The Science Behind the Magic of our Kindness Matters 365 Curriculum
The science behind the magic of our Kindness Matters 365 Curriculum: Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
Daily life for humans is filled with natural stressors that can be overwhelming. On top of that, add a global pandemic and a national election, and manageable quickly flips to mayhem inside our brains. Without the proper strategies in our individual emotional toolboxes, our ability to cope just isn’t as strong as it could be.
The first essential tool is optimistic thinking, which is one of eight social emotional topics in the KM365 curriculum. Optimistic thinking supports people in making positive choices, which sets the stage for Kindness to ourselves, others, and the world.
Let’s be real: life can be hard. Optimistic thinking does not ignore this fact – it embraces it. Actually, step one of optimistic thinking is to acknowledge negative stressors. In acknowledging, we begin to accept what has happened and we can move to step two. This step is to be hopeful for a positive future – we consider that solutions will be found, progress will be made, and we will feel better. Last, step three is approaching the situation with productive actions aimed at moving toward a positive outcome.
| Instead of saying: | Say this: |
| I can’t do this | This is tough, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it work |
| We can’t agree | Even though we have different opinions, I’ll listen with an open-mind and create channels for communication |
| This is an insurmountable issue | This is complicated, and I can move slowly, in small steps, towards a solution |
The research and science of optimistic thinking indicates that the physiological and mental health benefits may include:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression and distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
To learn more about implementing optimistic thinking at home, click here: https://kindnessmatters365.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=34136&action=edit
