A Reflection on Our Academic Year-End Workshop
As we have finished another academic year at Arden University’s Center of Academic Persistence and Foundation Studies, I’m pleased to share insights from our recent series of writing workshops. Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of running three sessions for my colleagues, focusing on writing skills and techniques that promote well-being and goal achievement.
In our latest session, which coincided with the end of the academic year, we explored the practice of gratitude as a wheel of virtues and strengths. We reflected on how cultivating positive thinking can lead to success in our daily routines and workplace, especially when facing challenges and stressful deadlines. A key takeaway from our discussion was the importance of maintaining a balanced work environment to stay connected with ourselves, feel well and improve a sense of belonging.
There are positive thinking techniques that improve people’s well-being. We discussed several of these techniques during our workshop:
- Identify and celebrate your strengths and positive qualities.
- Reflect on what makes you unique and valuable.
- Replace people’s criticism with self-encouragement and understanding.
- Celebrate progress and adjust goals as needed to stay aligned with your personal growth and aspirations.
- Break down goals into manageable steps to maintain motivation and clarity.
- Envision best-case scenarios to foster optimism and positive expectations.
One of the theories and approaches to positive thinking stems from “Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation” by Gabriele Oettingen. This book offers valuable information about how we can enhance the power of positive thinking while remaining grounded in reality, providing a nuanced approach to motivation and goal-setting.
The workshop emphasised the creative side of writing, encouraging participants to tap into their strengths and apply positive thinking to their work. We also focused on relaxation techniques, recognising that a calm mind is more conducive to productive writing and task completion.
To have a more Positive Writing session, we tried to find a comfortable, calm state of mind. From this foundation, we examined the benefits of the VIA Character Org Survey, which includes:
- Discovering your greatest strengths
- Increasing happiness and well-being
- Finding meaning and purpose
- Boosting relationships
- Managing stress and health
- Accomplishing happy goals
We all aspire and dream to improve our academic and professional lives, making them more enjoyable, productive, and fulfilling. By embracing these principles and practices, we can inspire and support others on their journey.
The workshops have been a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to come together, share experiences, and develop new strategies for personal and professional development.
As we look forward to the next academic year, it would be good to see how these techniques and insights will continue to benefit our community at Arden University. By focusing on our strengths, practising gratitude, and maintaining a positive mindset, we can face challenges with resilience and creativity.
I want to say thank you to all my colleagues who took part in these sessions. Your active involvement and enthusiasm have truly made these workshops rewarding. Together, we can achieve a positive and successful impact in our academic and professional pursuits!
