The Value Of Caregiveness

I believe being able to forgive is essential to higher well-being. It is very difficult to carry grudges and the energy used wears us down. When we forgive we allow ourselves freedom from the act and are able to grow from it. This can be very difficult and challenging to accept, as I struggle with this and tend to hold grudges. I know that when I do I am constantly ruminating and having arguments in my head about the person or am constantly on edge when I’m around them. This drastically drains my well-being and creates a dark cloud.

I do believe forgiveness is essential for optimal health. There are many ways forgiveness can enhance our well-being. For instance, being able to forgive ourselves and move on is vital in our individual growth. …show more content…
This allowed me to apply some of the models and theories we learned from our readings. In the first activity I helped out my neighbor put a section of his fence in and to take out the concrete studs. Our neighbor jokes that he is the grandfather next door and always helps me and my brothers out when we have a questions. So one day while I was working on a paper I started hearing a loud banging noise coming from outside. Of course, I wanted to find out what it was and to take a break, I saw that it was my neighbor trying to take out a concrete slab that his fence post had warped into. I wanted to help so I grabbed another shovel and started working. He was very appreciative and you could tell it made him happy I was helping out. After we took the concrete slab out we put in new concrete and post and added a section to the fence. After we completed the task I actually felt very grateful and also had a sense of accomplishment. The next day I saw him outside and we talked about the fence and how we should work on some other sections since they aren’t in the best shape. I really felt rewarded and thankful that I have a great neighbor and someone we can rely on. I think this illustrates relationships are such a vital part in creating positive emotions. This reminds me of the PERMA model developed by Martin Seligman. Having these type of interactions with my neighbor provide a sense of engagement, social connection, and …show more content…
I decided to use some of the Positive Psychology models on myself. I really wanted to work on being mindful. Two concepts I really enjoyed learning about was the broaden and build model as well as articles on mindfulness. Martin Seligman explained that we sometimes get lost in the shuffle and don’t really experience present happiness. This also led me to look into more perspectives and I came across research done by Fred Bryant. I tried to become more mindful and “savor” the experiences as Seligman suggested. I decided to really sit down and think about what I was thankful for and also all the people that are important in my life, especially my family. At first I thought this was a little corny but I decided to take some of his steps in “savoring the good life.” I wanted to count my blessing and give thanks. My family thought it was pretty funny/random at first but after I explained what was going on they really enjoyed it and shared the same love. This really made me appreciate what I have. By focusing on my gratitude and showing thanks it allowed others to see how much I appreciate them and also reaffirmed their love for me. This brings me to the broaden and build model. After doing these acts and actually thinking about them as a whole I felt enlightened and had a greater sense of appreciation. Through this assignment I can see how positive emotions will enhance our awareness and lead to more