ELT News Think Tank
Panelists: Curtis | Marc | Chuck | Chris
Date: January 2006
Topic: "What was the best idea you had in the last year?"
Marc Helgesen
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I think one benefit of positive psychology is that it helps you make good use of opportunities. A couple months ago, there was a list of “feel goods” that made its way around email lists. Tim Murphey and I played with it and turned it into a classroom activity. You just give it to the students, ask them to read the list and rate how great each one is, from 1 (L) to 10 (J) I explain 10 to my students as “heaven”). Then they talk to their friends and come up with some of their own “feel goods.”
Here’s the list. If you want it as a xeroxable handout, click here. Enjoy. If it helps your students, that makes me very happy.
It feels so good! Read about things that make you feel good.
FEEL GOODS and NATURAL HIGHS
Go slowly: Think about these one at a time BEFORE going on to the next one...
IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD (especially the last one).
Rate them: 1 to 10 (Best!)
Then compare with a partner. Talk about them.
- Being in love.
- Laughing. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
- A sunny day during rainy season.
- Taking a drive on a pretty road.
- Hearing your favorite song.
- Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
- A cold drink on a very hot day (or hot soup on a cold day.)
- A hot face towel (oshibori) on a summer day.
- Chocolate ice cream ... (or vanilla …or banana…or mango…)
- A dog or cat showing that they love you.
- Laughing for no good reason.
- A good conversation.
- Finding ¥10,000 in the pocket of an old jacket.
- A rainbow.
- A long, hot bath.
- Having someone tell you that you're wonderful.
- Hearing someone say something nice about you.
- Waking up early. Then remembering you have a few more hours to sleep.
- Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
- Having someone play with your hair.
- Sweet dreams.
- Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
- Holding hands with someone you care about.
- Running into an old friend. You understand that some things (good or bad) never change.
- Watching someone's face when you give them a really special present.
- Getting out of bed in the morning. Then being thankful for another beautiful day.
- A smile.
- Knowing that somebody loves you.
- Knowing you did the right thing (no matter what other people think.)
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Panelists: Curtis | Marc | Chuck | Chris
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Marc Helgesen, Miyagi Gakuin Women's College
Co-author of English
Firsthand and Active Listening
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