Author Topic: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being  (Read 16192 times)

lhamo

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Over on his journal @tj mentioned that this online course at Yale is currently available for free via coursera:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being

I recall reading elsewhere that this is the most popular course at Yale.

The course is supposed to take 19 hours.  Syllabus is set up for a 10 week run. 

I've signed up and will probably just follow the syllabus over 10 weeks.  Anybody else want to give it a try?  We can discuss further here.

PS:  There is also an option to pay $49 to get a certificate.  Not something I need/want, but maybe useful for others

cannotWAIT

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2024, 11:46:59 AM »
So this would be the discussion group thread? I think it sounds like fun!

tj

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2024, 12:04:47 PM »
I signed up for it. Didn't even have to give Coursera any new personal information - I clicked the "forgot password" and was given a password reset link, so I must have signed up for Coursera at some point in the past.

Tasse

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2024, 12:13:19 PM »
The same professor also hosts "The Happiness Lab" podcast, and there are now several years of backlog. IMO, season 1 was very good while later material became mildly repetitive.

mistymoney

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2024, 12:31:29 PM »
Over on his journal @tj mentioned that this online course at Yale is currently available for free via coursera:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being

I recall reading elsewhere that this is the most popular course at Yale.

The course is supposed to take 19 hours.  Syllabus is set up for a 10 week run. 

I've signed up and will probably just follow the syllabus over 10 weeks.  Anybody else want to give it a try?  We can discuss further here.

PS:  There is also an option to pay $49 to get a certificate.  Not something I need/want, but maybe useful for others

This is fantastic! thanks so much for posting this, I am in!

For the freebie version, of course, ><

maizefolk

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2024, 12:44:37 PM »
I'm in as well! Just signed up.

lhamo

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2024, 01:09:02 PM »
Great!  I think this will be a fun way to do the course.  There are discussion fora built into the course site already, but here we have a lot of shared values/similar mindsets that might make the discussion more relevant/interesting for all of us.

Thanks for mentioning it on your journal @tj !  If we enjoy this process for this theme maybe we can have a follow on with another relevant free course.

Morning Glory

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2024, 01:24:12 PM »
I just joined as well. I agree that it will be fun to do together. While in there I looked at my completed courses and the last one was from 2012. Time really flies. 
« Last Edit: January 07, 2024, 01:26:31 PM by Morning Glory »

the lorax

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2024, 05:29:30 PM »
Good suggestion - I've signed up

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2024, 05:37:27 PM »
Love this idea! Just signed up.

RetiredAt63

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2024, 06:00:13 PM »
Do you have to be in the US to sign up?

The Beebsta

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2024, 06:43:27 PM »
Thanks, I’ve just signed up so count me in. I will need some accountability to make me do the work.

@RetiredAt63 , I’m in australia and could sign up no problems.

RetiredAt63

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2024, 07:42:36 PM »
Thanks, I’ve just signed up so count me in. I will need some accountability to make me do the work.

@RetiredAt63 , I’m in australia and could sign up no problems.

Thanks!

fuzzy math

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2024, 11:10:53 PM »
I've always wanted to be able to tell people about my Yale coursework. Count me in!

rosarugosa

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2024, 04:35:05 AM »
I took this course in spring of 2020, and it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.  I am someone who often skips over the activities in self-help books and such, thinking that I get the general idea, no need to actually do the stuff.  Luckily, in this instance I did every single activity, and I got so much more out of it as a result.  I think I was especially lucky to stumble across the course at the height of Covid; just what the doctor ordered!

I am generally a pretty happy, upbeat and optimistic person, but this course helped put the frosting on my cake, so to speak.  I think it is life-changing.

Miss Piggy

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2024, 07:59:53 AM »
Registered! Are we thinking one module per week to stay relatively synced?

Ladychips

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #16 on: January 09, 2024, 08:30:02 AM »
@lhamo thanks so much for suggesting this!

