May 10, 2022
3:30-5:00 p.m. via Zoom
1.5 PD hours
FREE thanks to the Area 5 SEL grant.
Presenter: Dr. Tim Bono

The Psychology of Mindset and Resilience

Failure and setbacks are part of any successful person’s path. But how can we muster the strength to persevere when times are most trying? This presentation will highlight the latest psychological research on the topic. We will discuss resilience as a life skill, misconceptions about self-esteem, and practical strategies for rebounding from adversity.

I. Dispelling myths around the nature of self-esteem
-The unintended effects of the “Self-Esteem Movement” of the 80s and 90s.
-Self-Esteem is not just about feeling good about yourself, it’s also about knowing how to respond to setbacks.

II. Resilience as a life skill
-Often the people who have succeeded the most have also failed the most. The lessons they learned along the way proved invaluable for their future success.
-Research has shown that having to rebound from adversity early in life promotes well-being later in life because it develops psychological wherewithal and a sense of mastery.

III. Strategies for persevering through adversity
-Although adversity is an important life skill, that doesn’t make it easy to endure.
-Proper Perspective and Emotional Intelligence are especially important to bring to situations that otherwise can lead us to cognitive distortions.

Dr. Tim Bono is a faculty member in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis where his teaching and research focus on positive psychology and college student development. His work has been featured in a number of national media outlets including NBC News, CNN, Fast Company, and the Associated Press. Over the last decade, thousands of students have taken his popular courses on the Psychology of Young Adulthood and the Science of Happiness. He summarizes the research from those courses, along with how his students have put that information into practice in their own lives, in his book, Happiness 101: Simple Secrets to Smart Living & Well-Being.