Parent workshopClive Leach

Outline

At our Best What gets in the way? Positive Education What is Mental Toughness? How we can measure it How we can build it Q&A

The Future for Young The Future for Young People? People?

Flourishing (Optimal Functioning)

Resilience & Mental Resilience & Mental ToughnessToughness

PERMA

% Population Flourishing?

The Reality…The Reality…

Increasing..Increasing.. UnhappinessUnhappiness Stress & AnxietyStress & Anxiety HopelessnessHopelessness DepressionDepression AddictionAddiction

Layard, (2005); Brockman, (2008) Zhao (2013)

Well-being Domains

Predictors of Well-being & Success

Not I.Q., GPA, $$$ but…

Character Skills incl. GRITEmotional HealthSocial Support (Relationships)

Prof. Richard Layard et al (2014)

So PERMA goes to School!

Positive Education

www.ipositive-education.net

Positive Education

Applies PERMA to enhance well-being of the whole school community - This is about you as parents too!

Reduce stress & anxiety To support High Performance

Learning To create more virtuous

citizens and a better society

What is Mental Toughness?

““The quality which The quality which determines, in large part determines, in large part how people respond to how people respond to challenge, stress & challenge, stress & pressure….”pressure….”

Strycharzyck (2014)

Resilience

Coping & bounce-back - from setbacks and adversity

Internal Assets – Optimism, Humour, Self-efficacy, Autonomy

Protective Factors – Family, School, Community….

Reactive

Yates & Masten, (2009)

Mental Toughness (Hardiness)

Change & Challenge – is normal remaining healthy under stress

Active involvement - Seeking & stepping in to challenge

Self-belief – can influence & control

Pro-activeSt. Clair-Thompson (2014), Clough & Strycharczyk (2014)

Mental Toughness is..

Not about being macho or male dominated

Not about being self-centred or uncaring Not just about winning and sport Not about everyone being mentally

tough all the time It depends on situation and role It can be overplayed Mental sensitivity is also important

The 4 Cs - Key Components

Challenge Commitment Control Confidence

The 4 Cs

ChallengeOpportunities or Threats?Seeking out challengesLearning from experience – set backs are opportunities for growth – Learning Mindset

CommitmentGoal setting – I know what I want to doAchieving – I’ll do what it takes to get there – Grit & ‘Stickability’Managing distractions & meets deadlines

Control Life control – I believe I can really do it - self worthEmotional control – I can manage mine & others’ emotions

ConfidenceAble to bounce-back & recover from setbacksAbilities – I believe I have or can acquire the skills I need Interpersonal – I can influence others, stand my ground & ask for help when needed

Measuring Mental Toughness MTQ48

Building Mental ToughnessIdeas drawn from sports, positive & coaching psychology, neuroscience, bio-feedback technologyEmotional ControlPositive ThinkingLearned OptimismVisualizationAttention TrainingStrengths UseGoal SettingCoaching

No one size fits all!

Positive Emotions

Broaden &

BuildBuildFredrickson (2009)

Positive = Deposit

Joy Inspiration Gratitude Hope Pride

Serenity Amusement

Curiosity Awe Love

Develop a Reality MindsetDevelop a Reality Mindset

“ “I’ve had many I’ve had many catastrophes in my life.catastrophes in my life.Most of which never Most of which never actually happened.”actually happened.”Mark TwainMark Twain

  

Changing the Thinking

ANTs and PETsANTs and PETs Automatic Negative Automatic Negative Thoughts!Thoughts!

Performance Performance Enhancing Enhancing Thoughts!Thoughts!

Improve thinking Improve thinking habits & patternshabits & patterns

ReactiveProactive

Where do you have Control?

It will be hardI think I’m gonna fail….!I don’t know the questionsEveryone knows more than meThere won’t be enough time

Make a planRest & sleepEat & drink wellTalk to someone - ask for helpExerciseReward yourselfUse your strengths

We can control…

Health careHealth care Diet & nutrition Diet & nutrition Exercise & fitnessExercise & fitness How we plan & prepareHow we plan & prepare Sleep, Sleep, relaxation & recoveryrelaxation & recovery Our perspectiveOur perspective Emotional regulationEmotional regulation Mindfulness Mindfulness

Mindfulness

www.smilingmind.com.au

Mindfulness Studies

Students – fewer depressive symptoms, less stress, increased well-being & academic achievement. More practice = better ongoing outcomes.

