I love spending time in my garden. I’m not a highly skilled gardener, so in the words of my husband, I offer new plants as living sacrifices to the sun God. It’s a beautiful miracle when my new plants grow roots and thrive. Recently I planted seeds in carefully prepared mounds of rich soil and faithfully watered them in. Each day as I expectantly watered, I examined the soil carefully for the first signs of fresh green shoots. Hopeful, expectant, optimistic.
Research tells us that optimistic children and young people achieve greater success, are more confident and resilient, are happier and healthier, and engage less in risk taking behaviours. But you are either born optimistic or pessimistic, right?
Martin Seligman writes about ‘learned optimism’. He proposes that just as helplessness can be learned, so can optimism. This is great news for parents and teachers as we can implement strategies to build an optimistic outlook in our children. Here are some ways to build optimism:
At Avondale School we work hard to be seed planters. We look for opportunities to sow into the lives of each student the seeds of optimism and we watch expectantly for our seeds to sprout. Optimistic teachers believe that each of their students can impact their world.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Mrs Deb Cooper
Principal
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