Have you ever thought about what makes people exceptional?
Will Smith shares his thoughts about how he lives with a focus on excellence. Here is what he says that I agree with whole-heartedly:
Greatness is possible for everyone.
Watch this video and listen to Will Smith reveal clues on how you can transform your life and live everyday to accomplish more.
Strive to Be the Best You Can Be
Spend time getting to know the feeling of
gratification that results from effort.
Talent and Skill are Very Different.
Keep in mind, talent and skill are different. Exceptional abilities you are born with are called talent. We are all given a unique gift. Maybe you have found yours, maybe you have yet to discover your. Skills are actions that can be improved.
The time is NOW
Don't wait to discover your talent. Take action and develop your skills Skills are actions you master to create the results you desire. Everyone can develop skills. With a commitment to effort and the patience of time, you can refine your skills, skills in relationships, skills in school, skills in your personal interest, and ultimately the skills of being your best for constant improvement every day.
The best part is, while you are working to develop specific skills, you just may reveal talents and interests along the way.
You Are in Control of Your Progress
Dedicate yourself to being better everyday and you WILL be OUTSTANDING! Embrace a passion for excellence. Know that you can learn to control your level of achievement. Believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything you envision in your mind.
Being Better Takes Work
Be don't be mislead, self-improvement requires work. Learn to love the effort needed for your improvement. You can just think your way to achievement. Success comes to those who want it. But what really counts is that you are willing to have the "do what ever it takes" attitude. Are you willing to work hard enough and long enough to improve? Only you can answer that question.
You are Only Part of the Equation
You may want to improve yourself, but keep in mind you can't do it alone. Anyone who has influenced others and has had an impact on their world, built meaningful relationships in life. As you strive for self-improvement, make an effort to positively impact others while you work to achieve your goals. Not only do you need other people, other people need you!
The Time is NOW!
Decide today to start taking control of forward progress. Consider effort on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest. Your goal is to work at your own personal "10" every day. Effort is like a muscle, the more we work it, the more it develops. You will notice a significant change over time if your personal "10" becomes part of your purpose.
Building relationships takes time. It take effort. It takes intentional listening.
Are you REALLY a good listener?
When you're talking to a friend, who does the most talking? Who does the most listening?
Many times we think we're listening to someone else, when really, all we're doing is waiting our turn to share our thoughts because we just have to get them out of our heads.
Communication that strengthens relationships is an exchange of ideas. Strong relationship requires a balance of contribution between two people.
We are naturally drawn to people who are like us. When people like what we like and have experiences similar to ours, we're comfortable.
But, sometimes meeting someone new is absolutely NOT like us is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. If we're willing to listen and share with new people, different people, our lives expand.
But relationship can only be build on a "two way street", as Eleanor Roosevelt stated.
"Love is a delicate balance between understanding and compassion."
Developing understanding requires an awareness of your own feelings. It's a give and take.
Read about how teachers are helping students increase their awareness of their own feelings and the feelings of others.
Compassion and understanding are like peanut butter and jelly. They go together in all contexts. In order to be compassionate, you have to try to understand others, and understanding has the power to lead to compassion. Compassion IS a two way street.
Being Compassionate Matters!!!!
People display compassion in many ways. Children and youth can better understand this trait when they have an understanding of what com-passionate
actions look like and sound like. They will then be more likely to incorporate the behaviors below into their daily lives.
What Compassionate People Say:
―You look upset.‖
―I understand how you feel.‖ ―I’m sad that you got hurt.‖
―That happened to me too, once. It makes me feel sad for you.‖
―I’m so sorry that happened. Let me help.‖ ―I bet it hurts a lot.‖
―What can I do to help?
What Compassionate People Do:
-- Notice when people are hurting, and show that they feel for them
-- Feel sad when they see someone crying or hurt Console others in pain
-- Talk soothingly to those in pain
-- Listen patiently to someone’s problems, without interrupting
-- Mirror facial expressions of the
distressed person
-- Volunteer time and resources to charity
-- Encourage others to practice compassion
Pause for a Moment
Take a moment to think about a time when your perception of a situation - the way you interpreted a situation - may have impacted your level of happiness.
When feel like we have little control over our circumstances, it's easy to get frustrated. As a young adult, you may feel you are told what to do all day long by the adult in your life.
Think about your daily life. When do you feel most out of control - or feel like you have very little choice. Do you get angry when you feel this way?
Quote of the Week Writing Assignment
Requirements:
Write a paragraph following the format of PowerWriting we've been doing in class. Be sure to include a clear topic sentence and a logical concluding statement with support and evidence in the middle.
Writing Prompt: Write a PowerGraph about the relationship between understanding and compassion. Share personal experiences, tell your reader how they can increase your understanding of others. (info in the article linked above),
Or... if you have enough to say about Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, write a PowerGraph about depper insights triggered by her words of wisdom.
