Lecture Notes: Practicing Gratitude and Resilience in Adversity

Introduction

• Speaker Background: Former middle school science teacher, PhD in psychology, current psychology teacher.
• Concept Introduced: "Kiss your brain" practice to show gratitude — adapted from a kindergarten ritual.
• Application: Initially introduced this practice to middle school students, later applied it personally during a health crisis.

Transition to Graduate School

• Field of Study: Positive psychology — exploring strengths and factors that help individuals and communities thrive.
• Teaching Focus: Undergraduate and high school psychology, with a favorite unit on the brain.
• Personal Anecdote: Hesitation to ask older students to engage in "kiss your brain" practice.

Health Crisis and Diagnosis

• Experience: Suffered severe migraines and dizzy spells, leading to an MRI.
• Diagnosis: Discovered a large mass in the right hemisphere of the brain, later diagnosed as anaplastic astrocytoma.
• Emotional Response: Initial fear and adoption of "kiss your brain" mantra through surgery and treatment.

Struggle with Fight Narrative

• Cultural Expectations: Inherent