Project Happiness is thrilled to announce that, in partnership with Alliant University, we are launching an online continuing education course on July 12th entitled “Exploring Positivity in Classroom Management: A Curriculum of Wellness.” This course (2.5 CEU’s) will give teachers — new and old teachers, Project Happiness facilitators and others, science and art teachers, public and private school teachers — a chance to enliven their teaching practice with the positive psychology, mindfulness and wellness practices that Project Happiness does so well. If you’re interested, take a look here for more details and then click here to REGISTER through Alliant University.

Rewriting Your Script to Prevent Depression

I have to say this is my FAVORITE part of the discussion with Nina, because it’s here where we explore the relationship between the illness, ‘depression,’ and the wellness practices of Project Happiness. Here’s how Nina (who knows a LOT about psychology, as you’ll see if you listen!) lays it out:

• Learning to be aware of your emotions, to regulate your emotions, and to separate your emotional response from reality are critical skills for depression PREVENTION and depression RECOVERY.
• Learning to know when to reach out for professional help — for yourself or someone you care about — is critical for those with SEVERE DEPRESSION, particularly teens.

Take a listen to the podcast episode HERE…

Here is one of my favorite Project Happiness methods for getting a handle on where you’re at emotionally and moving in a positive direction:

Rewriting Your Script (Taken from the Project Happiness Handbook, p.47)

1. Close your eyes and try to picture your current situation (your feelings, your interactions, your choices) as a film. Who are the characters on the screen? What are they doing, thinking and feeling? In particular, what is the protagonist (you!) doing, thinking and feeling?
2. Sketch out this movie in words or pictures.
3. Now…remember that you are the writer, actor and director in your movie: rewrite the script! What could the protagonist do to reach for joy and connection? Could you take some of those steps in your world?

And remember to always practice SELF-COMPASSION; your runaway ‘monkey mind’ (check out p.48 in the Project Happiness Handbook) may be telling you that your friends and family don’t have the time or energy to ‘deal with’ your feelings, but that is probably the farthest thing from the truth. REACH OUT and let someone else help you figure out the next step.

Doing Sunday dinner dishes.

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit…but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less. But let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules and although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.

In the second installment of our podcast series on reaching out to those with depression, Nina Poe (see her blog on her own depression journey here) talks about her journey as a teenager struggling with depression. It was in fact partly this teenage experience that motivated Nina to start her blog. In ‘coming out of the closet’ as someone who has suffered from depression, she hopes to get people – parents, teachers, doctors, friends – to talk about depression, take the signs of it seriously, and be an advocate for depressed teens so that they can get medical help.

–> To hear Nina and I talk about this journey, click HERE.

Here are some resources that weren’t there for Nina or her parents 15 years ago, but are here now:

• Pre-eminent depression researcher, Dr. John Greden, discussing the progression of depression here.
• Here’s some great info on childhood and adolescent depression from the Michigan Depression Center’s website (run by — you guessed it — Dr. Greden!)
• Nina’s favorite mental health charity and advocacy organization, NARSAD, is available here.
• This is a list of some warning signs teens with depression might exhibit.
• And, of course, the Project Happiness Handbook, available on Amazon, is a great resource for helping parents, teachers and kids be aware of their emotions so that they can show compassion to themselves and others and reach out when they need help.

Early symptoms of World Cup fever.

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit…but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less. But let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules and although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.

Dancing on Friday night!

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less. But let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules and although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.

A friendly & kind shop clerk

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less. But let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules and although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.

A stranger becoming my friend.

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less. But let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules and although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.

A handful of almonds!

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less-let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules. And although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.

A Sunday promenade in Berkeley.

I read somewhere it takes 30 days to create a new habit but when I find great ice-cream, like Bi-Rite’s salted caramel, it just takes one scoop or less-let’s be rational, ice-cream breaks a lot of rules. And although we all want more happiness in our lives, negativity is like Velcro fastening itself to our thoughts. Neuroscience gives us a strategy with this bit of wisdom, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, happy thoughts create happy brains. Join me in this 30 Day Challenge to rewire my brain for more happiness.