by Kelly Beischel PhD, RN, CNE

Why ask students what’s new and good in their life?

Well, I’ve discovered that infusing positivity at the beginning of classes, meetings, retreats, or coaching calls puts participants in a positive frame of mind. And why is this important?

The literature bears out that positive moods produce broader attention, more holistic thinking and more creative thinking in students.

How cool is that?

Positivity Intervention

The intervention is quite simple really. Ask a few students at random “what’s new and good” at the beginning of class. And then wait for their answers.

Additional Benefits

Students’ answers give us insight into what’s going on in their lives and it positions students to embrace positivity, to embrace gratitude as a way of life.

That’s a win-win in my book.

I remember the first time I asked my students in class, “what’s new and good?” They looked at me with baffled expressions.

So, I explained, “I’m asking what is new in your life that you are happy about and grateful for.” In the beginning, they had difficulty coming up with an answer.

I patiently waited while they scrambled to think of anything that was good. As this persisted over a few weeks, some would even say to me, “you’re going to start thinking we’re lame.”

I simply smiled.

Feeling the Shift

You can imagine my satisfaction when students began seeking new things to be glad about or thankful for so that they could contribute in class. And you know what?

Searching for reasons to be thankful changed everything. You could feel the energy in the room shift. From negativity to positivity. From being closed to open.

I love when classroom and life lessons come together like that, don’t you? Try it and let me know what you think.

Ask your students to tell you something new and good.

Be consistent and persistent. And see if you feel the classroom shift toward positivity. It’s a small action that can lead to a big outcome. This, I believe, is what it means to be a teacher of life.

Leave a comment below

about your strategies for moving the energy in your class toward positivity. You’ll be in the drawing for a chance to win a copy of Louder than Words: Harness the Power of Your Authentic Voice autographed by the author.

Let’s learn from one another.