Translating wellbeing research into positive community experiences.

Lincoln Celebrates the International Day of Happiness!
Saturday, March 22, 2025
11am-5pm
Charles H. Gere Branch Library
2400 S 56th St, Lincoln, NE 68506

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Agenda:

Speakers – TBA

Mental Health and Entrepreneurship (dialogue):

Matt Helt, Growth and Development Coach
Matt Secoske, Technologist and Entrepreneur

Strengths-Based Cultures (panel):

Tori Pedersen, TeamMates Mentoring
TBA
TBA

Creativity, Flow, and Aesthetic Experience (panel):

Charley Friedman, Artist and Co-curator at Fiendish Plots
Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez, Artist and Co-curator at Fiendish Plots
Dan Novy, Assistant Professor of Emerging Media Arts at UNL
Karen Shoemaker, Author and Founder of Larksong Writers Place
L. Kent Wolgamott, Entertainment Reporter/Columnist at LJS

Community Building (panel):
TBA
TBA
TBA

Mentoring and Generativity (panel):
Jack Ehrke, Board Member of NHRI
TBA
TBA

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

Strengths | Values | Conversation

Strengths – Build on our strengths. Try a strengthsfinder and learn more about your top strengths (VIA Strengths (free) , CliftonStrengths, etc.)
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.
Conversation – Meet weekly for a one hour small-group conversation where each person has the opportunity to share several times:
- 20 minutes: What is a valued practice/hobby that you would like to share about? One person volunteers to present on a wellbeing topic or to share about a hobby for 10 minutes. Use Google Scholar to search for articles on how the topic/hobby may relate to human flourishing. Search tips: include “positive psychology” or “wellbeing” along with your chosen topic. Take an additional 10 minutes for conversation about the topic. Everyone can share.
- 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 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 built from 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:

Strengths – Character Strengths and Well-Being/Happiness
Values – The Power of Affirming Your Values
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 (148K+ members).
Developing the HAPPY LIFE 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 6:30-9:30pm.
- 4th Thursdays @ Constellation Studios 2055 ‘O’ St, Lincoln, NE 68510 from 7-10pm.
Helping to organize neighborhood associations in northeast Lincoln:

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)