Dr Suzy Green & Associates

Hi again!  This will be the last e-news brought to you under the banner of Dr Suzy Green.  Next month my colleague, Paula Robinson, and myself will be launching the “Positive Psychology Institute” web site and e-news!  Our offices in the Sydney CBD are also being completed and there will be more updates next month on our values and vision for PPI - so stay tuned! 

I’d also like to take this opportunity to let you know about the upcoming “First Australian Positive Psychology in Education Symposium” to be hosted by the Coaching Psychology Unit, University of Sydney on Saturday 9 May, 2009 in the Veterinary Building at Sydney University. 

The First Australian Positive Psychology in Education Symposium asks: In what ways is Positive Psychology currently contributing to education in Australia and globally? What are Australian researchers and practitioners focusing on? How can we best use this knowledge to creating flourishing educational environments and flourishing individuals who inhabit these environments. This conference will encompass student well-being and also employee and workplace well-being. 

This is a unique opportunity for teachers, counsellors, researchers, students and anyone else that works in education to meet and be inspired by others who are keen to explore further what Positive Psychology has to offer. The Symposium aims to provide a broad approach to education including those working in early childhood, primary and secondary schools and through to university level education.

We have a number of keynote speakers on board including the new Director of Positive Education at Geelong Grammar, Dr Matthew White, who will provide an overview of Geelong Grammar's aims and objectives in embracing Positive Psychology. Other keynote speakers include Dr Toni Noble speaking on Positive Educational Practices, Dr Helen McGrath speaking on Learner Well-Being. Dr Anthony Grant and Dr Suzy Green of the Coaching Psychology Unit will also speak on Evidence-Based Coaching as an Applied Positive Psychology. There will also be a number of other short presentation by researchers and practitioners in the field including presenters from Semann & Slattery, Redbank School, St Ignatius Riverview, MLC School, Monash University and the Department of Education and many more. The Symposium will have a strong focus on "real-life" applications.

So if you work in education, and this may mean early childhood right through to mature aged learners, then I’m hoping to see you there!  Alternatively you may know someone who you think would be interested, so please pass on the web link below:

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=db48052b-7222-48dd-b697-07f1f1519d4c

Month 2 - 2009 – The Real Deal:  Understanding and Developing Authenticity Part 2

Last month I introduced you to the history and research of “Authenticity” in psychology.  If you’ve done your homework, then hopefully you’ve raised your “self-awareness” of who you are now (ie your current self) and in writing out a description of your “Best Possible Self”, you also have an idea of the person you’d like to grow into (ie your ideal self).  Research shows that the smaller the gap between “current” and “ideal” the less psychological distress one experiences.

This month, I’d like you to encourage your ongoing self-reflection and action to what has been referred to in the literature as “authentic living”.  This has been defined as “involving behaving and expressing emotions in such a way that is consistent with the conscious awareness of physiological states, emotions, beliefs and cognitions”.  In other words, authentic living involves being true to oneself in most situations and living in accordance with one’s values and beliefs.  Now, this can be easier said than done, which many of us will attest to!  And why? Well, primarily because of our strong need as humans to accept external influences.  That is, to fit in and be accepted!

Human being are social beings and living an “authentic life” can be strongly affected by our social environment.  Accepting or choosing to live the “views of others” can increase the gap between our “current self” and “ideal self” and limit our ability to live an “authentic life”.

This Month’s Action Plan –“Deciding to Live an Authentic Life”

Take some time out this month to continue to raise your self-awareness on your own “authenticity”.  Reflect on the questions below (taken from the Authenticity Scale - Wood et al 2008- Journal of Counselling Psychology):

1. I think it is better to be yourself, than to be popular.
2. I don’t know how I really feel inside
3. I am strongly influenced by the opinions of others
4. I usually do what other people tell me to do
5. I always feel I need to do what others expect me to do
6. Other people influence me greatly
7. I feel as if I don’t know myself very well
8. I always stand by what I believe in
9. I am true to myself in most situations
10. I feel out of touch with the “real me”
11. I live in accordance with my values and beliefs
12. I feel alienated from myself

. 
If you notice, through your reflection on the above questions, that you’re strongly “externally influenced”, then it might be time to give these questions further thought, perhaps with professional assistance.  Psychotherapy has been utilised by many through time to increase self-awareness and authenticity.  A trained professional can also help you to increase your self-esteem and assertiveness skills to assist you to be the person you want to be and to have the conversations you may need to have with those “significant others” in your life that you have been so strongly influenced by for so long!  You can go to the Australian Psychological Society’s web site for their own Psychologist Referral Service to locate someone in your area or contact me directly if you like for a referral.  The APS web site link is http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/Default.aspx?ID=1204

Another resource in helping you to “excavate your authentic self” is a wonderful book by Sarah Ban Breathnach (author of Simple Abundance – the book that changed my life!).  Although this book is primarily for women, there are some wonderful reflections and suggestions for increasing authenticity.  Sarah suggests that most women are better at “sacrificing themselves than at discovering and honoring their own passions”.  She urges women to see the spiritual wisdom of "reembodiment," excavating from under layers of fear and disappointment their own moments of connection with a deeper, more authentic self.” 

In conclusion, it’s important to note that our growth and development is an ongoing process and journey – so try to enjoy the ride!

Next Month…Introducing the “Positive Psychology Institute”…..

"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day,
thou can’t not be false to any man.”

Shakespeare, Hamlet