Youth ACHIEVEMENT FOUNDATION

CHARACTER TALK

 CHEERFULNESS

• Introduction and Definition

• Cheerfulness: Being full of cheer or good spirits
• Objective: Students should be able to describe cheerfulness and give examples of why it is good.

• Notes for Mentor-Student discussion

• We cannot always control the circumstances of our lives but we can control our attitude.
• It is easier to be sad than happy. There will always be something to complain about.
• People like to be right and will work to make their desires come true
• Therefore, sad and negative outcomes will come easily for sad and negative people. Contrarily, happy and optimistic people have a far better chance of getting happy and good results, because they believe they are possible.
• Most people prefer to be around cheerful people.
• This means that cheerful people will usually have more friends and become better leaders.
• Cheerful people usually are healthier and live longer.
• Cheerful people make other people happy!
• Can either the mentor or student give an example of how they were motivated by a cheerful person?

• Notes for general group discussion

• Why is it good to be cheerful?
• When is it hard to be cheerful? Why might this be an especially important time to make the effort to do so?

• Summary points

• We cannot choose our circumstances but we can choose our attitude
• Cheerful people accomplish more and help others to be happy
• Take away line: Be cheerful and you will help others to be happy.