Transcript Slide 1

Life Lesson 13
How do I make life better:
Discover meaning-centered pathways
to well-being
© Paul T. P. Wong
THE OBJECTIVES OF M4L
 To
awaken people from the meaningless existence of
everyday busyness and boredom.
 To focus on the vital role of meaning in our well-being
 To teach people how to make use their meaning-making
capacity to cope with the negatives and to fulfill their full
potentials.
 To learn how to flourish in spite of fate, circumstances and
human weakness
 To achieve better mental health through meaning and
communion.
Mental Illness in Canada
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. The
remaining 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will.
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Schizophrenia affects 1%, major depression impacts 8% and anxiety
disorder 12% of people.
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1 in 10 Canadians 15 years of age and over report symptoms
consistent with alcohol or illicit drug dependence.
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70% of mental health problems and illnesses have their onset during
childhood or adolescence.
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Young people age 15-24 are more likely to report mental illness
and/or substance use disorders than other age groups.
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In Canada mental illness is the second leading cause of human
disability and premature death.
Social malaise
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Living in a broken and conflicted world
Living in isolation and alienation
People will displaced and dehumanized
Need to restore a sense of personhood
Need to restore a sense of communion
Meaning is the best antidote
Making life better begins with you
Be the light of the world
Objectives for today’s lesson
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Gain a better understanding of the concept of
well-being
Learn Frankl’s three-factor model of meaningful
living
Learn Wong’s three-factor model of meaningful
living
Total Well-being
Ryff ’s Components of Well-being
Only you can stop you from growing
1. Don't compare yourself with others.
2. Don't worry about being accepted by others.
3. Recognize your intrinsic self-worth as a human being.
4. Do the best with what you have, regardless of circumstances.
5. Do your best in helping others with a compassionate heart..
6. Enjoy and value every moment of life.
7. Capture every meaningful moment.
8. Pursue a worthy dream.
9. Rejoice in your uniqueness.
FEELING GOOD ABOUT
YOURSELF
Love
yourself for your inner qualities.
Build
self-esteem based on your human dignity, self-respect
and inner goodness rather than possession, position and
pretension.
Measure
the worth of your life in terms of what you have
given of yourself.
Failure
for a noble ideal is more honourable than success
through manipulation and ruthless competition.
Your well-being depends on
self-acceptance
What is your ultimate life purpose?
What is your basic life orientation?
 Pleasure and excitement?
 Money, fame and power?
 An ordinary family life?
 A meaningful life?
Everybody needs a purpose to keep them going
forward.
Everybody needs a higher purpose in order to grow
and develop to their full potential.
ADVANTAGES OF
MEANINGFUL LIVING
A
higher purpose or self-transcendence is essential to
well-being.
 Protects
you against adversities and fears
 Avoids
the pitfalls of the self-centered pursuit of
happiness and success.
 Happiness
back door.
and flourishing will sneak in through the
Awaken a sense of responsibility
FRANKL’S (1985)
3 AVENUES TO MEANING
 Giving
or contributing something to the world through our work.
 Experiencing something or encountering someone.
 Choosing a courageous attitude towards unavoidable suffering.
Make something with your life
A Defiant Human Spirit
Wong three-factor theory of
mental well-being
SOURCES OF MEANING
The Pathway of Resilience
A
Accept the
reality
E
Evaluate
& enjoy the
progress
B
Believe in
possibilities
C
Commit to
achievable
goals
(PURE)
D
Discover
new
resources &
solutions
© Paul T. P. Wong