My Teaching PhilosophyMy Teaching Philosophy

To learn anything, these three To learn anything, these three dimensions must be involved:dimensions must be involved:

Cognition (thinking)Cognition (thinking) Affect (feeling)Affect (feeling) Behavior (doing)Behavior (doing)

If we have all three, chances are much If we have all three, chances are much greater that you learn will become part greater that you learn will become part of your life.of your life.

Thoughts

BehaviorFeelings

The Cognitive Model- the system

Traditional VirtuesTraditional Virtues Cardinal Virtues (Plato)Cardinal Virtues (Plato)

WisdomWisdom CourageCourage Self-restraintSelf-restraint JusticeJustice

Theological (St. Paul)Theological (St. Paul) FaithFaith HopeHope LoveLove

• Aristotle adds: e.g.,generosity, wit, friendliness, honesty, etc.

•Others

VIA Classification of Character StrengthsWisdom

-Creativity-Curiosity-Judgment-Love of Learning-Perspective

Courage-Bravery-Industry-Authenticity-Zest

Justice-Citizenship-Fairness-Leadership

Love-Intimacy-Kindness-Social Intelligence

Temperance-Forgiveness-Humility-Prudence-Self-Control

Transcendence-Awe-Gratitude-Hope-Humor-Spirituality

To Determine your To Determine your Character StrengthsCharacter Strengths

Go to Go to www.authentichappiness.orgwww.authentichappiness.org Scroll down to Scroll down to

VIA Survey of Character StrengthsVIA Survey of Character Strengths

There is also one for childrenThere is also one for children You will have to select a password You will have to select a password

and registerand register It is freeIt is free

Each Virtue

Each Character strength

Edie

Albert

Bill

Range

AverageLevel

Your position within your range determined by habits you can develop

Robert A. EmmonsRobert A. EmmonsMarch 4March 4thth, 2010, 2010

Contact: Contact: raemmons@ucdavis.eduraemmons@ucdavis.edu

Why Gratitude Matters in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

How to get rich How to get rich quick…quick…

““I cannot tell you I cannot tell you anything that, in a few anything that, in a few minutes, will tell you minutes, will tell you how to be rich. But I how to be rich. But I can tell you how to feel can tell you how to feel rich, which is far rich, which is far better, let me tell you better, let me tell you firsthand, than being firsthand, than being rich. Be grateful…It's rich. Be grateful…It's the only totally reliable the only totally reliable get-rich-quick scheme.”get-rich-quick scheme.”

--Ben Stein, lawyer, --Ben Stein, lawyer, writer, actor and writer, actor and economist economist

Gratitude has the Gratitude has the power power

to heal, to heal,

to energize, and to energize, and

to transform lives.to transform lives.

Gratitude:Gratitude:

AffirmingAffirming goodness goodness andand recognizingrecognizing that that the sources of this the sources of this goodness are outside the goodness are outside the selfself

Gratitude is a Gratitude is a choice…choice…

Control

Test Populati

on

Experimental

Placebo

Intervention

Intervention

timeB E M

3M4

Significant Difference?

Control

Experimental

Controlled ExperimentsAnalysis of Variance

Random selection

MeasurementMeasurement

Biblical Anticedents- The Biblical Anticedents- The Importance of the (your) Importance of the (your)

WordWord Genesis: “and God said Let there be Genesis: “and God said Let there be

light”light”

John: “In the beginning was the Word John: “In the beginning was the Word …and the Word was God… and the …and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”us.”

St. Paul: “…think on these things.”St. Paul: “…think on these things.”

The World-out-there, and The World-out-there, and the Lebenswelt( world as the Lebenswelt( world as

you experience it)you experience it)

The internal monolog-Schemata (ideas, concepts, beliefs, The internal monolog-Schemata (ideas, concepts, beliefs, thoughts, valuesthoughts, values

stories) determine what you focus on, and how you interpret stories) determine what you focus on, and how you interpret the “World-out-there.”the “World-out-there.”

(Change the internal monolog and you change “the world as (Change the internal monolog and you change “the world as you experience it”)you experience it”)

“the world as you experience it”

The World-out-there

Your senses

The Map Room

Every night before you go to sleep write down three good things that happened to you that day and why those good things occurred. If you can’t think of three, add several things that make your life better (e.g., a warm bed, good health, people, clean water, electricity, medicine, eye glasses…) It would help keep these blessings in a notebook. (Seligmann, 2002)

Three blessings Exercise

Making a Character Strength Making a Character Strength Habitual?Habitual?

Select a character strength you would like to Select a character strength you would like to strengthen in your life and make this a goal (a self-strengthen in your life and make this a goal (a self-concordant goal)concordant goal)

Determine the situations in which you would like to Determine the situations in which you would like to apply this CS (when and where). I. E., name some apply this CS (when and where). I. E., name some situations in which you can respond with this situations in which you can respond with this character strength.character strength.

Compose a sentence containing your goal along with Compose a sentence containing your goal along with these situations (“may I be..” or “I am..” statements).these situations (“may I be..” or “I am..” statements).

Say this sentence to yourself every morning Say this sentence to yourself every morning (repetition).(repetition).

Keep a written daily record of specific instances of Keep a written daily record of specific instances of your success or failure to achieve this goal (follow your success or failure to achieve this goal (follow through).through).

Get help from others in achieving your goal (tell some Get help from others in achieving your goal (tell some one about your goal- this will strengthen your one about your goal- this will strengthen your committment)committment)

Examples of the “May I” Examples of the “May I” format of Virtue format of Virtue

DevelopmentDevelopment May I be a Merit Finder by looking May I be a Merit Finder by looking

for the good in others and myselffor the good in others and myself May I live a life of Gratitude and May I live a life of Gratitude and

ThankfulnessThankfulness May I be at peace by accepting myself May I be at peace by accepting myself

as I am and avoiding self-criticismas I am and avoiding self-criticism May I be a good parent by finding the May I be a good parent by finding the

good in my childrengood in my children

Some Realistic Some Realistic AffirmationsAffirmations

Gratitude and Thankfulness are the Gratitude and Thankfulness are the cornerstones of my lifecornerstones of my life

My word is impeccableMy word is impeccable I don’t take things personallyI don’t take things personally I always do my bestI always do my best I forgive myself and othersI forgive myself and others I am a merit finder. I look for the good.I am a merit finder. I look for the good. Sometimes I feel so good for no apparent Sometimes I feel so good for no apparent

reasonreason I exercise, get good sleep, breath deeplyI exercise, get good sleep, breath deeply I love others. Others love me.I love others. Others love me. I am good at making friendsI am good at making friends I accept myself the way I amI accept myself the way I am