Infusing more meaning and purpose into class lessons can help improve children’s outlook on life, curb depression and boost grades, University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD, said at a convention plenary session.

Seligman shared several studies suggesting that positive education works. In one as-yet-unpublished study, for example, 240 ninth-graders were randomly assigned to a literature course with or without a positive psychology component. Those participating in the positive psychology group read all of the same novels as the control — classics such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Scarlet Letter” — but in addition to leading typical class discussions and making assignments, teachers also focused on promoting positive messages, through discussions on such topics as the strengths of the main characters. The students in this group were also assigned to do three loving things for another person. Researchers continued to follow these students throughout high school and found that those who had taken part in the positive psychology class improved their social skills and had a greater love of learning, as well as higher grades than those who did not participate in the positive psychology course. [continue reading…]

Gross National Product, counts air pollution and cigarette advertising and …the destruction of the redwood and the loss of  our natural wonder in the chaotic sprawl. It does not allow for  the health our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play…. the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.

                                                                                                                                 -Robert Kennedy,1968

Visit the newly launched National Accounts of Wellbeing web-site and complete the survey to assess your own levels of well-being and create a personal Well-being Profile.  This survey is made up of the questions from the European Social Survey which were used to create the National Accounts of Well-being indicators.  By answering the questions, you can measure your own well-being to produce your personal Well-being Profile, and compare your results to countries across Europe.

This is my  overall well-being score . I guess I have some work to do, although I do rank on a par with Swedish participants in the survey…and better than much of  the British, French, Spanish, Slovakian and Ukrainian participants. The survey breaks down your personal  overall well being into component parts such as emotional well being, satisfying life, self -esteem, positive functioning, vitality ( my low point)! Try it  it certainly gives you cause for reflection.

* The survey contains around 50 questions and should take 10-15 minutes to complete

Kathy

Source:National Accounts of Wellbeing