Tito read the Jelly Beans story with children in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, during the Power of Goodness event
The background of Power of Goodness (PoG) contains a collection of real stories from various parts of the world that show how people respond to threats or hurtful actions in peaceful and nonviolent ways. This collection of stories is under the guidance of Friends Peace Teams (FPT), who have developed events using formats and activities rooted in the Alternative to Violence Project (AVP). This has made Power of Goodness a learning tool about the power of nonviolence and reconciliation in facing difficult situations.
Martin Seligman states, “The good life consists in deriving happiness by using your signature strengths every day in the main realms of living.” This statement emphasizes the importance of recognizing and living out the main strengths that each individual possesses as a path to happiness. The Power of Goodness approach deepens this idea through an invitation to examine how the power of goodness within each individual can play a role. By utilizing our potential, each person is not only able to be creative and develop personally, but also to live with a conscience that leads to the creation of a good life. Ultimately, happiness is not merely an individual goal, but also the foundation for building a just and peaceful culture and society.
In another work, Seligman states, “The elements of well-being include positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement. Together, they form the PERMA Model.” This was one way to understand why the Power of Goodness is so effective – it addresses all the elements of PERMA, which help to live a good life.
Tito and the first-grade students at Tambakromo Junior High School
Positive Emotion: In everyday life, people often find it easier to say negative words than positive ones. Through the Adjective Name activity, we are encouraged to practice saying positive words that we already know, then choose an adjective Name that starts with the first letter of our own name. This simple process not only trains creativity in choosing meaningful vocabulary, but also fosters awareness to instill these positive traits within ourselves. By choosing words that represent oneself, people are motivated to strive to behave and live in accordance with the positive values contained in their adjective names. This ultimately cultivates positive emotions within oneself, which is an important foundation for the growth of happiness and a better quality of life.
Engagement: Power of Goodness is an activity that can be done together with young children and adults alike. At any age, Power of Goodness positions each person as both a teacher and a student. This principle emphasizes that the learning process is not only one-way from the facilitator to the participants, but also the other way around: facilitators are enriched by experiences shared by participants, while participants also gain knowledge and inspiration from facilitators. With this complementary pattern of interaction, the learning process grows naturally, full of equality, and far from any sense of hierarchy. This encourages the active involvement of all parties, because each individual feels valued and has space to contribute, thus creating a participatory, inclusive, and meaningful learning atmosphere.
Relationships: In Power of Goodness activities, each person is invited to explore and bring out the good things within themselves. Through this process, participants learn to appreciate the value of their similarities while celebrating their diversity, and are given space to share experiences, practice being good listeners and speakers, and discover positive values in themselves and others. This is where positive relationships can be built, creating strong bonds between individuals. This ongoing process ultimately plays an important role in forming a stronger, supportive community that is capable of fostering a culture of justice and peace in everyday life.
Meaning: The Power of Goodness encourages each individual to learn to discover and appreciate goodness, even in difficult situations. Through the stories presented, participants are trained to see, recognize, and appreciate the good things contained within them, even though these stories arise from challenging experiences. Knowing these stories fosters awareness that goodness is always present in various forms, no matter how small, and can be a source of strength for oneself and others. By focusing on the positive values in every experience, participants not only hone their ability to think more clearly and optimistically, but also learn how goodness can be applied in everyday life. Ultimately, this approach helps foster empathy, mutual respect, and hope.
Accomplishment: Power of Goodness believes that every individual is essentially equal, possesses goodness, and has the ability to contribute to society. This view affirms that there is no reason to belittle or elevate others, because each person carries their own strengths, potential, and value. With this attitude, relationships between individuals can be built on the basis of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, creating an inclusive space for everyone to thrive. This principle of equality is realized through various activities that focus on personal change and development, such as training sessions on becoming a good listener and speaker, where participants learn to listen attentively, calm their bodies and minds, and imagine that what the other person is saying is true. In addition, participants are also encouraged to speak based on their personal experiences, not on behalf of others. This process not only trains communication skills, but also becomes a tangible form of self-development that can be applied both within the community and in everyday life.
In line with the aspects of positive psychology proposed by Martin Seligman, the Alternative to Violence Project is imbued with positive values oriented towards personal and social development. Through various processes, AVP guides each individual to be more creative, resourceful, and able to reflect on and learn from their own experiences, so that personal growth can take place in a holistic and meaningful way, thereby strengthening the foundation for creating a just, peaceful culture.
References:
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.
Tito and the children of the English club during the Power of Goodness activity