Memory Jogger
A Memory Jogger is like the note cards you made for yourself last week. It's a tool to help your brain call forth skills and information to use.
Here's your Memory Jogger for possible structure of a PowerGraph. Here are two possible PowerStructures you can can use. Pick one.
PowerFrame Suggestion #1 (1,2,3,2,3,2,31)
1. ______(Topic and focus) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ____
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____ 1. _____(Synonymous Topic Reference and Generalization) _____
PowerFrame Suggestion #2 (1,2,3,4,2,3,4,2,3,4,1)
1. ______(Topic and focus) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ______
4. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ____
4. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____
4. _____(Either Evidence or Support) _____ 1. _____(Synonymous Topic Reference and Generalization) _____
You can copy one of these down on paper and create your power frame on loose leaf for support.
Then type up your response to the Quote of the Week in a word document.
Research reveals people who are positive and believe they can learn and achieve their goals are met with greater success in life. This is called the growth mindset.
Those with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence and their opportunities for success are limited. This belief stifles potential and happiness.
We talked a great deal about how your intelligence is not fix. You've learned about the power you have to grow your "grey matter" and get more intellectual wrinkles by developing a positive perception coupled with habits for success.
Pause for a Moment
Take a moment to think about how can positively impact your life knowing about the power of a Growth Mindset. Collect your thoughts. Reflect on your life personally.
How could change the trajectory or your future by taking this into consideration over the course of the next year?
Quote of the Week Writing Assignment
Requirements:
Write a 1,2,3,4,2,3,4,2,3,4,1 paragraph.
Use a combination of writing tools to construct your thoughts.
Writing Prompt:
Write an 11 sentence PowerGraph addressing how the knowledge of growth mindset can influence your future, long or short term.
Memory Jogger
A Memory Jogger is like the note cards you made for yourself last week. It's a tool to help your brain call forth skills and information to use.
Here's your Memory Jogger for possible contents in the structure of a PowerGraph:
PowerFrame
1. ______(Topic and focus) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ______
4. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ____
4. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____
4. _____(Either Evidence or Support) _____ 1. _____(Synonymous Topic Reference and Generalization) _____
Please download the word document to use the provided PowerFrame for support through the writing process. You will need to copy and paste the text into a new document.
Your perceptions - how you, personally interpret, what happenings in your life and the world around you - is in your control.
Half Empty or Half Full?
Do you see the class half full or half empty? Those who see it half full are positive people who see the positive side of even the most challenging situations.
Those who see the glass half empty on the other hand, see the negative side of situations, always focusing on burdens and potential negative outcomes.
How can you start controlling your perceptions and making a positive change in your life? CLICK HERE to find out how.
Two people can see the exact same event or situtation, yet what they each have to say about it may be completely different.
Take a look at the picture below.
What do you see?
An old woman or a young woman?
This is an example of perceptions. In order to see a situation from a different perspective we have to be open to a new ideas and to others' perspectives..
We have talked extensively raising your awareness of the world around you. We talked about taking time to consider how you impact your community. We addressed empathy and compassion. All of these conversations can become part of a conversation around the topic of choosing your attitude.
Pause for a Moment
Take a moment to think about a time when your perception of a situation - the way you interpreted a situation - may have impacted your level of happiness.
When feel like we have little control over our circumstances, it's easy to get frustrated. As a young adult, you may feel you are told what to do all day long by the adult in your life.
Think about your daily life. When do you feel most out of control - or feel like you have very little choice. Do you get angry when you feel this way?
Quote of the Week Writing Assignment
Requirements:
Write a a paragraph following the formate of PowerWriting we've been doing in class. Be sure to include a clear topic sentence and a logical concluding statement with support and evidence in the middle.
Writing Prompt: Write a PowerGraph about choosing your attitude. Share personal experiences, tell your reader how they can make a change in their attitude (info in the article linked above), or give your insights about Maya Angelou's quote above.
Memory Jogger
A Memory Jogger is like the note cards you made for yourself last week. It's a tool to help your brain call forth skills and information to use.
Here's your Memory Jogger for possible structure of a PowerGraph. Here are two possible PowerStructures you can can use. Pick one.
PowerFrame Suggestion #1 (1,2,3,2,3,2,31)
1. ______(Topic and focus) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ____
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____ 1. _____(Synonymous Topic Reference and Generalization) _____
PowerFrame Suggestion #2 (1,2,3,4,2,3,4,2,3,4,1)
1. ______(Topic and focus) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ______
4. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ____
4. ___(Either Evidence or Support) ______
2. ___( Reason or Benefit) ______
3. ____(Either Evidence or Support) ____
4. _____(Either Evidence or Support) _____ 1. _____(Synonymous Topic Reference and Generalization) _____
You can copy one of these down on paper and create your power frame on loose leaf for support.
Then type up your response to the Quote of the Week in a word document.
