Join OFE Faculty Leader Elenice DeSouza Oliveira for workshops and discussions designed to ignite your curiosity, inspire your insights, and empower you to foster a culture of flourishing in the Montclair State University community.
What is Human Flourishing?
Inspired by the transformative work of the Center for Healthy Minds (CHM) at the University of Wisconsin, led by psychologist and neuroscientist Richard Davidson, human flourishing is the development of well-being through cultivating mindfulness, awareness, connection, wisdom, and purpose. Well-being is a skill that can be learned and enhanced through training and practice.
Human Flourishing is an interdisciplinary field, and many at Montclair are already doing work in human flourishing. This series supports like-minded faculty and staff to share their wisdom and expertise so more students can gain from the art and science of Human Flourishing.
Universities and colleges around the country and beyond are developing courses and programs in Human Flourishing, finding that these programs support the well-being and success of their students.
For example, see programs at the University of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harvard University, and Stanford University.
The Pillars of Human Flourishing
Awareness (Focus, Emotions, Mindfulness): Cultivating self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness. This pillar encourages individuals to pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences.
Connection (Interdependence, Compassion, Diversity): Building meaningful relationships, fostering empathy and compassion, and embracing diversity. This pillar invites attention to the interconnectedness of all beings and the power of human relationships supports well-being and collective flourishing.
Wisdom (Identity, Values, Gratitude): Self-discovery, clarifying personal values, and cultivating gratitude. This pillar involves exploring identity, aligning actions with core values, and appreciating the present moment and life’s blessings support flourishing.
Integration/Purpose (Courage, Community): Aligning actions with values, pursuing meaningful goals, and contributing to the greater good. This pillar involves finding purpose and direction in life, fostering courage to overcome obstacles, and engaging with a supportive community to create positive change and impact.
By integrating these foundational principles and pillars into the flourishing curriculum and initiatives at Montclair State University, we aim to empower students to lead fulfilling lives, nurture well-being, and contribute positively to their communities and society as a whole.
The Human Flourishing Workshop Series
Attend any or all of the workshops in the series, offered monthly. Attendance is open to all Montclair faculty and staff. Workshops will be facilitated by Elenice DeSouza Oliveira, with guest speakers from the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Workshop 1: Pathways to Wellbeing: Nurturing Flourishing, Transformation, and Resilience: Wed., September 25, 2024, 10 – 11:30 am
The inaugural Human Flourishing workshop introduces the foundational elements of human flourishing, exploring the essence of flourishing, transformation, and resilience in the journey toward personal and collective well-being. Join Elenice DeSouza Oliveira to learn about the importance of supporting students’ flourishing and nurturing a culture of resilience within our academic environment. Bring your curiosity, ideas, and insights as we collectively craft a plan for impactful initiatives that will shape the future of our community.
Workshop 2: Awaken Within – Cultivating Awareness through Focus, Emotions, and Mindfulness: Wed., Oct. 9, 10 – 11:30 am
This workshop focuses on the pillar of Awareness. Join series facilitator Dr. Elenice DeSouza Oliveira and guest speaker Dr. Teri Pipe of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds to delve into the intricate interplay of emotions, mindfulness, and thoughts in the pursuit of flourishing. Through a blend of research evidence and experiential learning, participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of self-awareness and develop pedagogical strategies that help students to cultivate practices that promote emotional balance, focus, and well-being.
Workshop 3: Bridges of Connection – The Power of Interdependence and Compassion: Wed., October 23, 10 – 11:30 am
Building on the foundation of awareness, this workshop focuses on the pillar of Connection. Join series facilitator Elenice DeSouza Oliveira and guest speaker Claudio Josuel Alejo, Assistant Director for Montclair’s First-Generation Initiatives, to explore the power of interdependence and compassion in nurturing meaningful relationships and fostering among students a sense of belonging. Participants will engage in interactive sessions that encourage compassion-building and collaborative problem-solving, paving the way for a more connected and supportive academic environment.
Workshop 4: The Essence of Wisdom: Unveiling Identity, Values, and Gratitude: November 20, 9:30 – 11 am
This workshop focuses on the pillar of Wisdom: Join Elenice DeSouza Oliveira to explore the intricate tapestry of identity, the guiding principles of their values, and the transformative power of gratitude. Learn about diverse methods to foster a sense of clarity and purpose among students, while also cultivating a mindset of appreciation for the richness of life’s experiences. Join us as we tailor strategies to incorporate introspection and reflection into students’ learning experiences, helping to illuminate the path of their personal growth and fulfillment.
Workshop 5: Harmony Within: Aligning Integration and Purpose: December 4, 2024, 10 – 11:30 am
This workshop focuses on the pillar of Integration and Purpose. Join Elenice DeSouza Oliveira to discover the transformative force of integration and purpose, as we delve into the realms of clarity and alignment in personal and professional pursuits. Through reflective exercises and goal-setting activities, participants will explore different methods to help students to uncover their intrinsic motivations and aspirations, laying the groundwork for purpose-driven actions that resonate both in the classroom and in daily life.
Interested in Human Flourishing initiatives outside of these workshops? Contact Elenice DeSouza Oliveira directly.
To join the associated Canvas Community for Human Flourishing, please complete this Google Form.
Baggot, A. (2020, December 17). Badgers at forefront of mindfulness training in collegiate athletics. Wisconsin Badgers. https://uwbadgers.com/news/2020/12/17/athletics-general-news-events-badgers-at-forefront-of-mindfulness-training-in-collegiate-athletics.aspx
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D’Etcheverry, C. (2023, October 4). “Attention and the Arts” lecture. The Art and Science of Human Flourishing Course. University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Global Compassion Coalition: https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/
Healthy Minds Program App. Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc. Affiliation: Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2010). A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind. Science, 330(6006), 932. https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=fbe4f2d7-51e1-34bb-8f10-1d31bcfede2a
Siegel, D. J. (2022). IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging. W. W. Norton & Company. https://montclair.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1431976805
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 1:49 pm
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