Happiness

A fascinating study of 180 School Sisters of Notre Dame nuns, all born before 1919 has some interesting findings.  In his book “The Happiness Advantage” Shawn Achor describes the process that researchers used to track the positive emotional diary writings over 50 years.  The nuns who had a high level of positivity lived ten years longer than the ones who were negative.  By age 85, 90% of the “happy” nuns were still alive as compared with 34% of the least happy nuns.  This is pretty convincing evidence of the need to maintain a positive way of being in the world. If the nuns were all faced with the same life choices, it would be interesting to ponder why some chose to happiness over unhappiness.

We know that the feelings feed into the physiology and that illness often results if there are prolonged negative feelings. Helping people understand Choice Theory and by using Reality Therapy with people in need we can help them to live a more balanced life, and remain healthier and happier.    

Glasser Quality School

This site is about Murray High School - the first High School Quality School
http://murrayamericanstudies.blogspot.com/

Choice Theory in action

Jane Bond has been working together with Jeff Steedman with a group of teachers at a local school, and a couple of the junior grade staff went out to her kinder last week, wanting to see Choice Theory in action.  

Jane said “It was a special time, as I don't think any of us at the kinder fully realised the extent to which Choice Theory is so much a part of everything we do - from the relationships we have and how we treat each other, the way people speak to each other, and how negotiations happen”.

The school teachers both commented on how great it was to see all the children happily and comfortably and meaningfully engaged in what they were doing - a needs fulfilling environment

Spreading the word - telling people about Choice Theory

Do you get asked "What is Choice Theory?"  An elevator speech is that 30 seconds you have when people ask that question.

A great elevator speech does four things: 

1. It sets out the problem
2. It sets out the opportunity
3. It sets out how the training is going to solve that in a way that's valuable to customers
4. It inspires the listener

How does this sound?

• We have a world that is beset with violence, break down of families, mentally ill people, jails full to overflowing
• Learning Choice Theory has an answer to these huge issues.  Even if we were able to eliminate just one of these areas, society would be a better place for everyone.  
• We teach people that we need to recognise that we can only control ourselves.  The issues are really all about trying to control others.  Violence is trying to control others; break downs in families are the result of one person in the marriage trying to control another.  Mentally ill people are largely people who have become disconnected from those who are important to them and people are often incarcerated because they tried to use force to control another person. Choice Theory teaches us ways to get what we want in a way that does not stop others from getting what they want.
• Wouldn't it be a wonderful place if we were able to eliminate these major concerns in society.  Then the only thing we would need to solve is the poverty of many because of the greed of a few.

Try this for yourself in your area of using Choice Theory and its applications.

Can Choice Theory go viral?

Dorothy Devine sent me the following piece from the Institute of Heart Math,
 

"Change your energy, change your life, change your world...

If we give ourselves unconditional self love for five minutes, the energy created strengthens the immune system for 6 hours.

When we choose anger for five minutes, this state diminishes the immune system for 6 hours.

It is a choice...."

There is also a great free wellbeing survey that gives an interesting take on your stress levels. 

Woodenbong ??

Where is Woodenbong?  I did not know until two days ago.  I drove out from the Gold Coast about two hours and juddered across the border into New South Wales.  I called into the local pub and asked the person behind the bar if this was the only hotel in town. He smiled and said yes.  The town with its outlying community has a small population of about 600.

Dorothy Devine and I were booked in for the night to begin work on a Basic Intensive Training with staff at the local school the next day.

The school was a mere 100 metres from the pub and we were greeted by the Deputy Principal who opened up our training room.  People began to arrive and we were underway.

Our time with the staff was full of fun and laughter.  Stories were shared, aha moments were evident, deep listening practised and questions were asked, all leading to a very needs satisfying day.  Work will continue between sessions through a Blog called Woodenbong BIT.

Now I know a little more about Woodenbong and some of its residents and I really warmed to both.