Parent workshop Clive 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 People?

Flourishing (Optimal Functioning) Resilience & Mental Toughness Resilience & Mental Toughness PERMA

% Population Flourishing?

The Reality… Increasing..  Unhappiness  Stress & Anxiety  Hopelessness  Depression  Addiction Layard, (2005); Brockman, (2008) Zhao (2013)

Well-being Domains Study/Career Financial/Economic Purpose/Meaning Social/Family Physical Health

Predictors of Well-being & Success Not I.Q., GPA, $$$ but…  Character Skills incl. GRIT  Emotional Health  Social Support (Relationships) Prof. Richard Layard et al (2014)

So PERMA goes to School!

Positive Education

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 determines, in large part how people respond to challenge, stress & 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-active St. 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 Challenge  Opportunities or Threats?  Seeking out challenges  Learning from experience – set backs are opportunities for growth – Learning Mindset Commitment  Goal setting – I know what I want to do  Achieving – 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 worth  Emotional control – I can manage mine & others’ emotions Confidence  Able to bounce-back & recover from setbacks  Abilities – 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 Toughness Ideas drawn from sports, positive & coaching psychology, neuroscience, bio-feedback technology  Emotional Control  Positive Thinking  Learned Optimism  Visualization  Attention Training  Strengths Use  Goal Setting  Coaching No one size fits all!

Positive Emotions Broaden & Build Fredrickson (2009)

Positive = Deposit  Joy  Inspiration  Gratitude  Hope  Pride  Serenity  Amusement  Curiosity  Awe  Love

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

Changing the Thinking  ANTs and PETs  Automatic Negative Thoughts!  Performance Enhancing Thoughts!  Improve thinking habits & patterns

ReactiveProactive Where do you have Control? It will be hard I think I’m gonna fail….! I don’t know the questions Everyone knows more than me There won’t be enough time Make a plan Rest & sleep Eat & drink well Talk to someone - ask for help Exercise Reward yourself Use your strengths

We can control…  Health care  Diet & nutrition  Exercise & fitness  How we plan & prepare  Sleep, relaxation & recovery  Our perspective  Emotional regulation  Mindfulness

Mindfulness

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. Discover strengths! 2. Ignite strengths 3. Build strengths!

VIA Character Strengths  Universal Strengths – cross cultural  34 languages, c2.5m users, 193 countries  High scientific validity – many studies  Corporate, Public, Military, Education  Free Adult and Youth Surveys  24 Character Strengths  5 – 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… Mossman & Waters (2015)

Coaching for Mental Toughness Coaching Goal Setting Strengths Assessment Emotional Control Attention Control Learning Mindset Reflection Time www Visualising

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

Key Coaching Skills:  ASKING POWERFUL QUESTIONS  LISTENING for POTENTIAL  LOOKING for STRENGTHS  BEING PRESENT, CHALLENGING & ENCOURAGING G oal R eality O ptions W ay Forward ● positive ● identify ● develop ● specific ● achievable ● evaluate ● choose best ● measured Whitmore, 2002

Coaching Builds Mental Toughness  Helps to embrace Challenge  Helps to sustain Commitment  Helps to foster Control  Helps to build Confidence

BVIS Program Introducing the principles of Positive Education including Flourishing, Well-being & Mental Toughness to:  Leadership & Faculty  Y12 & Y13 Students & Parents  To work together to support each IB student to do their best now and in to the future

Go Forward & Flourish! Thank You!

Resources  Coaching4Teenagers - Parent as Coach  Duckworth Lab on Grit & Self Control (Grit Survey)  Psychology Today Parenting & Adolescents  Live Happy ‘The Promise of Positive Education  Smiling Mind  Mindfulness in Education Research highlights highlights  Heart Math  MTQ48 Mental Toughness Questionnaire  The Strengths Exchange for Parents  Flourishing Mothers

Thank you for listening