As a parent or caregiver, it can be really tough to know how to help your kids face the challenges of the modern world. In this funny and informative talk, Michael Hempseed will present the latest ideas and research about what kids and teenagers need to thrive in life and how to overcome many of the challenges they face.

TOPICS COVERED:

• What is anxiety and why is it rising at such an alarming rate?
• Why is sleep so important to our well-being?
• What does research say are the strongest protective factors against suicide?
• How can we help kids & teens to become less reactive and approach challenges in a positive way?
• How can you help young people to courageously battle failures and set backs in life?

If you've heard Michael before, you will be familiar with his engaging and practical style. Parents will leave feeling hopeful and armed with new knowledge, ideas and actionable strategies. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Michael's latest material.

PEPTALK LAUNCH EVENT - OCTOBER 2020

The launch of our publication was an exciting step in our mission to transform the future of mental health by empowering people with the tools to build mental wellbeing. 

After two postponements due to Covid, we proved that perseverance pays off as we officially launched PEPTALK, while bringing one of NZ's leading experts in wellbeing science and resilience research, Dr Lucy Hone, to share her insights with an audience of 500+.

One of the many poignant facts that Dr Hone shared from her research is that :

Only 24% of NZ's working population is psychologically flourishing.
Hone et al. (2015)

The goal of wellbeing science, is not only to reduce mental illness, it's to help us to flourish.

There are things that we can do each day that can help us achieve the state of flourishing, but as Lucy Hone also pointed out, there is a gap between knowing and doing - it's called  - "The knowing / doing gap". 

The Knowing Doing Gap

Knowledge is never enough, we must also be able to apply that knowledge. A first step is being aware that there is such a thing as the 'knowing/doing gap'. This is empowering in itself.

Now you can start to ask yourself questions to take you from knowing... into doing, so that you can start to see evidence of moving towards flourishing in your wellbeing and life.

Questions for reflection to begin to bridge the knowing / doing gap

What's your motivation for staying well and thriving?
Why do you want to feel good and function well?
What's in it for you and for those you care about?

What will motivate you to make the routine efforts required?
How can you sustain this motivation?

Who will support you?
Do you feel confident about reaching out and asking for their support?

Let's apply the above questions to one of the most simple but profound wellbeing strategies...
 

The practice of gratitude:

Wellbeing science tells us that it's worth the effort to seek out, acknowledge and spend time appreciating the good things in life. Practicing gratitude has many benefits that help us to feel good and thrive.

There are two aspects to practicing gratitude -

1. Noticing, appreciating and savouring good moments and good things during the day.
2. Writing down 3 things you are grateful for each morning and each night.

Dr Lucy Hone emphasizes that language is important when it comes to motivating ourselves to do the things that will build our wellbeing.

Gratitude' may not ring your bells... so how about calling it, your 'What went wells, or as they refer to gratitude in the US military, 'hunting the good stuff'.

Finding the language that works for you is a great first step in closing the knowing/doing gap.

What other strategies can you put in place to commit to regularly practicing this life-changing strategy?

Here's some ideas:

• Have your gratitude journal beside your bed as a visual reminder.
• Set reminders on your phone every 3 hours - eg. 'Stop! Notice the good' to remind you during the day to pause, appreciate and savour.
• Express gratitude - tell others that you're grateful for them and why - double the feel good.
• Take notice of the changes in how you feel because of this positive action, to motivate you to keep going. Bonus points : record these changes in your journal.
  
  How else can you close your knowing/doing gap?

A summary of Dr Hone's presentation from our launch event will be available in Issue 3 of PEPTALK Magazine,  released 1 December 2020...