Translating wellbeing research into positive community experiences.

Vision: a world where everyone has the skills and resources to flourish.

Mission: to translate wellbeing research into positive community experiences.

Core values:

• Be useful.
• Play often.

The Difference Maker Generator: Strengths | Values | Difference Making | Conversation

1. Strengths – Build awareness of our strengths. (VIA Strengths, CliftonStrengths, etc.)
2. Values – Choose and refine our core values (self-care values and difference making values in preparation for times of abundance (see the HAPPY LIFE framework) and times of adversity over our lifetimes.
3. Difference Making – Volunteer 1-2 hours per week in ways that engage our strengths and/or put our core values into action. This can include formal and informal volunteerism. This could include walking with someone else through steps 1-3 or starting your own Difference Maker Generator.
4. Conversation – Meet weekly for a one hour small-group conversation where each person has the opportunity to share several times:
   • 30 minutes: What went well lately? This is the first question to go around the circle. The intention is for people to share about their personal experiences from working steps 1-3 during the week prior but also allows space for people to share about whatever they wish. This question is meant to elevate wellbeing by fostering gratitude.
   • 30 minutes: What is a goal you would like to work on over the upcoming week? The intention is for us to share about a difference making goal but we can also share about any goal we wish and ask the group for input on how to enhance our goal accomplishment strategies. This question is meant to elevate wellbeing by fostering hope.

Each step of the Difference Maker Generator can elevate wellbeing:

1. Strengths – Character Strengths and Well-Being/Happiness
2. Values – The Power of Affirming Your Values
3. Difference Making – Prescribing Volunteerism for Health, Happiness, Resilience, and Longevity
4. Conversation – Conversation quantity and quality are related to well-being
   • Gratitude – Gratitude Really Is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows.
   • Hope – The science of hope: More than wishful thinking

Join us in Lincoln, NE at the Telegraph Mill 330 S 21st St., Lincoln, NE 68510 on Sunday’s from 2-4pm Central or online in the free virtual forum Second Life on Saturday’s from 11am-noon Central at this location.

A few clips that inspired the development of the Difference Maker Generator.

Other Activities of Positivity Matters:

• Video clips from our celebration – 25 years of positive psychology and the 11th U.N International Day of Happiness.
• The Positivity Matters podcast (Spotify | iTunes) (archive)
• Moderating the Positive Psychology group on Facebook (148K+ members).
• Developing the HAPPY LIFE model of human flourishing.
• Organizing Lincoln West Coast Swing. No cover. Free beginners lesson during the first hour. No partner required.
  • 2nd Tuesdays @ Storm Cellar 3233 S 13th St, Lincoln, NE 68502 from 6:30-9:30pm.
  • 4th Thursdays @ Constellation Studios 2055 ‘O’ St, Lincoln, NE 68510 from 7-10pm.
• Helping to organize neighborhood associations in northeast Lincoln:
  • Havelock Neighborhood Association
  • Bethany Neighborhood Association

Video clips of past Positivity Matters events and media coverage.

Advisors:

• Richard Dienstbier, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Dr. Dienstbier on physiological toughness: article | book) (video of Dr. Dienstbier speaking on love and physiological toughness | podcast with Dr. Dienstbier speaking on nutrition, toughness, and human flourishing)
• Shane George, Visiting Assistant Professor, University of North Florida (Dr. George on autonomy and authenticity) (Dr George co-presenting on humor, a prime form of playfulness, at an event we organized to celebrate the 2018 International Day of Happiness)