POSITIVE MENTAL FITNESS The capacity to both shape and respond to life with a sense of engagement and a capacity to tolerate surprises or unforseen events (Kitchen, Parker, Denberg).

RESILIENCE RESILIENCE The bounce back factor!!! The bounce back factor!!! resilient: the capacity to recover from shock “Resillient people have reserves of strength inside them, a kind of emotional contingency fund that allows them to process day-to-day setbacks without gettting stuck in them.” (Loszak) Regard new experiences as challengesRegard new experiences as challenges Capacity to see opportunity in crisis Capacity to see opportunity in crisis

How Resilient Are You? How Resilient Are You? 1. Physical and emotional independence. 2. The initiative to make things happpen. 3. The ability to learn from experience and apply that knowledge to new situations. 4. A creative approach to life and the capacity to see opportunity in crisis. 5. The ability to laugh at yourself and the world. 6. Moral courage, even in the face of disapproval.

ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT The ability to create and maintain happiness, contentment and joy The ability to create and maintain happiness, contentment and joy A state of mind that psychologists have termed “flow”- a heightened absorption that causes your self-consciousness to fall away. A state of mind that psychologists have termed “flow”- a heightened absorption that causes your self-consciousness to fall away. You experience a high level of control over your environment while at the same time living entirely in the moment. You experience a high level of control over your environment while at the same time living entirely in the moment. You forget who you are, where you are, what time it is and where you are supposed to go next You forget who you are, where you are, what time it is and where you are supposed to go next

ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT People are happiest in the state of flow. Crucial ingredient is play-when we are actively involved in a difficult enterprise, a task that stretches our mental and physical abilities. Think back to childhood and the kind of activities that absorbed you then-games, crafts, hobbies. Take inventory: how often do you laugh?, do you connect with love ones?, do you lose yourself in an activity?, do you feel contentment and joy?

SELF-ESTEEM SELF-ESTEEM The belief that we are each worthwhile and have a contribution to make. The belief that we are each worthwhile and have a contribution to make. You are competent and capable. You are competent and capable. You have had “success experiences”, which involve accomplishing appropriately challenging tasks You have had “success experiences”, which involve accomplishing appropriately challenging tasks You view yourself and your life in a positive light You view yourself and your life in a positive light

BOOSTING YOUR SELF-ESTEEM 1. Identify your areas of competence and focus on these areas rather than dwell on your weaknesses. 2. Develop new areas of competence. 3. Set goals and accomplish them.

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) Instructions: Below is a list of statements dealing with your general feelings about yourself. If you strongly agree, circle SA. If you agree with the statement, circle A. If you disagree, circle D. If you strongly disagree, circle SD. 1. On the whole, I am satisfied with myself. SA A D SD 2.* At times, I think I am no good at all. SA A D SD 3. I feel that I have a number of good qualities. SA A D SD 4. I am able to do things as well as most other people. SA A D SD 5.* I feel I do not have much to be proud of. SA A D SD 6.* I certainly feel useless at times. SA A D SD 7. I feel that I’m a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others. SA A D SD 8.* I wish I could have more respect for myself. SA A D SD 9.* All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure. SA A D SD 10. I take a positive attitude toward myself. SA A D SD

Self-Esteem Score Self-Esteem Score To determine your SES score-assign a value to each question as follows: To determine your SES score-assign a value to each question as follows: Questions 1,3,4,7,10 Questions 1,3,4,7,10 SA=3, A=2, D=1, SD=0 SA=3, A=2, D=1, SD=0 Questions 2,5,6,8,9 Questions 2,5,6,8,9 SA=0, A=1, D=2, SD=3 SA=0, A=1, D=2, SD=3 The higher your overall score-to a maximum of 30-the higher your self-esteem. The higher your overall score-to a maximum of 30-the higher your self-esteem.