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OPTIMISM: Assured, certain, positive,
happy in manner. Looking on the bright side and reaching for your goals
Vs. Negative, defeatist
- SUGGESTED READING:
Joy
Cocoon
Happiness Hill
The Little Engine that Could
The Cheerful Heart
Acts of the Apostles 24:15
John 3:3
- SUGGESTED FILMS:
Rudy
Hook
The Wizard of Oz
- SONGS:
High Hopes
FAMILY ACTIVITY:
- Attempt to spend an entire week during which every comment made to
each other as parent and child is positive and affirming.
- Try to avoid accusatory statements aimed at children. Instead of
saying "You never . . ." or "You always . . ."
try saying "I would appreciate it if you would . . ." or
"I hope that you will ..."
- Spend some time talking to your children about their hopes and
dreams. Let them know that you care, and that you believe that they
have the ability to achieve their dreams. Talk to them about things
they will need to do to achieve their dreams; skills they will need
to acquire, and the education they will need.
- When your children lose at sports they may be upset. Talk to them
and help them understand that the important thing is trying their
best, and that it says more about them if they keep trying when they
are losing than it does if they win without having to try their
best.
- Always help your children see the silver lining in the dark clouds
life sends their way. When your family is facing tough times explain
to them that everyone has bad luck sometimes and that what matters
is not giving up, because if you don't lose hope better times will
come. It is important for children to learn this lesson.
CLASS ACTIVITY:
- Review with your students the progress that they have made and all
that they have learned in the past school year to help them
appreciate how much they have achieved.
- Have your students formulate positive goals for their summer
break.
- Ban negative statements from class for this month, or perhaps ban
them all together. Make it a class rule that things like "I
can't" or "it's too hard" cannot be said. Never let a
student call themselves dumb, or allow another student to name call.
- Have students list their goals for the next year and how they plan
to achieve them.
HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITY:
- Discuss why students should have an optimistic view of their
future and the future of their community.
- Have your students, especially any graduating students, make a
list of goals for the next year, 5 years, and 10 years, and have
them list a few of the things they have to do to achieve each of
them.
- With the year coming to a close, this is a good time to ask
students to review your class and suggest ways to make it even
better. It could be done verbally, but some students may not feel
comfortable making these suggestions in public so they should be
given the chance to offer suggestions on paper without giving their
name.
"People can alter their lives by altering their
attitudes." -William James
"Hope is the most powerful weapon a people have against
tyranny. It can never be taken away, and as long as it lives a tyrant
can never be secure." -President of the Republic of China,
Genera; Chiang Kai-Shek
"I have learned from experience that the greater part of our
misery depends on our disposition and not our circumstances."
-Martha Washington
"If life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
-Anonymous
"America isn't finished yet, her best days have just
begun." -President Ronald Reagan
"Hope is the secret to eternal youth, he who has it never
grows old." -Jason Carter Jacobson
"A cheerful disposition is a fund of ready capital, a magnet
for the good things of life." -O.S. Marden
"Don't be a cynic, don't waste yourself in rejection."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Perform a Random Act of Kindness Each Day
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