[Ailist] A New Year's resolution with a twist ... join me in an experiment

Thu Jan 3 11:36:23 MST 2008

Hello and Happy New Year to you Shelley and all AI practitioners

Shelley, I love your idea and want to offer you and others on this listserve an opportunity to find out about what "words" are signature strengths for each of us.  I have been working with the Mayerson Foundation here in Cincinnati for the last couple of years and find the work they have done with the VIA Strengths Assessment truly wonderful.  Mayerson's underwrote the cost of Peterson and Seligman's book Character Strengths and Virtues.  In many ways this volume corresponds on the positive side with the DSMIV.  Neal and Donna Mayerson are both psychologists involved in coaching and positive psychology.  They have recently formed the VIA Institute for Character.  I think ALL AI practitioners and others will find their new site valuable.  

There will be an AI Consultants group that I will be sheparding so I hope people will search the website, take VIA and join in the conversation about strengths development.

Here is the description of the website;

The VIA Institute on Character is a non-profit organization dedicated advancing the science and understanding of character development within the field of positive psychology.

The organization is an initiative of the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation.  Begun in 1990, its first work was to fund the development of a classification of character strengths and virtues.  A survey to identify individual character strengths was developed by Drs. Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman.  It was placed online and to date, nearly 1 million people have taken it.  Much research has been conducted on the classification and survey results.

Today, the work has been translated into many languages, with more coming online every year.

This site is dedicated to the researchers who advance our knowledge of what it takes to lead "the good life"and to the psychologists, educators, coaches, social workers and other professionals who understand that people have a fundamental need to know who they are, and to express themselves, authentically, and powerfully.

Warmest Regards 
Joan

Joan Colleran Hoxsey D.Min., MSed
Principal, Relationship Resources LLC
Co-owner AIC
513 681-2513

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"...Gandhi

--
On the WEB at www.relationshipresources.net

---- Shelley Hourston <hourston at shaw.ca> wrote: 
> Hello fellow AI folks. Happy New Year to all. 
> I'm sending an
> invitation below to join me in a "New Year's experiment" that will incorporate a blend of AI coaching and story to support participants in turning their 'word' into a strength by December 2008.Best wishes ...
> 
> Shelley
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> [from my blog: Possibilities: where story and information intersect
> http://www.shourstonandassociates.com/blog/
> 
> What's your one-word New Year's resolution? 
> As I was walking my dogs the other morning I was
> contemplating the new year and the notion of New Year’s resolutions. I
> usually don’t “do” resolutions… having experienced too many years of
> not quite achieving my goal. But it occurred to me that I might like to
> try a “word” for 2008. I’ve heard that one of the tricks for achieving
> your resolution is to have just one. After thinking a bit longer, I
> decided that my word would be “courage.” At the end of each year, I
> feel like I could have achieved more if I’d had more courage–less fear
> of failing or of appearing foolish in the eyes of my peers.
> A bit further along the dog walk, it occurred to me that other
> people might do New Year’s “words” (or “phrases”) too. Wouldn’t it be
> interesting to share ideas for implementing our “words?” People would
> commit to sharing their successful “word” experience at least once each
> week and hopefully more often. As they say in Appreciative Inquiry, the
> thing you focus on is the thing that grows. It’s true.
> I'm calling it the FutureStory 2008 group. The group would share ideas and stories … and, in
> fact, by collecting insights, achievements and surprises that unfold
> while focusing on our word/phrase over the next year, each of us could
> compile an anthology of stories relating to our “word of the year.” Our
> “word” would become a part of our lives in a way that it might not
> without such focus.
> So … are you interested in choosing a “word” (or a phrase) and
> through mutual support and focused attention, making it one of your
> strengths by the end of 2008? If you’re interested in participating,
> email me at shelley at shourstonandassociates.com and I’ll send you
> instructions for signing up. I’ll set up an online community to
> facilitate discussion among people with the same “word” as well as the
> group at large. I’m also thinking that it would be interesting to have
> “success mentors”–people who have achieved success in some area of
> their life–to join us periodically to share their secrets for achieving
> their goals.
> The cost? It’s free! [And it’s an experiment.]
> Let me know soon as I will probably have to close the group at a
> certain size. And please forward this invitation to people you think
> would be interested. I’m looking forward to hearing about how your New
> Year’s “word” appears in your daily life once you (and your FutureStory
> team) focus on it.
> Happy New Year!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Shelley Hourston B.A., M.L.S.
> Story Facilitator/Communication Coach
> Vancouver, BC Canada
> Email shelley at shourstonandassociates.com
> http://www.shourstonandassociates.com
> Freckle & Ceilidh's Blog:
> http://www.dogsbestfriend.wordpress.com 
> “Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." Christopher Robin to Pooh--A. A. Milne 
> 
> 
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