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As a counselor, you make sure to have a positive attitude, and you encourage campers to see the bright side of life. You realize that camp is more fun when everyone is happy — but did you know that by promoting positivity, you’re also helping campers find success and literally reverse the effects of stress and anxiety?
When you are in a positive state of mind, you are more apt to succeed! According to Christine Carter, PhD, a sociologist and happiness expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, “When our brains are positive and we’re experiencing positive emotions, we’re much more creative, better at problem solving, and our perception is more open — making us more able to learn.” Help your campers learn that staying positive puts them on the fast-track to achieving their goals!
Carter also explains the physiological effects of positive emotions: “Say you are anxious and you’re heart rate goes up. If you have a good laugh, feelings of gratitude, or feelings of hope — any sort of positive emotions — generally speaking, your heart rate will drop. Positive emotions even boost your immune system a little bit.” A positive mindset will literally make campers healthier!
Want to know the best predictor of a person’s happiness, and how you can support positive emotional skills at camp? Read this interview with Carter from the 2012 January/February Camping Magazine.
Tell us what you do to keep a positive atmosphere at camp in the comments below!
Photo courtesy of Happy Hollow Children's Camp in Nashville, Indiana