendar. 

Martina shares with us how we need to maintain a balance in our lives!