MODULE 3: Resilience, Assertive Communication and Mental Strength Part 1

• The core intellectual skill of being able to disagree respectfully and diplomatically
• Introducing the 32 skills of resilience - including the skill of optimism, flexible thinking, critical thinking and the value of delaying gratification
• Recognising that bullies and difficult people come in all ages and are everywhere in life. The goal is to be pro-active: understand bullies, and then learn how to handle and respond to bullies with strength, resilience, empowering behaviour and emotional skill. Learning how to deal with bullies whilst young is pro-active and common-sense
• Recognising that bullying another person is not a sign of strength, but a sign that the bully is feeling disempowered and lacks emotional intelligence. Bullies are not entitled to be popular - they need help
• Mastering the 34 prevention and coping strategies to deal with bullying
• Developing assertiveness skills (win-win communication skills that empower a child to resist peer pressure), strong body language, self-esteem and self-confidence
• Developing the skill of delaying gratification (hard things first, fun things are my reward)
• How to choose friends wisely (using the S.E.A. acronym)
• How to deal with frustration - a core life skill
• Examination of a wide set of skills to cope with stress
• An introduction on how to handle rejection, criticism, conflict, bullying and failure
• Ability to live with uncertainty and change without panic
• Knowing oneself and being able to communicate what one feels and what one needs with assertiveness and courtesy
• Recognising that passive aggression (eg: silent treatment) or aggression (eg: verbal or physical abuse) are unacceptable. Assertiveness is the only healthy expression of anger and is a win-win for all. Unlike aggression, assertiveness is not innate and needs to be learnt and practised
• Recognising the long-term value of taking the moral high road
• Recognising that shyness is a learnt coping behaviour that can morph in to healthy confidence with self-knowledge and practice
• How to take ownership of our responsibility to act with self-respect at all times
• Feeling comfortable saying "no": early, clearly, courteously, definitively and without sugarcoating it  -"Richard, that is not a good idea" or "I'm sorry, but that won't be possible". The word "no" spoken firmly and kindly shows self-respect