1) Are you missing any of these assignments? Do these first. Ask me for copies.
Things I Know About Me
My Blueprint - Survey Results
Mindset Quiz
Thinking Style Inventory
Happy Survey
Happy Questions
Dear Future Self Letter
2) Do you have all these pieces completed inside of your My Blueprint Portfolio?
All 4 Surveys
Five long term goals posted
Journal Entry - Your Mind Style
Upload Dear Future Self Letter into Portfolio
3) All done? Then go ahead in My Blueprint... and find eight jobs that interest you under Who Am I? --> Match Results. Complete eight compatibility quizzes, at least, and then favourite your top eight (press the heart button then add them to your portfolio.)
In just four years you will be preparing to graduate from high school!
Maybe that feels like a long way from now, but the time will fly by faster than you think. You will grow taller and stronger, your voice might change (guys), your brain will evolve, your sense of what is important will shift and you will find yourself becoming more serious, more aware of the future ahead of you. So, as a way of keeping your grade 8 self alive, I want you to write and email a letter to your future self. What should you write about? Anything really... Ask yourself questions...give yourself advice on love, education, goals... talk about what grade 8 has been like... If you want a specific structure, here you go:
Paragraph 1 Current mood — How you’re feeling, what’s happening in your life right now? What are you fears and motivations? How has grade 8 been?
Paragraph 2 Questions for your future self — What are grappling with now? What are you curious to ask your future self?
Paragraph 3 Aspirations for the next years — What do you hope to achieve?
Paragraph 4 Advice Giving - Stop, Start, Continue (What are 3–5 things you should stop doing, start doing, continue doing?)
Further Paragraphs More Advice Giving - General(What would you advise yourself to be like in the future? ex. Dear Future Self, I really hope you have a lot more confidence than you do know. Because I know you can do great things.)
The letter should be at least four well-developed paragraphs. But, feel free to make it as long as you like. Up to 20 marks for each unique detail and idea and question and thought. :)
Hand in a paper copy to me, and upload it to your My Blueprint Portfolio but then you can also go ahead and email it to yourself! You have two choices:
www.futureme.org - you can control the exact date you will receive the email with this site, but you will have to respond to a confirmation email to make it work.
http://lettertomyfutureself.net/ - this one only offers set times and you would have to pick either three years (end of grade 11) or five years (springtime of your first year out of high school). But it is easy and there is no confirmation email or anything.
Achor says in just 21 days, these exercises can transform a pessimist into an optimist.
Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, says you can rewire your brain to make yourself happy by practising simple happiness exercises.
And within 30 days, those habits change the neuropathways of our brains and turn us into lifelong optimists.
These six daily happiness exercises are proven to make anyone, from a 4-year old to an 84-year old, happy, or simply happier, Achor says.
Gratitude Exercises. Write down three things you're grateful for that occurred over the last 24 hours. They don't have to be profound. It could be a really good cup of coffee or the warmth of a sunny day.
The Doubler. Take one positive experience from the past 24 hours and spend two minutes writing down every detail about that experience. As you remember it, your brain labels it as meaningful and deepens the imprint.
The Fun Fifteen. Do 15 minutes of a fun cardio activity, like gardening or walking the dog, every day. The effects of daily cardio can be as effective as taking an antidepressant.
Meditation. Every day take two minutes to stop whatever you're doing and concentrate on breathing. Even a short mindful break can result in a calmer, happier you.
Conscious act of kindness. At the start of every day, send a short email or text praising someone you know. Our brains become addicted to feeling good by making others feel good.
Deepen Social Connections. Spend time with family and friends. Our social connections are one of the best predictors for success and health, and even life expectancy.
Go to the GOALS section - and create at least five different types of long term goals.
Make sure you are all caught up on missing work. Got everything done? Why don't you start writing a letter to yourself in grade 12? Give your grade 12 self some advice about love, education, goal setting, the future, how to be successful, how to make your dreams come true... etc... :)
...let's start watching the documentary Happy because if you aren't HAPPY how will you ever become truly enjoy whatever life and career you have ahead of you?!
Follow along with the question handout - and stop the documentary now and then to fill in some answers.
