Whether it’s a small achievement at work or a personal milestone, the act of sharing good news is a common part of human interaction. While most of us might not think twice about how we respond to such news, it’s crucial to consider that our responses can significantly impact our relationships and overall wellbeing.
During the holiday season, a time when we often reflect on gratitude and kindness, we encourage you to consider using the positive psychology skill, “Showcase the Good.” This skill teaches us how to see the good in others and respond to other people’s good news in a way that strengthens our relationships and benefits our wellbeing.
What is Showcase the Good?
Showcase the Good is a positive response when others share their good news with us. When someone confides in us with positive experiences, they engage in “capitalization,” the act of sharing positive events or good news. Capitalizing on good news allows individuals to savor and reap the benefits of positive events by sharing them with others.
What is most important to wellbeing is the response you receive to the good news you share with others. According to researcher Shelly Gable, Active Constructive Responding, or Showcasing the Good, is the only one of four response styles that benefits wellbeing and relationships. This means asking authentic and engaging questions, encouraging the person to relive the positive experience, and genuinely celebrating their good news.
How to Showcase the Good This Holiday Season
During this time of year, people may be spending more time with loved ones and eating meals together. This is a great opportunity to share good news, listen to others’ good news, and Showcase the Good. Notice how your family’s wellbeing gets boosted by learning to become joy multipliers! With Proof Positive’s free, science-informed resources, you’ll have many opportunities to practice and spread the happiness of Showcase the Good to your family and community.
Applying Showcase the Good in a School Environment
This positive psychology skill is valuable for everyone, including students with autism. It provides a framework for building stronger social connections, fostering trust, and boosting wellbeing. Showcase the Good offers a practical and inclusive approach to nurturing connections and developing important relationship skills. Here are some ways to start applying Showcase the Good with your autistic students:
- Teach your students how to distinguish good news from bad news. Use the Showcase the Good Unit Study teaching slides or our Good News / Bad News Sorting Cards to get started.
- As a proactive strategy for promoting positive relationships, have your student share good news with a preferred person three times per day. Ensure the preferred person responds by Showcasing the Good.
- Have your student keep a log of good news as it occurs throughout the week, and use pictures to support learners with lower literacy skills. At the end of the week, have a Showcase the Good session where they share their good news with a preferred person or a parent/guardian and receive active constructive responses.
Explore more ways to apply and teach Showcase the Good with your students.
Showcase the Good can also be a powerful tool to boost school-wide morale, especially among staff. At Academy 360 Upper School, an Autism Wellbeing Alliance Partner, school administrator Lynn Muir uses Showcase the Good in her Weekly Highlights newsletter to staff, where she creates a space where staff can share and celebrate good news with each other, like staff promotions.
Showcase the Good strengthens relationships and enhances wellbeing, something we all need in our lives. During the holidays and the rest of the year, let’s remember that showcasing the good isn’t just about gratitude for others but elevating the positive experiences in those around us. By positively engaging with others’ good news, we can create a more inclusive and supportive world for everyone, including individuals within the autism community.