So I clicked on the strengths survey, and I had already completed it (in 2019 - when I was still working).  I wonder if I'd have different findings if I were able to take it again...

iris lily

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #17 on: January 09, 2024, 08:45:27 AM »
I took this course in spring of 2020, and it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.  I am someone who often skips over the activities in self-help books and such, thinking that I get the general idea, no need to actually do the stuff.  Luckily, in this instance I did every single activity, and I got so much more out of it as a result.  I think I was especially lucky to stumble across the course at the height of Covid; just what the doctor ordered!

I am generally a pretty happy, upbeat and optimistic person, but this course helped put the frosting on my cake, so to speak.  I think it is life-changing.

Rosa, that is a strong recommendation coming from you! Maybe I should try this.

Davnasty

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #18 on: January 09, 2024, 09:19:47 AM »
Another one, I'm in

lhamo

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #19 on: January 09, 2024, 09:39:37 AM »
Let's aim to do one module a week -- that seems do-able for most people.

Sometimes I really wish this forum had nested comments...

somers515

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #20 on: January 09, 2024, 12:07:40 PM »
Course is now open. I've completed all the week 1 videos/reading but I'm still not clear on my Rewirement homework.  My strength was an important thing I practiced every day at work but I'm not sure I see how it applies to my retired life.  Figure out a way to apply it in my current life, is that my homework?

SuperNintendo Chalmers

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #21 on: January 09, 2024, 03:20:46 PM »
I'm in too!  Thanks for sharing this. 

peace

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #22 on: January 09, 2024, 07:43:53 PM »
I’ve joined the coursera class, and have started the first week. Being happier always sounds like a good idea!

SmartyCat

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #23 on: January 09, 2024, 08:35:46 PM »
I'm in!

Shuchong

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #24 on: January 10, 2024, 12:56:39 PM »
Course is now open. I've completed all the week 1 videos/reading but I'm still not clear on my Rewirement homework.  My strength was an important thing I practiced every day at work but I'm not sure I see how it applies to my retired life.  Figure out a way to apply it in my current life, is that my homework?

I think so?  This website might be helpful: https://www.viacharacter.org/topics/articles/tips-for-using-each-character-strength-in-a-new-way

(I'm also struggling a bit with this -- my top strength was "prudence."  The next one was "judgment."  I mean, seems right, but exercising prudence and judgment just doesn't sound nearly as fun as using "humor" or "appreciation of beauty.")

chrisgermany

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #25 on: January 11, 2024, 03:54:22 AM »
I am in.
A lot of the material seems to be translated to german. Interesting!

LennStar

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #26 on: January 11, 2024, 06:12:13 AM »
I heard about it. Maybe I will join if it's still possible this weekend.

btw. I listend to 2 podcasts from this similar topic podcast (Huberman lab podcast) and it was quite good.

https://www.youtube.com/@hubermanlab

somers515

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #27 on: January 11, 2024, 06:40:26 AM »
Course is now open. I've completed all the week 1 videos/reading but I'm still not clear on my Rewirement homework.  My strength was an important thing I practiced every day at work but I'm not sure I see how it applies to my retired life.  Figure out a way to apply it in my current life, is that my homework?

I think so?  This website might be helpful: https://www.viacharacter.org/topics/articles/tips-for-using-each-character-strength-in-a-new-way

(I'm also struggling a bit with this -- my top strength was "prudence."  The next one was "judgment."  I mean, seems right, but exercising prudence and judgment just doesn't sound nearly as fun as using "humor" or "appreciation of beauty.")

Very helpful link thank you! I'm Judgment, Honesty and Prudence as my top 3 so I assume we are new best friends Shuchong? : ) Anyway comforting to hear I'm not the only one struggling with the homework and its not clear to me how practicing a strength leads to happiness but I'll mull it over and try to give some effort to do my homework.  Thanks again.

Metalcat

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #28 on: January 11, 2024, 06:54:33 AM »
I'm in, I might even be able to talk my new supervisor into accepting this as independent study hours

lhamo

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #29 on: January 11, 2024, 07:18:01 AM »
@lhamo thanks so much for suggesting this!

