Translating wellbeing research into positive community experiences.

10:30-10:50am Doors Open and Introductions

Welcome by Lincoln City Libraries

Nick Hernandez – Hope for a H.A.P.P.Y. L.I.F.E.

10:50-11:00am Break

11:00-11:50am Community Building – an interactive experience facilitated by Milan Wall

11:50am-12:00pm Break

• Emily Kluver, Community Health Endowment
• TBA
• TBA

No funding requests to grantmakers are permitted at this event.

2:05-2:15pm Break

Ongoing Events:

Flourish Café (weekly small-group conversation format): How to Build a H.A.P.P.Y. L.I.F.E.

Strengths | Values | Conversation

1. Strengths – Build on our strengths. Try a strengthsfinder and learn more about your top strengths (VIA Strengths (free) , CliftonStrengths, etc.)
2. Values – Choose and refine our core values. Sources of inspiration for developing a personal list of core values: strengths, attributes of people who have made a difference in our lives, hobbies and activities we are passionate about.
3. Conversation – Meet weekly for a one hour small-group conversation where each person has the opportunity to share several times:
   • 20 minutes: What went well lately? Pass this question around the circle. This might be about something you did well (goal pursuit) or something that went well (gratitude).
   • 20 minutes: What is a one of your strengths or values that you would like to deepen your understanding of? Whoever volunteered the week prior to explore the wellbeing literature around one of their strengths or values, shares about what they found for about 10 minutes. They typically start this quest by delving into Google Scholar around their strength/value. Search tips: include “positive psychology” or “wellbeing” along with your strength/value. Create a question that welcomes everyone into an additional 10 minutes of conversation about the topic. Ask for a volunteer to present next week.
   • 20 minutes: What is a valued goal you would like to work on? Pass this question around the circle. More completely: What is a values-aligned goal you would like to work on (goals thinking) and how do you plan to accomplish it (pathways thinking)? This question is designed to help build psychological hope which is composed of a set of mutually reinforcing processes: formulating valued goals (autonomy), developing pathways thinking (mastery), goal attainment, and experiencing a greater sense of agency.

Each element of the Flourish Café is meant to elevate wellbeing:

1. Strengths – Character Strengths and Well-Being/Happiness
2. Values – The Power of Affirming Your Values
3. Conversation – Conversation quantity and quality are related to well-being
   • Gratitude – Gratitude Really Is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows.
   • Wellbeing Practices – Happiness can be learnt, but you have to work at it
   • Hope – The science of hope: More than wishful thinking

All are welcome to the Flourish Café! Location: Telegraph Mill 330 S 21st St., Lincoln, NE 68510 on Sunday’s from 2-4pm. We normally meet outside, weather permitting. Look for the Positivity Matters sign.

We also meet online in a free virtual forum, Second Life, on Saturday’s from 8am-9am Central at this location.

Other Activities of Positivity Matters:

• Video clips from our celebration – 25 years of positive psychology and the 11th U.N International Day of Happiness.
• The Positivity Matters podcast (Spotify | iTunes | YouTube | Amazon Music) (archive)
• Moderating the Positive Psychology group on Facebook (150K+ members).
• Developing the H.A.P.P.Y. L.I.F.E. model of human flourishing.
• Organizing Lincoln West Coast Swing. No cover. Free beginners lesson during the first hour. No partner required.
  • 2nd Tuesdays @ Storm Cellar 3233 S 13th St, Lincoln, NE 68502 from 7-9:30pm.
  • 4th Thursdays @ Constellation Studios 2055 ‘O’ St, Lincoln, NE 68510 from 7-10pm.
• Helping to organize neighborhood associations in northeast Lincoln:
  • Northeast Lincoln Partnership
  • Havelock Neighborhood Association
  • Bethany Neighborhood Association

Video clips of past Positivity Matters events and media coverage.

Advisors:

• Richard Dienstbier, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Dr. Dienstbier on physiological toughness: article | book) (video of Dr. Dienstbier speaking on love and physiological toughness | podcast with Dr. Dienstbier speaking on nutrition, toughness, and human flourishing)
• Shane George, Visiting Assistant Professor, University of North Florida (Dr. George on autonomy and authenticity) (Dr George co-presenting on humor, a prime form of playfulness, at an event we organized to celebrate the 2018 International Day of Happiness)