POSITIVITY: A NEW VIEW ON HAPPINESS NANCY A. COLFLESH, PH.D. COLFLESH & ASSOCIATES, LLC EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT & LEADERSHIP COACH

FIRST CORE TRUTH Positivity opens us. Positive emotion will open our hearts & our minds, making us more receptive & more creative

SECOND CORE TRUTH Positivity transforms us for the better. By opening our hearts & minds, positive emotions allow us to discover & build new skills, new ties, new knowledge, & new ways of being.

JOY Things are going our way We feel playful Joy feels bright and light Colors seem more vivid What brings YOU joy?

GRATITUDE Comes when we appreciate something that has come our way…..as a gift to be treasured Opens our hearts Inspires us to “give back” When was the last time YOU felt grateful – not polite or indebted, but truly and openly grateful?

SERENITY Comes when surroundings are safe and familiar……more low key than JOY Makes us want to sit back and just soak it in Think about the last time YOU savored a serene moment.

INTEREST Although feeling safe, something new or different draws us in…..filling us with a sense of possibility or mystery Requires effort and increased attention on our part When did interest last draw YOU in by the nose?

HOPE Comes into play when circumstances are dire Deep within the core of hope is that things CAN change Hope sustains us…….inspires us What inspired YOU to attend this conference? Was it HOPE?

PRIDE Blooms when we can take credit for an achievement……socially-valued achievements When we feel pride, we are more likely to persist on difficult tasks What makes YOU proud? What has pride inspired YOU to do?

AMUSEMENT When something unexpected happens that simply makes us laugh Laughter is contagious Surprises are amusing when they happen in a safe context When was the last time YOU laughed?

INSPIRATION Feeling inspired rivets our attention, warms our heart, draws us to it Pulls us out of our self-absorption Can you think of a time when YOU made the choice to be inspired?

AWE Happens when we come across goodness on a grand scale Can see ourselves as part of something more grand What has transfixed YOU with awe?

LOVE Encompasses all of the above Think of a time when you felt love surge within you.

FREDRICKSON’S TOOL KIT A set of 12 tools to help us decrease negativity and increase positivity

TOOL # 1 Be Open…….mindful awareness

TOOL # 2 Create High-quality Connections

TOOL # 3 Cultivate Kindness

TOOL # 4 Develop Distractions

TOOL # 5 Dispute Negative Thinking

TOOL # 6 Find Nearby Nature

TOOL # 7 Learn and Apply Your Strengths

TOOL # 8 Meditate Mindfully

TOOL # 9 Meditate on Loving-Kindness

TOOL # 10 Ritualize Gratitude

TOOL # 11 Savor Positivity

TOOL # 12 Visualize Your Future

SO………. What are YOUR next steps toward encouraging positivity in yourself and those around you?