Personal Reflection

Study Skill 5.2 Personal Reflection

Introduction

3,2,1… Think fast! What are three things you are thankful for? Who are two people who care about you? What is one thing you did well this week? Jot down your answers now.

Got it? Okay, one more question. What happened as you pondered these questions?

I am willing to bet, that even if you couldn’t think of all six things, the ones you did think of made you smile. There is a science behind this called positive psychology. Positive psychology is the study of the science of happiness. Positive psychologists have found that we have the ability to rewire our brain for happiness and success. Like any other skill (e.g. playing the piano, solving quadratic equations) the more you practice positivity, the better you get at it.

Watch

• Shaun Achor “The Happy Secret to Better Work” (TED 12:20)

Visit

• https://bit.ly/37Eya4Z Links to an external site.  – Psychology Today “The Seven Secrets of a Happy Brain”
• https://bit.ly/3hFudSc Links to an external site. – Pursuit of Happiness “Positive Psychology and the Science of Happiness”

Key Ideas

• “There is a happiness advantage. Your brain at positive is more effective than your brain at negative, neutral, or stressed” (Achor).
• We can rewire our brains to be happier.
• Gratitude is one of the most effective ways to rewire our brains.
• Kindness and wellness matter. These practices are also exercises in training our brains to be more positive.

Apply

• Try the 3,2,1 exercise from the introduction every day for a week.
• Write a thank you card to someone who has made a difference in your life. Deliver the card.
• Practice kindness. Seek out opportunities to make a positive difference for others. Small acts matter.
• Pick a positivity accountability partner. Each day commit to sharing (via text or in-person) the best thing that happened to you. It could be an accomplishment, a compliment, a beautiful observation, a conversation, etc. There are no “right” answers.