So I clicked on the strengths survey, and I had already completed it (in 2019 - when I was still working).  I wonder if I'd have different findings if I were able to take it again...

I would do it again!  If I had taken this while I was working, I am almost positive that qualities that I needed to be more disciplined about in order to succeed at my job would have shown up MUCH higher on the list.  But now that my time is my own, if I am not enjoying something there is no real need to keep doing it. 

MarcherLady

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #30 on: January 11, 2024, 12:49:18 PM »
I'm in. I've listened to the Happiness Lab off and on for a while.


PathtoFIRE

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #31 on: January 11, 2024, 01:09:15 PM »
I'll try to follow along, signed up for the course. I've heard smatterings of the Happiness Lab podcast, when my wife has played some on car trips, but since I missed most of the early ones, and these were just random ones she hadn't listened to yet, I didn't really get much out of them at the time.

dangbe

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #32 on: January 11, 2024, 02:40:44 PM »
I'm in.  I just listened/read the first weeks lectures and did the surveys.  My top 5 strengths are:
1. Judgement
2. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
3. Love of Learning
4. Perspective
5. Prudence

Judgement and Prudence made me laugh, those are accurate but makes me feel like a curmudgeon. I do see their value though.

I found it hard to answer the happiness surveys as I'm not sure how I felt about some of the questions and always hovered around the neutral value.

I've enjoyed Laurie's podcast in the past so seems like a fun way to spend some time each week.

St Elmo

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #33 on: January 11, 2024, 02:56:21 PM »
I signed up and I'm looking following along with the course with this group.

My top strength was also Judgment. I'm a professor, so I guess that fits. On the other hand, my "lesser strengths" (I guess "weakness" isn't something they want to say) included love of learning, which doesn't seem ideal for an academic.

One of my other "lesser strengths" is zest. That's probably the area I want to improve the most.

FIRE Artist

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #34 on: January 11, 2024, 03:32:16 PM »
I signed up.  I am embarrassed to admit that I signed up for this a few years ago and never watched anything past the first intro video.

Serendip

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #35 on: January 11, 2024, 04:28:46 PM »
I signed up.  I am embarrassed to admit that I signed up for this a few years ago and never watched anything past the first intro video.

 I'm with you @FIRE Artist ...I signed up at some point years ago and looks like I did a few segments and then abandoned ship. Will restart now with this crew to hopefully keep me on track :)

tj

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #36 on: January 11, 2024, 06:56:38 PM »
I'm in.  I just listened/read the first weeks lectures and did the surveys.  My top 5 strengths are:
1. Judgement
2. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
3. Love of Learning
4. Perspective
5. Prudence

Judgement and Prudence made me laugh, those are accurate but makes me feel like a curmudgeon. I do see their value though.

I found it hard to answer the happiness surveys as I'm not sure how I felt about some of the questions and always hovered around the neutral value.

I've enjoyed Laurie's podcast in the past so seems like a fun way to spend some time each week.

Interestingly none of my top 5 are in your top 5.

My top 5:

-Honesty
-Kindness
-Perspective
-Fairness
-Self-Regulation


My lesser strengths:
-Social Intelligence
-Leadership
-Spirituality
-Zest

MarcherLady

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #37 on: January 12, 2024, 02:24:28 AM »
My top 5 are:

Humour,
Creativity,
Forgiveness,
Humility,
Gratitude.

All of which feel about right, those are things I am good at. Although oddly enough, a few weeks ago I realised that while I am often silly, and can joke about pretty much everything, one thing that I never joke about is my Inner Critic. My plan for the week is to get better at ridiculing her, she is a Mean Girl and I'm taking her far too seriously.

 

Metalcat

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #38 on: January 12, 2024, 05:59:45 AM »
Hmm... I really struggle with these types of assessments.

I find a lot of the questions difficult to answer as someone who has been in major leadership and healthcare roles. Not being totally truthful with people is a huge part of being in a leadership role. You have to have a good poker face, you can't let a team know that you are stressed out of your mind and considering axing 20% of them while they cry to you that they're already overburdened because that's what needs to be done temporarily to get to a place where you can make things better for the remaining ones in the end.

