Optimism Lesson Helps
by Jacqueline Jennings / ga11162007
 

I did the stone object lesson listed on this page (scroll down) and it worked really well.  After asking the girls "how was that" and listening to all their complaints about the stone I asked "but how was the lolly?" The were very quiet - I think it really had an impact.

I then followed the lesson - recited the moving story etc. and made sure I pointed out that it is alright to feel upset but not to get caught in a rut of always feeling this way. Also our YW president related a personal story of where she moved into a new ward and felt really unhappy and alone - she mentioned it to her husband who she thought was have sympathy and might suggest they move again, but instead said to her "what are you doing about it, who have you talked too, who have you invited around for morning tea?" she then totally
changed her outlook and made it a goal to talk to someone each week - she ended up loving the ward and was upset to leave it five years later.

I also split the class in two and had them work on the case studies together - I wanted them to think a little bit deeper and not give the "standard answers". I asked them to identify what the girl might be feeling, what she can do, and what a more optimistic outlook might
be. This worked really well and the girls gave some really mature answers and solutions.

In the section where it said to right suggestions on the board I actually asked the girls to come out and just right things they thought of - I pointed out that just having them thinking about what they could write and them coming up to write it had changed the atmosphere in the room (there was such a positive, happy atmosphere).

Time was running short (as usual) so I recited a bit of the poem that was on the young women connection and told them how it was up to them to shape and sculpt their lives and to look at things to be grateful for when they get down - I then had them divide into teams again and pulled out some play-doh, they had to "sculpt" something they were grateful for (sort of like pictionary but with play-doh).

The handout I gave was just a little booklet I made up with this poem on the front and put seven pages inside with "I am grateful for". I asked them to write a few things down each night and that next week I was going to ask how it affected their outlook - which is going to fit in really nicely with the next lesson (I am probably going to devote most of that lesson to expressing appreciation). If you are interested in the booklet - it is just real simple - I put a piece of cardboard on the back to give it stability and then hole punched some holes in the top of it all and tied it together with ribbon.