Session Overview  Explore the dimensions of well-being  Understand what it means to thrive  Assess your well-being and your ability to thrive  Develop strategies that will allow you to reach your potential  Establish a set of academic, personal and professional goals to gain success in your life

Dimensions of Wellness  Academic/Intellectual  Emotional  Environmental  Financial  Physical  Social  Spiritual

Dimensions of Wellness  Academic/Intellectual: understanding how an open mind and self-awareness can be leveraged to develop self-defined academic and leadership success.

Dimensions of Wellness  Emotional: how your emotions, identity, ethics and life perspective affect your choices.

Dimensions of Wellness  Environmental: how your environment or surroundings affect you.

Dimensions of Wellness  Financial: the development of your plan to achieve financial security using short-term and long-term planning.

Dimensions of Wellness  Physical: your ability to engage in healthy lifestyle choices that provide you with the fuel to engage in all aspects of your daily activities.

Dimensions of Wellness  Social: interacting with individuals and communities that satisfy your need to form short- and long-term connections.

Dimensions of Wellness  Spiritual: exploring your personal beliefs to cultivate a sense of meaning.

Your Wellness Circle (p.2)  For each of the dimensions, determine on a scale of 1 (lowest) – 10 (highest) your current level of wellness.  After you have gone through each of the dimensions, connect all of the numbers with a curved line to form a circle.

Small Group Discussion 1. What does your well-being circle look like? Why do you think this is? 2. What are some possible strategies that you can explore to help round your well-being circle out?

Your Thriving Self  It’s all about the:  Behaviours  Attitude  Self-Awareness  Strengths

Behaviours  Understanding how your behaviours affect others and their perception of you.

Attitude  Understanding how your outlook impacts your ability and the ability of others to succeed.

Self-Awareness  Understanding how well you know your self.

Strengths  Playing to your strengths and not getting down on yourself when things don’t go to according to plan.

Your Current Thriving Potential (p. 4)  For each of the dimensions, determine on a scale of 1 (lowest) – 10 (highest) your current thriving potential.  After you have gone through each of the dimensions, connect all of the numbers with a curved line to form a circle.

Small Group Discussion 1. What does your thriving potential circle look like? Why do you think this is? 2. What are some possible strategies that you can explore to help grow your thriving potential?

Short-Term Strategies  Manage your stress levels by engaging in activities that are meaningful to you.  Know when to focus on one thing at a time.  Discover what brings you a sense of calm.  Take a day or two off during the week to enjoy leisurely activities.  Spend face-to-face time with like-minded people.  Try to find the positive in situations that you may find difficult.

Long-Term Strategies  Be mindful of your physical health.  Find a weekly routine that will allow you balance all aspects of your life.  Enjoy the relationships that you have formed and nurture them.  Take a day or two off during the week to enjoy leisurely activities.  Be realistic when approaching new opportunities.  Continuously learn and discover new things.  Engage in activities that positively impact others.  Be mindful about living in the moment – try training your brain to think about what is happening now, not about the past or future.  Enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Strategy Development Activity 1. Who do you know that is thriving? 2. What makes them successful? 3. What strategies from the lists do they use? 4. Are there any strategies that they might use that are not included above? 5. Discuss possible short-term strategies that you can begin using to help you thrive. Write down 3 things that you will do in the short-term to increase your ability to thrive. 6. Discuss possible long-term strategies that you can use to maintain your ability to thrive. Write down 3 things that you will do in the long-term to maintain your ability to thrive.

Your Plan for Thriving  Write down 3 things that you will do in the short-term to thrive.  Write down 3 things that you will do in the long-term to thrive.  A set of 2 academic goals for your collegiate life.  A set of 2 personal goals for your collegiate life.  A set of 2 professional goals for life after college.  A set of 2 personal goals for life after college.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou