Small actions can make a huge difference. One small act of kindness at the right moment can change a person's life. In this video, we see exactly what kindness can do; color our world. Showing this to students can open their eyes to their ability to create change in the world. Students will see that it is as simple as sharing your lunch with a friend or returning a lost item. It only has to start with one small act of kindness.
It is important to train ourselves to switch our thinking surrounding our own adversities. As Michelle Obama puts it in this commencement speech, "facing and overcoming adversities is one of (our) greatest advantages." Without our adversities, without facing hardships and working through them, we would not be resiliant. As teachers, we need to encourage our students to fight through their adversities and come out positively on the other side.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, went through the first part of her life believing that being smart was uncool. Then, she found a passion in technology, went to college at Harvard, and next started a job at Google. She is a woman, a mom, and a Chief Operating Officer of a billion dollar company. Yes, it is possible to do all three. Sandberg believes in being ambitious, finding your passion, and wor your hardest while never giving up.
Failure and success go hand-in-hand. If you give it your best, no matter what the outcome is, you still succeeded. I have learned that through my failures is when I learn the most. My failures push me to work harder and to want to succeed even more. "Failure is a connecting point leading us to success", go ahead... fail. Your failures only prove that you are trying, that you have a drive and are working towards a specific dream or goal that you have.
What makes you happy? What about gratitude? In this video, we see individuals calling someone that has had a lasting impact on them and telling them how much that person means to them. Their happiness levels soared simply from this. By picking up a phone and calling your mom or your best friend or your college professor and letting them know just what they mean to you, you will not only make their day, but you will be boosting your own happiness levels as well. Try it out!