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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#96: Keys to Well-Being: Forgive and Forget?

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This is Part 4 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 practice of forgiveness.

In the previous post, we learned that spirituality can have a positive impact on overall well-being. Central to many spiritual practices is prayer. There are six identified types of prayer including prayers of adoration, thanksgiving, petition, confession, reception and obligation. Each type of prayer yields different benefits but prayers of adoration, thanksgiving and reception appear to have the largest impact on well-being, especially on traits like self-esteem, optimism, and meaning in life (Compton, 2020, p. 308-309).

Speaking of prayer, as I was writing this post, I saw this video and knew that I just had to share it with you!  
It might just be me, but I don't think this" type" of prayer falls under any of the ones discussed above! It is obvious that whoever wrote this song was really struggling with those who have wronged them. Which leads us to the topic of this post, FORGIVENESS. In this post, we will look at what forgiveness is (and perhaps more importantly, what it is not), how it impacts well-being, and ways to build the practice of forgiveness into our lives.

Forgiveness - Defined
Forgiveness is "a willingness to abandon one's right to resentment, negative judgment, and indifferent behavior toward one who unjustly injured us, while fostering the underserved qualities of compassion, and even love toward him or her" (Enright, Freedman, & Rique, 1998, p. 46-47). There are four phases to the forgiveness process.
  • Uncovering: In this phase the individual recognizes the negative impact that resentment is having on their own life. 
  • Decision: In this phase, the individual makes a choice to try and forgive the incident.
  • Work: In this phase, the individual tries to reframe the incident to move past the hurt.
  • Deepening: In this phase, the individual tries to gain meaning as a result of the hurt.
It is equally important to define what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is NOT ignoring, forgetting, denying, minimizing, or condoning the behavior. Forgiveness is a gift that one gives themselves. It is a release of anger and resentment. It may lead to a reconciliation with the transgressor, or it may not.

Benefits of Forgiveness
Why forgive someone else? Forgiving can be really hard - especially if the person who caused the hurt refuses to acknowledge it or fails to make amends.There are a number of benefits of forgiving for the "forgiver."
  • It promotes overall well-being. Research suggests that forgiving can make us feel happier.
  • It helps us to develop healthy interpersonal relationships.
  • It protects our mental health. It leads to improvements in the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  • It leads to higher levels of self-esteem and improved moods.
  • It reduces stress and improves physical health overall. (Greater Good - Why Practice It.)
Practicing Forgiveness
In the book, The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky, shares forgiveness practices that can improve happiness and well-being. I'll be honest, I tread very carefully with this topic in my classroom. I prefer to let my students explore what it is but I don't encourage them to apply it to their own lives in the same way that I do with other "keys." Why? Because some of our students are dealing with some really complex trauma and I don't want to trigger anything for them that cannot be resolved in a 45-minute class period. With that in mind, the activity for this topic is a playlist. It was purposefully designed so that they can explore the topic in a way that they are comfortable. I would also let them opt out of this lesson if they prefer to do so.


If you are looking for ways to cultivate forgiveness in your own life, I suggest you take a look at this resource from the Greater Good Science Center. In my next post, I will take a closer look at the practice of compassion towards others and ourselves.

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?

95: Keys to Well-Being: Got God?

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. 


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