WEEK 11- Introduction to Relationships (Act of Kindness)

Teachers to read and facilitate the following:


Equipment Required
Pen and Paper

PERMAH Element
Relationships and Positive emotion


Rationale

Researchers have concluded that “like food and air, we seem to need social relationships to thrive” (Diener and Biswas-Diener, 2008). Our relationships with other people matter. A sense of belonging improves our self esteem, life satisfaction and life expectancy. We have a biological need for social support and each time we have a positive interaction with someone, our bodies release oxytocin (the pleasure inducing hormone), into our bloodstream. Oxytocin reduces our anxiety, improves concentration and helps to regulate our cardiovascular system. Profession Jane Dutton explains that we all have a psychological need to feel respected, valued and appreciated.  Investing into a healthy support network is one of the best things we can do to enhance our own wellbeing. Helping and being kind to others improves our connectedness and makes us happier (Lyubomirsky, 2008).


Description of Personal Wellbeing Practice: Act of Kindness

  1. Spend a few moments thinking of something good you can do for someone today (eg sit with someone you normally walk past at lunchtime; make afternoon tea for your sister; hold the door open for a teacher). It can be big or small but it needs to benefit them in some way.

  2. Now turn to the person beside you and share what act of kindness you are going to do today.  Commit to share with them next time you see them how your act of kindness made you feel, and how the person responded.


Main message:

 "Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." -Scott Adams


 

UPP’s Personal Wellbeing Practices

A Personal Wellbeing Practice (PWP) is an evidenced-based positive psychology intervention, applied in school communities or other educational settings. At UPP, we have tried to make these PWP’s simple, concise and relevant for students and their teachers. The six elements for the Personal Wellbeing Practices are: Positive emotion (P); Engagement (E); Relationships (R); Meaning (M); Accomplishment (A); and, Health (H).


We hope that these evidence-based tools of positive psychology will enhance help people to thrive and live their best life, both within and beyond the school gates.  

For more activities like this (and much more), check out THRIVE Online Lesson Modules for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing.

Unleashing Personal Potential