Quite hilariously: leadership, teamwork, and honesty were my lowest strengths, which is literally the funniest thing ever if you know me and my background. I'm literally an expert at leadership and teambuilding, and my approach is to be much more authentic and honest than is the norm. But the way the questions were phrased, with absolutes like "I always" triggered me to be like "n'ah, I'm totally willing to do the opposite of that if it's truly for the longterm benefit of the team and the business."

It's like a "dark traits" assessment I did recently. I'm very well known for being an extremely kind person and very emotionally generous to pretty much anyone in my orbit. But because I've had to learn how to be willing to shut that off and be cruel or cause pain, say to a toxic staff member who must be alienated to protect the team, I scored something like 99th percentile for Sadism. I literally spit my tea out laughing when I saw the result. My results were hysterical, I was either close to 100% for traits or close to 0%.

ETA: Oh! I almost forgot, another low strength of mine was "perseverance" which is beyond absurd for me. However, I answered from the perspective that as someone who has just stupid levels of "stickwithitness" I've had to actively learn how to abandon tasks more readily, and I'm extremely proud of my ability to walk away from things that I've committed to doing if that turns out to be the best option. But it's hard for a question to capture the difference between someone who struggles to follow through on tasks and someone who is very intentional about not completing tasks.

The problem is obviously me and how I answer these assessments, and whether I think about things from a personal life identity or a professional identity, because those are essentially two different people by virtue of the kind of work I do.

The happiness one was easy though, shockingly it showed what I already know, that I'm generally a really happy person who is very satisfied with my life. But that is about the most self-evident thing you could assess about me.

ETA 2: My biggest strength was Love, which sounds right for me. Those were the easiest questions to answer. But if a stranger read my results they would think I'm a super lovey, funny, creative artist type who has a hard time following through on tasks, poor leadership skills, and doesn't work well on teams.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2024, 06:30:46 AM by Metalcat »

Hvillian

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #39 on: January 12, 2024, 06:25:28 AM »
I signed up.  I am embarrassed to admit that I signed up for this a few years ago and never watched anything past the first intro video.

 I'm with you @FIRE Artist ...I signed up at some point years ago and looks like I did a few segments and then abandoned ship. Will restart now with this crew to hopefully keep me on track :)

Ditto here.  I do better with the pressure of a group, so hopefully this time will go better. 

Thanks OP for getting this rolling.

Moonwaves

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #40 on: January 12, 2024, 06:44:50 AM »
I've just signed up and will try to get to the week 1 stuff this weekend. I've actually just come from the burnout journal and was almost going to post there but it felt like too much. So it feels weird to be joining in here now.

However, in December I applied for a stint in a rehab clinic for burnout and as often is the case, just having sent off that application (as well as having a week's holidays and then another couple of days off at Christmas, both spent with family) seems to have freed up enough space that I keep finding myself thinking about things I could start doing. At least I have enough knowledge now to know that it would be a really bad idea to start doing any of those things at this time instead of concentrating on trying to get back in the habit of things like cooking and eating at home, washing dishes and tidying up every once in a while.

This course seems like a manageable amount of stuff that probably ties in well with the goal of trying to improve my mental health while skating on thin ice when it comes to being in the middle of a burnout and depressive episode.

On a side note, I'm delighted that I remembered my coursera password straight away. It has been seven or eight years since I did the "Greening the Economy" certificate.

lhamo

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #41 on: January 12, 2024, 07:54:05 AM »
Keep in mind that there are many ways to do these kinds of assessments.  My results on the well being ones would have been VASTLY different if I had used how I was feeling/acting 6-8 weeks ago when I was at the bottom of a very bad SAD- + situation-induced depressive cycle.  I have now snapped out of that and am in the "up" part of the wave (the more I observe myself and my moods the more I think I am at least mildly bipolar, if that is a thing...).  Also the traits would have come out TOTALLY differently if I answered according to how I acted/saw myself when I was working versus now that I am the FIREd empress of my realm and time.  I'm actually really good at meeting deadlines and living up to my commitments when I'm being paid to do it and when I know other people are depending on me.  When it is just my own shit?  Not so much -- I can let most everything slide.  I even found out yesterday I missed a utility bill payment on my new house last cycle!  It must have come when I was traveling and I didn't see it, and I don't have autopay set up yet.  No penalty, so I just need to clear it up. 

