Life Lesson 13 Life Lesson 13 How do I make life How do I make life

better:better:Discover meaning-centered Discover meaning-centered

pathways to well-beingpathways to well-being

© Paul T. P. Wong© Paul T. P. Wong

THE OBJECTIVES OF M4LTHE OBJECTIVES OF M4L

To awaken people from the meaningless To awaken people from the meaningless existence of everyday busyness and boredom.existence of everyday busyness and boredom.

To focus on the vital role of meaning in our To focus on the vital role of meaning in our well-beingwell-being

To teach people how to make use their To teach people how to make use their meaning-making capacity to cope with the meaning-making capacity to cope with the negatives and to fulfill their full potentials.negatives and to fulfill their full potentials.

To learn how to flourish in spite of fate, To learn how to flourish in spite of fate, circumstances and human weaknesscircumstances and human weakness

To achieve better mental health through To achieve better mental health through meaning and communion.meaning and communion.

Mental Illness in CanadaMental Illness in Canada 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their

lifetime. The remaining 4 will have a friend, family member or lifetime. The remaining 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will.colleague who will.

Schizophrenia affects 1%, major depression impacts 8% and Schizophrenia affects 1%, major depression impacts 8% and anxiety disorder 12% of people.anxiety disorder 12% of people.

1 in 10 Canadians 15 years of age and over report symptoms 1 in 10 Canadians 15 years of age and over report symptoms consistent with alcohol or illicit drug dependence.consistent with alcohol or illicit drug dependence.

70% of mental health problems and illnesses have their onset 70% of mental health problems and illnesses have their onset during childhood or adolescence.during childhood or adolescence.

Young people age 15-24 are more likely to report mental illness Young people age 15-24 are more likely to report mental illness and/or substance use disorders than other age groups.and/or substance use disorders than other age groups.

In Canada mental illness is the second leading cause of human In Canada mental illness is the second leading cause of human disability and premature death.disability and premature death.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Social malaiseSocial malaise

Living in a broken and conflicted Living in a broken and conflicted world world

Living in isolation and alienationLiving in isolation and alienation People will displaced and People will displaced and

dehumanizeddehumanized Need to restore a sense of personhoodNeed to restore a sense of personhood Need to restore a sense of communionNeed to restore a sense of communion

Meaning is the best Meaning is the best antidote antidote

Making life better begins Making life better begins with youwith you

Be the light of the worldBe the light of the world

Objectives for today’s Objectives for today’s lessonlesson

Gain a better understanding of the Gain a better understanding of the concept of well-beingconcept of well-being

Learn Frankl’s three-factor model of Learn Frankl’s three-factor model of meaningful livingmeaningful living

Learn Wong’s three-factor model of Learn Wong’s three-factor model of meaningful livingmeaningful living

Total Well-beingTotal Well-being

Ryff’s Components of Ryff’s Components of Well-beingWell-being

Only you can stop you from Only you can stop you from growinggrowing

1. Don't compare yourself with others.1. Don't compare yourself with others.2. Don't worry about being accepted by others.2. Don't worry about being accepted by others.3. Recognize your intrinsic self-worth as a human being.3. Recognize your intrinsic self-worth as a human being.4. Do the best with what you have, regardless of 4. Do the best with what you have, regardless of circumstances.circumstances.5. Do your best in helping others with a compassionate 5. Do your best in helping others with a compassionate heart..heart..6. Enjoy and value every moment of life.6. Enjoy and value every moment of life.7. Capture every meaningful moment.7. Capture every meaningful moment.8. Pursue a worthy dream.8. Pursue a worthy dream.9. Rejoice in your uniqueness. 9. Rejoice in your uniqueness.

FEELING GOOD ABOUT FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELFYOURSELF

Love yourself for your inner qualities.Love yourself for your inner qualities.

Build self-esteem based on your human Build self-esteem based on your human dignity, self-respect and inner goodness rather dignity, self-respect and inner goodness rather than possession, position and pretension.than possession, position and pretension.

Measure the worth of your life in terms of Measure the worth of your life in terms of what you have given of yourself.what you have given of yourself.

Failure for a noble ideal is more honourable Failure for a noble ideal is more honourable than success through manipulation and than success through manipulation and ruthless competition.ruthless competition.

Your well-being depends on Your well-being depends on

self-acceptanceself-acceptance

What is your ultimate life What is your ultimate life purpose?purpose?

What is your basic life orientation?What is your basic life orientation?Pleasure and excitement? Pleasure and excitement? Money, fame and power?Money, fame and power?An ordinary family life?An ordinary family life?A meaningful life?A meaningful life?

Everybody needs a purpose to keep them Everybody needs a purpose to keep them going forward.going forward.

Everybody needs a higher purpose in order Everybody needs a higher purpose in order to grow and develop to their full potential.to grow and develop to their full potential.

ADVANTAGES OF ADVANTAGES OF MEANINGFUL LIVINGMEANINGFUL LIVING

A higher purpose or self-transcendence A higher purpose or self-transcendence is essential to well-being.is essential to well-being.

Protects you against adversities and Protects you against adversities and fearsfears

Avoids the pitfalls of the self-centered Avoids the pitfalls of the self-centered pursuit of happiness and success.pursuit of happiness and success.

Happiness and flourishing will sneak in Happiness and flourishing will sneak in through the back door.through the back door.

Awaken a sense of Awaken a sense of responsibilityresponsibility

FRANKL’S (1985) FRANKL’S (1985) 3 AVENUES TO MEANING3 AVENUES TO MEANING

Giving or contributing something to the world Giving or contributing something to the world through our work.through our work.

Experiencing something or encountering someone.Experiencing something or encountering someone. Choosing a courageous attitude towards Choosing a courageous attitude towards

unavoidable suffering.unavoidable suffering.

Make something with Make something with your lifeyour life

A Defiant Human SpiritA Defiant Human Spirit

Wong three-factor theory of Wong three-factor theory of

mental well-beingmental well-being

SOURCES OF SOURCES OF MEANINGMEANING

AAccept the

reality BBelieve in

possibilities

CCommit to achievable

goals (PURE)

DDiscover

new resources &

solutions

EEvaluate

& enjoy the progress

The Pathway of Resilience The Pathway of Resilience

© Paul T. P. Wong