101. The Transformative Power of AI

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Folks, let’s face it. Our classrooms are going to look a little different this year. AI, specifically ChatGPT, is going to change the way we design learning experiences and assess student mastery. I’ll be honest, when I first explored the ChatGPT platform I was terrified. As I have dug deeper into the technology and its capabilities, I realized that while it does pose significant challenges — it also presents us with some pretty amazing opportunities. In this series, we will explore what AI is capable of, its implications in the classroom, and how it can benefit both teachers and students. Let’s start by examining where we have been, where we are currently, and looking forward to where we are going. Whether this is a trip you wanted to go on or not, the AI train has left the station and it is time for all of us to jump on board. From Card Catalogs to Artificial Intelligence I belong to the micro-generation called Xennial. Xennials are considered to be a “bridge” between Generation X a...
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#95: Keys to Well-Being: Got God?

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This is Part 3 in a series exploring behaviors that increase well-being. Throughout this series, we will answer the questions:

  • What does it truly mean to be happy?
  • What are some ways that we can increase happiness?

We will answer these questions through the lens of different "keys" to well-being such as meaning and purpose, flow and peak performance, compassion and empathy, religion and spirituality, stress and coping, physical health, and forgiveness among others. For each topic, we will define what is meant by each "key to well-being," explore the research, and identify specific interventions to increase well-being. In this post, we will be looking at the impact of spirituality and religion on the development of meaning and purpose.

Values in Action
In the last post, we explored how our meaning can direct our purpose. For your homework I asked you to create a LIFE LIST, identify the VALUES it represented and describe your personal STRENGTHS. If you missed out on the last post, I suggest you catch up on that post before continuing on.

Dr. Seligman, a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, said that to be authentically happy we need to use our strengths in service of a purpose that is larger than ourselves. One way that people identify their sense of purpose is through their religion or spiritual practices. On their face, science, religion, and spirituality are incompatible. Science is focused on using empirical evidence to understand the natural world. Religion is focused on knowing an ultimate authority to understand the supernatural world. Religion is based on absolute knowledge; science is based on contingent knowledge. Although religion itself cannot be investigated in a laboratory setting, the consequences of holding those beliefs can. And it is important to do so. Why? Numerous studies show that "religious people are happier, healthier, and recover better after traumas than non-religious people" (Lyubomirsky, 2007, p.228).

Benefits of Spirituality
Spirituality and religion are often conflated. BOTH offer significant benefits to well-being, but there are some key differences between them.
  • Religion is typically characterized by (1) an institution that (2) has a shared set of practices or rituals and a (3) shared belief system that is common among a (4) group of people.
  • Spirituality is often perceived as a (1) solitary experience in which the individual (2) connects to the divine. There is often (3) a progression of beliefs as they continue to grow and develop.
Both practices are concerned with a search for the divine. In religion, however, this search takes place within an institutional context - which as we will see leads to some unique benefits.
Source
Research supports the following benefits for people who practice religion and spirituality.
  1. They are both more likely to lead longer and healthier lives. This could be the result of lifestyle choices like avoiding alcohol and drugs, or even encouraging temperance and self-restraint.
  2. They have better mental health and coping skills than their non-spiritual/religious peers.
  3. They both have a focus beyond themselves towards some greater good. We have seen how this helps them build meaning and purpose in their life.
  4. They embed practices that promote well-being in their everyday lives. These include practices of gratitude, love, compassion, forgiveness, among others.
Religion offers additional benefits as a result of its institutional nature.
  1. Close-knit religious organizations provide a sense of belonging and social support. They can become a core part of a person's identity.
  2. The focus is on a relationship with God. This can provide a source of unconditional love and acceptance. It can also provide a framework for life's meaning.
  3. It can provide hope, comfort, and a broader explanation for the "bad" that happens in the world.
Religion and spirituality help give our lives meaning. They help direct our purpose beyond merely our own individual happiness.

Purpose Directs Action
I bet at some point in your life you have seen this quote. It might even be hanging on your classroom wall!

Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions for habits; habits decide character, and character fixes our destiny- Tryon Edwards

Here's my take on it: Our meaning (which can be determined by a spiritual belief) is our WHY. This manifests in our THOUGHTS. Our thoughts direct our PURPOSE. Our Purpose is the IMPACT that we want to see in the world. It directs our ACTIONS. Our actions determine the OUTCOME. Companies will often try to sum up their core beliefs and actions in a mission statement.

I have a challenge for you. I would like you to craft a mission statement that describes your purpose. The purpose of this activity is to connect your meaning, purpose, values and goals. This would also be a great activity to do with your students!


All of the activities that we have done so far from creating life lists, to identifying your strengths and clarifying values are all part of the process of creating meaning and purpose. We continually redefine what our purpose is based on our lived experiences. I'd love to hear your thoughts and questions on this topic! Please drop them in the comment section below. In the next post, we will take a look at the practice of forgiveness and how it contributes to well being.

Be Well,
Cori


Other Posts in this Series:
93: Keys to Well-Being: Are You Happy?
94: Keys to Well-Being: What's Your Why?

Resources:

Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). The how of happiness: A practical guide to getting the life you want. Piatkus. 

Miller, C. A., & Frisch, M. B. (2011). Creating your best life: The ultimate life list guide. Sterling. 

Scott, S. (2023, January 13). Spirituality vs religion: 4 differences you should consider. Happier Human. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.happierhuman.com/difference-religion-spirituality/

 Tsang., S. (2020, February 13). Best mission statements: 12 examples you need to see. Fond. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.fond.co/blog/best-mission-statements/#:~:text=A%20mission%20statement%20is%20defined,summary%20of%20your%20company%27s%20purpose

 Wilding, M. (2020, October 18). Why you need a personal mission statement. Forbes. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2020/11/09/why-you-need-a-personal-mission-statement/?sh=7832968659aa

 







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