So, in Webster’s tradition, here is a short glossary of terms that are being used to talk about that cultivation of the heart. 21st Century Skills According to the Partnership for 21st Century Learning,, a research and advocacy group, these include the “4Cs of critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity,” as well as “life and career skills” and “information, media and technology skills.” Character “But there are some fundamental things that make people really great citizens, which usually include being kind.” Grit When Angela Duckworth was working on her dissertation in the mid-2000s, she chose the term to encapsulate the measures of self-control, persistence and conscientiousness that she was finding to be powerful determinants of success. Frequently defined as PASSION+PERSISTENCE - Ed. Agency “Agency is one of sociology’s oldest concepts,” he says. Basically, it’s “the amount of power that a person has to influence their own life.” Growth Mindset...

Our research also shows that when we make people feel grateful , they’ll spend more time helping anyone who asks for assistance, they’ll make financial decisions that benefit partners equally (rather than ones that allow profit at a partner’s expense), and they’ll show loyalty to those who have helped them even at costs to themselves. What my lab, and others, found when we looked at pride was similar. Making people feel proud — not arrogant, but proud of the skills they have — makes them more willing to wait for future rewards and more willing to take on leadership roles in groups and work longer and harder to help a team solve a difficult problem. Likewise, when we make people feel compassion , they’ll take on the burdens of others, spending more time and effort to help get others out of jams and ease their distress. What these findings show is that pride, gratitude and compassion , whether we consciously realize it or not, reduce the human mind’s tendency to discount the val...

Happiness is not just about developing positive emotions, it has two other constituent parts: purpose and resilience. Having a clear and meaningful purpose is a key element in sustaining long-term happiness. And because negative emotions are an integral part of life, developing resilience is the third highly essential component of happiness, as it enables us to deal effectively with negative emotions when they arise. Employers who are serious about achieving effectiveness and productivity through a happy workforce need to ensure workers are given the opportunity to do engaging, meaningful and purpose-driven work, are able to develop good relationships and experience a sense of achievement. The Conversation UK