Self-Clarity and Happiness Among Artisans in Rural India
IntechOpen eBooks July 3, 2026 DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1016068 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Intervention study (chapter describing a 12-week program; design not explicitly stated as randomized or controlled) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 82 |
| Population | Rural artisans engaged in traditional carpet weaving in Manpura village, Rajasthan, India |
| Interventions | mindfulness narrative therapy |
| Duration | 12-week program |
| Keywords | Happiness Contemplation Mental health Psychological intervention Context archaeology Indigenous Empirical research Health equity Positive psychology Narrative Intervention counseling Flexibility engineering Clarity |
| Key points | Proposes that a culturally adapted multicomponent "Happiness Ritual" program may reduce anxiety and enhance well-being and self-concept clarity among rural artisans, with self-concept clarity as a pivotal mechanism. |
Abstract
This chapter explores the relationship between self-clarity and happiness among artisans in rural India, integrating theoretical foundations from positive psychology with empirical evidence from a comprehensive intervention study conducted in Manpura village, Rajasthan. Drawing on Seligman’s PERMA model, self-determination theory, and culturally adapted contemplative practices, we investigate how a 12-week multicomponent “Happiness Ritual” program may influence anxiety reduction, well-being enhancement, and self-concept clarity among 82 rural artisans engaged in traditional carpet weaving. Self-concept clarity—the extent to which beliefs about oneself are clearly defined, internally consistent, and temporally stable—is positioned as a pivotal yet theoretically underexamined mechanism linking sustained contemplative practice to psychological flourishing. The chapter situates these potential findings within the broader context of vocational identity, cultural values, and traditional crafts in India, exploring how artisan populations may experience unique pathways to well-being through their occupational engagement, intergenerational skill transmission, and embodied creative mastery. We discuss how traditional Indian contemplative practices—including pranayama, mindfulness, narrative therapy, and creative arts—can be effectively integrated with contemporary positive psychology interventions to enhance mental health in underserved rural communities where conventional clinical services remain scarce. Particular analytical attention is given to the cultural congruence of these methods, which draw upon indigenous wisdom traditions rather than importing external frameworks wholesale. Practical applications for policy makers, community health workers, and artisan cooperatives are presented, alongside recommendations for future research on culturally grounded, scalable approaches to happiness and self-clarity in non-Western contexts, with broader implications for global mental health equity and the design of sustainable, community-based well-being initiatives.