Teachers & Parents – less burn out & emotional exhaustion, less anxiety, less work strain, improved attention, physical health & self compassion

Y13 Pre- Exam Stress Relief!

WWW = What Works Well? Gratitude Exercises – PRESENT / PAST 3 good things – What’s working well & why? Gratitude visit – Thank someone in your life Best Self Exercise - PAST Consider achievements to date Create affirmations and reminders

Best Possible Self Exercise – FUTURE Vision of the Future Reflect on values and strengths Lived a ‘good life’ - helps GOAL SETTING

Seligman (2009) Lyubomirsky, (2010); Fredrickson, (2012)

Attention Training

What is my goal today & how does it fit with bigger picture & where I want to be?

What is distracting me - thoughts, feelings, people, phone pings & vibrates?!

Have a‘to do later’ list Exercise the attention muscle Attention Games - Lumosity, Nintendo Bio feedback

HeartMath

Heart Rate Variability – breathing & heart beat coherence to support optimal functioning

Discover your Strengths!

Natural to us Do well & often Energising

Strengths Development

1.1. DiscoverDiscover strengths! strengths!

2.2. Ignite Ignite strengthsstrengths

3.3. BuildBuild strengths! strengths!

VIA Character VIA Character StrengthsStrengths

Universal Strengths – cross culturalUniversal Strengths – cross cultural 34 languages, c2.5m users, 193 34 languages, c2.5m users, 193

countriescountries High scientific validity – many studiesHigh scientific validity – many studies Corporate, Public, Military, EducationCorporate, Public, Military, Education Free Adult and Youth SurveysFree Adult and Youth Surveys 24 Character Strengths24 Character Strengths 5 – 7 Signature Strengths5 – 7 Signature Strengths

24 Character Strengths

Patana Y9 Junior Delegates

Kindness

Social Intelligence

Fairness

Teamwork

Leadership

Courage

What Unis & Employers Want?

Enthusiasm Energetic Positive outlook Curiosity Kind & Friendly Persistent Eager to learn Resilience

Reliability Diplomatic,

Tactful Open-minded Creativity Authenticity Proactivity Assertive, Brave Leadership

& For Parents…

www.the-strengths-exchange.com.au Mossman & Waters (2015)

Coaching for Mental Toughness

Coaching

““Unlocking a person’s Unlocking a person’s potential to maximise potential to maximise their own performance... their own performance... by helping themby helping them to learn to learn rather than teaching rather than teaching them.”them.”Sir John WhitmoreSir John Whitmore

Key Coaching Skills:ASKING POWERFUL QUESTIONSLISTENING for POTENTIALLOOKING for STRENGTHSBEING PRESENT, CHALLENGING & ENCOURAGING

GoalRealit

y

Option

s

Way

Forward● positive ● identify ● develop ● specific● achievable ● evaluate ● choose best ● measured

Whitmore, 2002

Coaching Builds Mental Toughness

Helps to embrace ChallengeHelps to sustain Commitment

Helps to foster ControlHelps to build Confidence

BVIS Program

Introducing the principles of Positive Education including Flourishing, Well-being & Mental Toughness to:Leadership & FacultyY12 & Y13 Students & ParentsTo work together to support each IB student to do their best now and in to the future

Go Forward & Flourish!

Thank You! www.cliveleach.com

Resources Coaching4Teenagers - Parent as Coach

www.coaching4teenagers.com.au Duckworth Lab on Grit & Self Control (Grit Survey)

https://sites.sas.upenn.edu/duckworth Psychology Today Parenting & Adolescents

www.psychologytoday.com Live Happy ‘The Promise of Positive Education

http://www.livehappy.com/science/positive-psychology/promise-positive-education

Smiling Mind www.smilingmind.com.au Mindfulness in Education Research

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/mindfulness_in_education_research_highlights

Heart Math www.heartmath.com MTQ48 Mental Toughness Questionnaire

http://www.aqr.co.uk/page/mentaltoughness The Strengths Exchange for Parents www.the-strengths-

exchange.com.au Flourishing Mothers www.flourishingmothers.com.au

www.bvisvietnam.com

Thank you for listening