Gratitude isn’t just for the month of November or Thanksgiving time.  It’s nice to focus on the good during these times, however being grateful all year can improve your quality of life. Who wouldn’t be grateful for that?

Really though, developing gratitude is one of the simplest ways to improve satisfaction with your life. It doesn’t cost money, and it doesn’t take a lot of time.

BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE:  

• Developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life.
• It’s a scientific fact that practicing gratitude improves your health.
• Gratitude increases longevity. People who practice gratitude have better physical health = less aches and pains.
• Gratitude helps foster new relationships - when you appreciate others, the potential for forming meaningful relationships is  increased.
• Gratitude enhances empathy and the ability to be sensitive to other people... even when...

"When you give in service to other people, you end up being happier yourself." 

Daniel Siegel, MD, is Clinical Professor of psychiatry at UCLA, Co-Director of Mindful Awareness Research Center, Executive Director of Mindsight Institute, author, and recipient of numerous awards and honorary fellowships. This talk examines how relationships and reflection support the development of resilience in children and how to incorporate some of his ideas and models into your practice. 

Wellness Warrior Spotlight
Name: Ashley Zahn
Occupation: 3rd Grade Teacher
Interviewed By: Keilani Dehaan, School Counselor

Do you notice that many students are walking into the classroom feeling anxious, super energetic and sometimes distracted? Watch this video to hear how Ashley Zahn has incorporated daily guided relaxations into each school day. It's no surprise that she has noticed a dramatic increase in focus and a sense of calmness in her classroom. Also, you won't want to miss hearing how Keilani Dehaan uses guided relaxations as an intervention. It's a great episode filled with immediate takeaways!

Quotable: "After mindfulness, it's quiet! I noticed that students are much more focused on their work and they're so much calmer. There's a definite change of energy in the classroom." 

Ashley Zahn you are a true Wellness Warrior, helping students develop the tools to thrive in school and in life!

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[Source: Education Week]

Programs that teach students how to recognize their emotions, solve problems, and form healthy relationships may continue to show positive benefits for students months, or even years, after they complete them, a new meta-analysis finds. 

Students who completed social-emotional learning interventions fared better than their peers who didn't participate on a variety of indicators—including academic performance, social skills, and avoiding negative behaviors like drug use, finds the analysis, which examined follow-up data from dozens of published studies on specific interventions.

The meta-analysis builds on previous research that found social-emotional learning participants outperformed their peers academically. That research is frequently cited by policymakers and educational leaders who are seeking to promote social-emotional learning programs, through which schools teach students about emotions, relationships, and...