Anyhoo, I tried to answer the traits questions based on how I currently am, not who I was in the past, and the results were quite unexpected:

Top traits

Perspective
Kindness
Love
Fairness
Humor

Bottom traits:

Teamwork (I actually enjoy working in well-functioning teams and am very good at teamwork, but now that I'm retired I don't like to put up with other people's bs so I guess my answers reflect that)

Perseverance (now that I'm retired I just don't have to keep doing things I dun wanna...)

Self-regulation (evening snacking habit, looking at you!)

Spirituality (I think this is at the bottom because I have been listening to so much anti-high-demand religion stuff these days....)

My PERMA score was a 6.5 and my Happiness score was a 3.29  I guess I goal for this process  is to raise both of those numbers, both short- and long-term.  Again, I need to be aware that with my brain chemistry I am probably going to see some cycling in those numbers.  If I had answered according to how I felt 6-8 weeks ago the PERMA probably would have been in the 3s and the Happiness in the 2s.  This was kind of a weird depressive cycle for me because I pretty much knew what was behind it (seasonal depression + some situational stuff I could not control at the moment but knew would eventually resolve one way or another) and rather than fighting it I just kind of decided to ride it out. I spent most of November and December camped out on my bed watching youtube videos.  Tried to get decent sleep but didn't force myself to get out and walk or eat a better diet.  Just kind of wallowed.  Last week I was able to make some big decisions that put a more concrete timeline on the resolution of the situational stuff, and that gave me the energy to start working on the other pieces.  I'm back up to walking 4-5k steps most days.  I started taking more control of my life -- made a bunch of appointments for medical stuff and logistical stuff and started reaching out to friends to have more social time.  I'm actively working on my house remodel stuff.  I'm probably going to start a small business.  Things are feeling much better.

Taking this course and starting this thread are part of the upswing.  Thank you all so much for joining me on the journey. 

Shuchong

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #42 on: January 12, 2024, 09:45:33 AM »
I'm Judgment, Honesty and Prudence as my top 3 so I assume we are new best friends Shuchong? : ) Anyway comforting to hear I'm not the only one struggling with the homework and its not clear to me how practicing a strength leads to happiness but I'll mull it over and try to give some effort to do my homework.  Thanks again.

Prudence and Judgment people unite!  We can go... make good, considered choices together after having examined all angles? 

I actually started this course back at the height of Covid though I never did the homework.  Since then, I've moved from NYC to the middle of nowhere, and "appreciation of beauty" is much higher for me.  I think of character as this immutable thing mostly separate from your environment, but perhaps that's not true.  A lot of us are saying that where we are and whether we're working changes our strengths quite a bit, which is fun to think about.

Metalcat

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #43 on: January 12, 2024, 09:52:21 AM »
I'm Judgment, Honesty and Prudence as my top 3 so I assume we are new best friends Shuchong? : ) Anyway comforting to hear I'm not the only one struggling with the homework and its not clear to me how practicing a strength leads to happiness but I'll mull it over and try to give some effort to do my homework.  Thanks again.

Prudence and Judgment people unite!  We can go... make good, considered choices together after having examined all angles? 

I actually started this course back at the height of Covid though I never did the homework.  Since then, I've moved from NYC to the middle of nowhere, and "appreciation of beauty" is much higher for me.  I think of character as this immutable thing mostly separate from your environment, but perhaps that's not true.  A lot of us are saying that where we are and whether we're working changes our strengths quite a bit, which is fun to think about.

It certainly changes where we focus our energies and what we're most aware of.

