Positivity
This area is devoted to helping you create a more positive environment wherever you are. :)
First of all cover your space in positive words and images. These can be positivity boards, affirmations, images or (if you want to challenge) statements challenging stereotypes I.e. girls are strong, boys are caring. If you move around between spaces make boards that can be quickly put up around any space.
One great way to do this is have your participants make positivity boards or put the affirmations etc. up themselves.
These are good to take home so maybe do it twice. Or more.
(Haidt, 2006)
Positivity board-
- Select images, quotes or artwork that represents you and your values. (not what you think, you should think)
- Get a board of some kind- cork, canvas, pin board.
- Starting with the most impactful in the middle make your way outwards with positive things.
- Place it somewhere you can see it everyday.
Affirmations and Images-
As well as positivity boards you can add sneaky affirmations around the space. These can be places anywhere and everywhere and some can be in places you might not immediately notice.
Images can be put together in collages or just around the space and should show fun activities or successes that participants and staff have made.
If you see it, say it.
People do good things all the time whether its helping someone understand something or supporting another's project but we don't always point that out or say we noticed.
So if you see it, say it.
The person they helped might be grateful but if it takes 3 good things to equal to 1 bad then you have to say it too.
Positive reinforcement is good for all involved it helps us look for good things in ourselves and in others. (Fredrickson, 2001)
"Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble."
-Yehuda Berg
"Trust is the most important part of a relationship, closely followed by communication. I think that if you have those two things, everything else falls into place - your affection, your emotional connection."
-Vanessa Lachey
There are a hundred ways to muck up communication.
All we can do is try not to.
One way to encourage positive communication is to use I statements.
Another is to be open to a conversation.
Set goals little goals, big goals, football goals, smart goals.
There's nothing like goals to bring people together and build motivation.
If you have a consistent group you can try setting public goals. These are personal goals set by each individual but you put them somewhere everyone can see them. This has a few benefits- people can offer help, they can gain inspiration, they can offer encouragement. More importantly when a person reaches their goal everyone knows that it mattered to them.
You can also make group goals- something everyone wants to achieve.
This is also an opportunity to talk about setting realistic goals.
