Last update: February 15, 2020
Curiously, one of the most beautiful and well-known phrases of the brilliant suspense queen Agatha Christie has nothing to do with mystery. The writer claimed that "one of the luckiest things that can happen in life is to have a happy childhood". For this reason, today we see how the vase of happiness technique can help young and old to achieve this goal.
It's not always easy to think positively, especially for adults. It seems that children, on the other hand, come more naturally, as they are still innocent beings who want to play, laugh, have fun… So it's worth trying any technique that helps them and helps us have a little more fun.
The technique of the vase of happiness
Scholars have repeatedly shown that a positive attitude is a powerful weapon to overcome any obstacle. That is why it is very important to help children develop a positive attitude. It is crucial for their present and encouraging for their future.
"Children are the most important resource in the world and the best hope for the future"
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy-
We can describe the vase of happiness technique as “A game” that tries to help parents reinforce positive attitude in children who are naturally gifted with it, and to develop it in those who, conversely, do not show that they possess it. Not all children, in fact, are so uninhibited as per stereotype, which does not however prejudice that they can face conflicts and problems with a positive predisposition.
This technique shows, in fact, how to approach problems with an optimistic perspective. And this is how the famous philosopher Elsa Punset conceived this little game:
- It is a game that can be played as a family or in a group. Members must choose a large glass container, which will be the vase of happiness. We will write the name on a piece of paper to glue to the container, so that the label can be read, and we will leave it in a recognizable place in the house.
- So every day parents, children, educators, instructors, that is all the participants, will have to write on a sheet of paper the best thing that has happened to them in the last 24 hours. We talk about simple things, like a good grade, a good meal, something that has turned out better than we thought, meeting someone interested, etc. Then you have to fold the sheet and put it in the container. Strange as it may seem, these little sentences are registered by the brain almost without realizing it.
- Every six months the jar is opened, which in the meantime will have filled up sufficiently, and all the positive messages about what has happened to the group and the family in the last period are read.
The goal of the vase of happiness technique
But what is the vase of happiness technique for? It has been shown that the human brain learns a lot and well through the classic method of teaching and error. Perhaps it is a very simple technique, but it accompanies us throughout our life, from when we are little ones we sit on a chair and we start dropping objects to the ground.
It is also widely recognized that a positive attitude turns adverse situations into favorable ones. It doesn't mean it's easy, but it does offer the ability to turn problems into opportunities. In fact, this technique allows:
- Let the children learn a reflect on all the positive events that happen to him every day. Sometimes the little ones can be very impulsive and impatient, they believe that everything is horrible, but this technique shows them that this feeling is not real.
- They learn to appreciate the small details. A kiss, a caress, a pleasant comment ... Positive things happen to all of us, all the time, only we don't always have the attitude and the predisposition to recognize them, feel them, enjoy them. However, by fixing them in the brain by writing them, our attitude will change without realizing it.
- All participants will learn a see the difference between real problems and trifles, especially children.
- It is a very useful technique because all the members of the group, especially the little ones, learn to be grateful.
- It is a great method for improve family and group communication.
Don't think twice and practice the vase of happiness technique with the groups you belong to. These are small steps for individuals, but big steps for everyone: by using this technique, we will create a more positive world.
"The best way to do good to children is to make them happy"
-Oscar Wilde-
