What drew you to study the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing?
“I had a large poster that said, “Before you tell me your problem, give me a speck of gold.””
I had been interested in positivity ever since finding “Learned Optimism” by Martin Seligman in my late husband’s library. I was curious as to why some people were “my glass is half full” and others “my glass is half empty” type people. I have always been very positive but wanted to know why or how or if it could be changed.
I had also become disillusioned with education, as we seem to be heading towards a more punitive approach to education. Testing for students as though our teachers' professionalism isn't enough. Teacher accreditation as if our Executive are not professional enough. And External Validation, as though our Principals are not professional enough. All this results in a trickle down to students, sending a message of "you are not enough" and it concerns me greatly.
After undertaking the R2 Strengths course with Langley a few years ago, I met Sharon Stone, https://www.sharonstoneconsulting.com.au/ who had completed the DPP course and became my coach. She has been inspiring me with pos psych ever since!
During my one-year contract as Deputy at Moonta Area School in South Australia, I had the opportunity to visit a school that embedded positive psychology in everything they did. This visit changed my thinking! The Principal ‘lived’ positive psychology and everything about the school was based on positivity and wellbeing. Mindfulness activities in every corner. Meetings which always began with a mindfulness activity. Gratitude trees, walls of compliments, walls covered with positive quotes and inspiration. However, the most impressive and long-lasting impression, was throughout the whole school, without exception, I saw smiling, happy, cooperative and enthusiastic students. On questioning the Principal, she explained that positivity had to start from the top and if you didn’t live it, it can’t possibly trickle down to the students.
The minute I returned to my office, I removed all the timetables, policies and admin from my walls (placed in folders, so still available), and put up quotes, PERMA explanations, added a Gratitude Tree to my door and asked all students, teachers and parents to add to it, theory being that people always leave the Deputies office on a positive. Everyone knew that I lived by this and no one started a conversation with me in my office, without giving me a positive. Some teachers even called in to my office just to give me a speck of gold, without a problem! It was fantastic! But I wanted more.
I needed to know all the theory behind it, so that I could continue to spread my positivity wider. When I returned to NSW, I enrolled in the DPP course.
How was your experience studying this course?
“However, watching red wine spill on my white carpet sees me calmly walking to the cupboard to reach for the baking soda.”
It was daunting heading into the course not knowing anyone, however it wasn’t long before we were all new besties (all girls!) and working so well together in a wonderfully warm, inviting environment. During the course I had a number of ‘aha’ moments. Most notably, learning about the brain and how that knowledge has such an impact to improving my wellbeing.
I am freaked out by getting lost, even the thought that I might, sends me into a spiral of negative talk that I end up rocking in a corner unable to function! Now I know why! Amygdala hijack! Living in Wollongong and having to travel to Sydney by train each day to attend the course, I had lots of time to practice this new found knowledge until the last day when there was no stress about getting lost and in fact, I wanted to get lost to further practice managing my amygdala!
Initially learning all the theories was a little overwhelming as there are so many and can be a little confusing. By the end of the course it became very clear that these theories all work so well together and are all on the same road, reaching the same destination – wellbeing and meaning.
I loved how by the end of the course, all the puzzles fitted together beautifully, it was like a festival of ‘aha’ moments across the room!
How are you spreading positive ripples in your world?
“We have been successful, with many parents enjoying their new quest in strength spotting in their children and the joy that brings.”
I enjoyed the DPP course immensely and it has (as I'm sure it has most people!) changed my life! To this end I have been pursuing avenues to satisfy my need to send out ripples of positivity! My first point of call were the wonderful women I had met in my course, the Facebook page we had set up, plus the Alumni page, which turned out to be an amazing source of inspiration and resources. Since the course I joined forces with another student from my course (Robin Mitchell) to develop Strength-based Parenting and Kids, where we have been running workshops for parents around focussing on kids’ strengths. However, we were not getting to a lot of parents, so our focus is now on going through local schools P&C's, which seems more successful. We have an awesome website and have developed a number of useful resources including fridge magnets for parents as a reminder of character strengths. We have a long way to go, but the journey is exciting.
https://strengthbasedparentingandkids.com.au/
I reached out to the Alumni group and connected with two ex-Graduates of the course who live locally. One, Kristy Duffy, is in the HR business. We met over cocktails, clearly a connection already! Her new business (a IWWB New Business finalist in 2019!) Awareness Co https://www.awarenessco.com.au embraces everything positive psychology and we spoke about my involvement with helping out with Strength Profiles (accreditation I acquired a few years ago) and she encouraged me to offer Parenting workshops to local businesses who are looking for ways to tick off their Staff Wellbeing goals.
The other ex-graduate, Raelene Redfern, is a local Principal and we connected over our passion for working with parents, providing them with skills and knowledge around wellbeing for their children. We will continue to work together to see if we can come up with the most appropriate avenue for this and look forward to watching the growth for our students.
We are also planning a further get together(s!) as we all love to talk positive psychology, coming up with ideas, suggestions and visions for sending ripples of happiness across the Illawarra!
In April this year, I attended the Positive Education conference in Brisbane. Brilliant! So inspiring. I connected with the Action for Happiness group from the UK and bought their GREAT DREAM resources for primary students. I am looking into accessing some Grants to run these for schools in poverty across the Illawarra, as I firmly believe that these schools are by far the neediest when it comes to student wellbeing and yet may not have the funds to access them. Recently I was contacted by Action for Happiness to seek my support for Tammy Biton in Tahmoor in running 'Exploring what Matters' workshops for adults over an 8-week period. I jumped at the chance and am taking LSL in order to do it voluntarily.
In conjunction with a masseuse and a Naturopath, we opened the Shellharbour Village Health and Wellness Centre. https://www.facebook.com/Shellharbour-Village-Health-and-Wellness-2159938277602809/ This is where I practice my positive coaching for individuals and teams. https://www.josephineopie-growthcoach.com/ Another way to spread my ripples of happiness!
I continue to work fulltime (for now!) at my school where I also spread as much happiness as I can!
So, you see, the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing course has inspired me to start ripples wherever I can, and wherever possible collectively with other DPP Graduates. I'm just one student, working with others to increase our impact on our beautiful Illawarra region. Imagine how many other ripples are happening around the country!!