According to Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology, the elements of well-being are contained in the PERMA theory – building blocks that enable flourishing: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (See MS’s book, Flourish). Angela Duckworth (see her book, GRIT) et al define grit as perseverance and passion for long-term goals.

The opportunity is to build upon these aspects of well-being that many people have discovered within themselves and extend them countrywide to all teaching, training and development – from private to public sector, from under 5s to U3A, from poor to privileged, from carer to cared-for, with the aim of creating a flourishing UK. What could be a better outcome of the pandemic (and Brexit)?

The challenge is to teach well-being to those who are suffering, e.g. pupils, students, bereaved families, care home workers, the hungry, unemployed, those with long Covid. Seligman says, Trauma often sets the stage for growth and emphasises post-traumatic growth, which is much more common than post-traumatic stress disorder.

Because happiness is part of well-being, positive education for all, teaching well-being and grit along with values, kindness and respect for each other, will raise our score on the UN happiness index.

Among the advantages are that it’s the fastest route for children of all ages and abilities to catch up and succeed; it spreads success right across the country, achieving the levelling-up process; it makes for less crime and better rehabilitation, an end to culture wars, small and large businesses finding their feet again, and to setting an example across the world.

There is a new sense of what it means to engage, form relationships, solve problems and achieve meaningful outcomes that the country can use to progress the green agenda, education, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, law and order, justice, diet, defence, government – it’s all-encompassing.

 

 

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