From Warts to Wings: Helping Young People Live Healthier and Happier Lives John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D. Department of Counselor Education University of Montana

Today’s Plan  Thanks to Danya Perry and Communities in Schools of NC  Opening survey  Articulate 9 key principles and strategies of human change that you can use immediately in your work with students and parents

Today’s Plan II  Organized by chapter: Each chapter has a story, a cartoon, and a concluding principle  A summary handout and all powerpoint slides are available at johnsommersflanagan.com and available through Mr. YaBerry  Caveats [Danya: Do a talk that’s inspirational, funny, and includes strategies.]

Todays Plan III  My Political Platform

Political Platform  “The road to economic vitality, the road to environmental sustainability, the road to excellence in health care and social support programs, and the road to good government always has and always will run through education.”

Trivia Question #1  Who said?  “We must have the attitude that every child in America—regardless of where they’re raised or how they’re born—can learn.” April 18, 2001, New Britain, CT.

Chapter One: The Catatonic Woman

The Principle We should work hard to not judge students, parents, and teachers based on their appearance … partly because they’re probably watching us closely

Chapter Two: Emma the Great

The Principle Use passionate rewards and boring consequences (and avoid backward behavior modification)

Chapter Three: The Satanic Golden Rule

Trivia Question #2  What is a significant problem or flaw associated with the Satanic Golden Rule?

Possible Trivia 2 Answers  Revenge begets revenge – It never ends  You give away your power and become a negative follower instead of a positive leader

The Principle Create your own positive respect bubble... and watch out for the REVENGE IMPULSE

Chapter Four: The Cherry Story

The Principle It’s not what happens to us... But what we think about what happens to us... That causes us misery

Chapter Five: Powers of Mind

The Principle Use the power of your mind to creatively and relentlessly focus on your goals

Chapter Six: Twenty Minutes

The Principle Allow children freedom and then learn about what they’re trying to master And remember, young people may treat you with ambivalence

Chapter Seven: Meeting Jesus at the Portland VA Hospital

The Principle If you want genuine cooperation Be less threatening

Chapter Eight: Learning to Growl

The Principle Change is easier if you make a good plan and then follow it

Chapter Nine: That Dog Don’t Hunt

The Principle Love can overshadow our own unique faults or warts

Summary and Conclusions  Be careful in your judgments, because students are watching  Use passionate rewards and boring consequences  Create your own respect bubble; and watch out for revenge  It’s not what happens to you... but what you think...  Use the power of mind to focus on your goals  Learn from observation and remember youth may treat you with ambivalence  If you want genuine cooperation, be less threatening  If you want to change behavior, make an new plan  We all have warts and, if we’re lucky, we might find a wing in there somewhere too