I remember feeling the ground shift underneath me when I read the phrase "only unmet needs are motivating."

Meaning, the things we focus on most, the strengths we prioritize most are driven by whateve needs we have that are least being met.

Change the landscape of your needs and how they are met and you radically alter the way in which you engage with the world.

We have this sense that what's important to us is unchanging, but that's simply not true. It changes all the time relative to our circumstances, because if a need is easily and readily met with minimal effort, meeting it doesn't feel important. Take away that easy source of need satisfaction and suddenly your entire world view and sense of self will change. Likewise, suddenly have the capacity to meet a need easily and the same thing can happen, like when you retire and suddenly have all of this freedom to meet needs that couldn't be met if your career was a barrier.

If you start viewing your whole sense of life, purpose, motivation, and strength through a lense of asking what needs aren't actually being met, it fundamentally alters your conceptualization of yourself within your own world.

lhamo

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #44 on: January 12, 2024, 06:45:20 PM »
@Metalcat, how did you get so g-damn wise?

You are going to be such an awesome therapist....

Metalcat

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #45 on: January 12, 2024, 07:10:07 PM »
@Metalcat, how did you get so g-damn wise?

You are going to be such an awesome therapist....

The thing is, it's a stupidly simple concept that intuitively makes sense when you think about it for even half a frickin' second, but I remember, quite literally my entire conceptualization of myself blew up when I read that and I don't even remember where I read it.

That's when I started putting together my ideas about change and priorities. How priorities aren't the things you are pressuring yourself to do, they're the things you already do.

What actually matters to us most? It's not the needs that are unmet, it's the needs we make sure that we always meet. We *feel* motivated to meet the unmet needs, but we *are* actually putting out energies into the needs we *are* actually meeting. They just don't necessarily feel all that important because they're met.

I've had a lot of people do inventories of what they *actually* do to meet their own needs. Not what they want to be doing, not what they "should" be doing, but what they actually do, what needs they actually meet on a daily basis.

When you sit down and look honestly at what you *actually* put your energy towards, it can be really shocking to see what your priorities truly are and what you've made central within your life compared to what you *think* is most important.

At least, it's been pretty shocking to most people I've made do it. Granted, those are usually folks who are working their asses off, but struggling to feel like they're living their best lives.

Happily retired, mellow folks here may not have those same issues and disconnects.

tj

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #46 on: January 12, 2024, 07:16:55 PM »
Quote
My PERMA score was a 6.5 and my Happiness score was a 3.29

My PERMA score was 6.75 and my happiness score was 2.46 I guess I have some room for improvement. :D

Metalcat

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #47 on: January 12, 2024, 07:52:13 PM »
Oh, I forgot to share my other scores.
Perma: 8.70
Happiness: 4

Just goes to show that life can be both brutally hard and frickin' awesome at the same time.

Also, a really stressful week just played out hugely in my favour against very steep odds, and I got A LOT of seriously fantastic support along the way, so I'm feeling pretty jazzed about my life at the moment.

InterfaceLeader

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #48 on: January 13, 2024, 03:59:27 AM »
I've just signed up, and worked through the first week.

Top strengths are: Fairness, Forgiveness, Curiosity, Appreciation of Beauty and Creativity.
Bottom are: Zest, Spirituality, Leadership, Humour,

My PERMA was 6.31 and my Happiness score 2.67 so some work to be done there! But I already know my job is not a good fit and I'm trying to move towards something more fulfilling.

I struggled with the traits questions as well. I didn't score very highly for perseverance, but that's because I've spent a lot of time diligently teaching myself that its okay to let things go and change your mind when stuff doesn't work for you anymore! I was once that person who HAD to finish a book I started, now I know life is too short to read mediocre books.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2024, 04:06:27 AM by InterfaceLeader »

TyGuy

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Re: Proposed MMM community learning opportunity: The Science of Well-Being
« Reply #49 on: January 13, 2024, 10:08:38 AM »
I'm signing up now, thanks for bringing this to the attention of the forum community!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!