Films and Human Strengths

Films and Human Strengths

1.       Wisdom & Knowledge –

cognitive strengths that entail the acquisition and use of knowledge

                                                               i.      Creativity – thinking of novel and productive ways to do things

1.       Shine 1996 with Geoffrey Rush

2.       Amadeus 1984 directed by Milos Forman

                                                            ii.      Curiosity – taking an interest in all ongoing experience

1.       October Sky     1999

2.       Amelie                               2001

                                                          iii.      Open-Mindedness – thinking things through, looking from all sides

1.       No Man’s land 2001 – AA for foreign film

                                                           iv.      Love of Learning  - mastering new skills, topics and body of knowledge

1.       Billy Elliott        2000

2.       A Beautiful mind           2001

                                                             v.      Perspective – Wisdom –  being able to provide wise counsel to others

1.       The Devil’s Advocate

2.       American Beauty           1999

 

2.       Courage –

Emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals

In the face of opposition, external or internal

i.                    Bravery – not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty or pain

1.       Schindler’s List

2.       Life as a House – Kevin Kline

ii.                  Persistence – Perseverance – finishing what was started, persist despite obstacles

1.       The Piano

2.       The Legend of Bagger Vance

iii.                Integrity – Authenticity, Honesty – speaking the truth and presenting oneself in a genuine way

1.       A Few Good Men

2.       Erin Brockovich

 

3.       Humanity – interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others

 

i.                    Love – valuing close relations with others, in particular those in whom sharing and caring are reciprocated; being close to people

1.       Doctor Zhivago

2.       The English Patient

3.       Sophie’s Choice

4.       The Bridges of Madison County

5.       Iris

6.       My Fair Lady  

From The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky

Happiness Activity Number 12 – Taking Care of You Body Through Physical Activity

 

 

·         An impressive study of physical activity was published in the Archives of Medicine, 1999

·         For the study men and women have been recruited, 50 years and older, all with depression

·         Researchers divided them into three groups: first group aerobic, second medicine and third

·         Group with both. All three were better, but the exercise group did better than the rest

·         Very remarkable, after 6 months, those in the exercise group were less likely to relapse

 

·         Physical Activity reduces anxiety, stress, protects us from dying in general and from

·         Dying of cardio vascular disease in particular, reduces the risk of numerous diseases

·         Diabetes, colon cancer, hyper tension; builds bones, muscles and joints

·         Increases quality of life, improves sleep, protects from cognitive impairments

·         Helps control weight

·         Exercise may be the most successful Happiness Booster of all activities

·         Taking up exercise makes you feel in control of your body and your health

·         Seeing yourself get better at something provides a sense of self worth

·         Physical Activity offers potential for Flow and

·         It is a good distraction from worry and ruminations

·         Meditation and Physical Activity often show identical effects:

·         Reduced anxiety and increased mood lifting hormones

 

·         Physical Activity, provides opportunities for social contact

·         Bolsters social support, reinforcing friendships- lifting the burden of isolation

·         Vigorous physical activity elevates endorphins, euphoria educing opioides

Physical Activity has benefits:

1.       The acute, immediate boost you get from a single bout of exercise

2.       Chronic improvements from ongoing exercise program…

a.       it takes 11 weeks for a program to stick

b.      when you reach it, the program becomes habitual – you just do it

 

Do something that fits you

Do not overdo it

 

·         in one exercise participants cycled at 60% capacity, for 30’

·         half claimed to feel gradually worse and half gradually better

·         do more and more exercise

·         Regular physical activity will make you happier

 

Sleep

·         We need an adequate amount of sleep,

·         Our society would be better if we would get an extra hour of sleep

·         You can become happier while you sleep

 

 

 

 

Positivity Builds Your Resources

The latest Scientific Evidence

·         Science shows that positivity can produce success and health-

·         Even after positivity fades, we can still see traces of its impact, beyond the present

·         Positivity has consequences for the Trajectory of your life

·         Positivity makes the difference between whether you Flourish or languish

·         Positivity opens us.

·         The first truth about positive emotions is that they Open Minds and

·         Our minds making us more Receptive and more Creative

 

·         To feel the ways positive emotions can build life resources:

·         Envision something that has made you feel joyful, playful- when you wanted to jump

·         Take a moment to relive the experience, let your joy rekindle

·         Experiences like these Build Resources, in times of trouble they make the difference

·         Between life and death

·         Resource building with a different form of positivity:

·         Envision the Intense Pull you feel when you are interested in

·         A new person, a new place or thing- your mindset is open and curious

·         Positive and open minsets produce more accurate maps of the world

University of Windsor - Balloon Exercise (Positive Psychology)

Romania is down there, on the happiness scale

om mani padme hum (+playlist)

About Positivity from the book...Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson, one of the best scientists in the field

Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson

Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive

Ideas, notes from the book:

 

Positivity

 

·         Consists of the whole range of positive emotions- from:

·         Appreciation to love, from amusement to joy, from hope to gratitude and more

·         It includes the positive emotions as well as the open minds, tender hearts

·         It even includes the long term impact that positive emotions have on your

·         Character, relationships, communities and environment

·         Positivity has captured the interest of science and the discoveries are stunning

·         The pleasant states alter your mind and body in ways that can literally help you

·         Create your best life

 

Six vital facts about Positivity

1.       Positivity feels good – it is obvious, but essential; positivity takes 10 forms

2.       Positivity changes how your mind works –

§  Changes the contents of your mind – trades bad thoughts for good ones

§  Changes the scope or boundaries of your mind – widens the possibilities you see

§  You see a way to fit a missed exercise…

§  maintain a focus on larger goals

§  see past a mistake to be more forgiving

§  spot a missing item in the most unusual place

§  connect and trust a colleague

§  find a way to enter exercise in a busy schedule

3.       Positivity  transforms your future

§  Over time, positivity brings out the best in you

§  Positive emotions build up your resources –

§  Physical, mental, psychological and social resources

§   you sleep better, become more mindful of circumstances, optimistic

§  Resilient and have better connections

4.       Positivity puts the breaks on negativity

§  Negativity spikes your blood pressure, positivity calms it

§  Positivity flushes out the negativity from your system

§  Positivity is the secret to becoming resilient

5.       Positivity obeys a tipping point

§  A tipping point is the spot in between where a small change makes a big difference

§  Positivity can take you to extraordinary outcomes

§  With each successive good moment, you move upward and outward

§  There is a precise ratio 3:1 of positive to negative emotions to tip to the happy side

6.       You can increase your positivity

§  You have the potential for both negativity and positivity

§  You can tip the scales to unleash your potential to flourish