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Perspective.
When Viktor Frankl emerged from imprisonment in a concentration camp, he wrote the remarkable book 'Man's Search for Meaning' over the course of 9 days. In this book, Frankl tells us that humans can withstand almost anything, providing that we remember that we have the ability to choose our attitude to what befalls us. What Frankl wrote is echoed in the teachings of the Stoics, who similarly urged their disciples to reflect upon the way that they thought about the unpredictabilities of life.
What the Stoics and Viktor Frankl wrote about is now referred to as developing 'resilience', the ability to adapt in the face of challenge or adversity. It is also known as building a 'psychological immune system' (Daniel Gilbert) or developing psychological capital.
Before you recoil in horror at the suggestion that we deny reality, it is worth remembering that so much of our 'reality' is in fact perception and that often, we confuse facts with values or beliefs. When somebody says 'I am not very good at languages' they state it as if it were fact: but all humans are good at languages given appropriate teaching, encouragement and practice: after all, everybody speaks at least one don't they? What they are in fact uttering, is a very often self-limiting thougth or belief, which can be (and should be) changed in the light of evidence.
In this strand of the well-being course, we look at developing the skills of resilience that will help young people to adapt to the challenges and adversities that they face, rather than give up and hide behind falsely comforting beliefs.
The scheme of work, resources and some suggested reading can be found below.
Putting it in perspective notes
The psychological immune system notes
Suggested reading.
Punished by rewards chapter 6, by Alfie Kohn
Grit by Yvonne Roberts (available for free download at www.youngfoundation.org)
The Optimistic Child by Martin Seligman
The Resilience Factor by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Self Theories by Carol Dweck
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell