How does it work? The central experience of this workshop is a personal inventory of your particular ways of perceiving and experiencing happiness through a guided series of fun and surprising writing and reflection. It engages your memory, your gut, and your core beliefs. Working individually and with the group, you move quickly towards identifying your happiness blueprint. Main Events of the Workshop - Central to the experience of this workshop is a personal inventory designed by Dr. Nowell — an experience of reflecting, writing, and organizing one's history around themes of preferredways-of-feeling.
- The outcome of the Preferred States Inventory is a short list of prioritized "values" or individualized ways of experiencing "happiness." This list can form the basis of goal-management choices and commitment and relationship priorities most likely to lead to sustained deep feelings of success.
Mind-Body Awareness The directed writing and journal work of this workshop involves connecting one's "feeling memory" with one's value systems, using one's memories of good body and emotional feelings as indicators of one's own motivational system. This writing helps clarify a "gut level" understanding of the usually abstract concept of "values." Personal Transformation This workshop emphasizes the transformative power of clarity regarding our highest values, the motivators that keep us in the game despite obstacles and that connect with our passion and energy. We then move towards integrating the experience of the workshop and preparing for returning home, considering how this clarity will impact our choices, our schedules, and our relationships. |
Workshop Outline Session I Introduction to preferred states: our preferred ways of feeling and being — with ourselves, with others, at work, and at play.
Session II - Introduction to and initiate the Preferred States Inventory process. Quiet reflection, writing assignments, and structured small- and large-group interaction.
Session III - Clarify the Inventory process, complete inventories, and briefly share insights among members.
- Begin applying the "values" or "preferred states" identified in the Inventory. Initiate inquiry regarding new choices or changes that will follow from these insights.
- Clarify feelings about "selfishness" and "enlightened self-interest."Consider the realities and constraints of our current resources (finances, health problems, parenting or caring for family members) as these impact our ability to consistently choose Deep Happiness.
Session IV - Individual and small-group work, reviewing our calendars or day planners to find places to live out our knowledge of what makes us feel satisfied, happy, and engaged.
- Encourage each other to take seriously our own Deep Happiness and to consider relationships or commitments that will require (sometimes difficult) changes.
- Anticipate regular steady use of insights gained in the Inventory and other workshop processes for maintaining Deep Happiness
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