HD 205 Child Development Assignment: Stretch Application- The University of Alabama
"The more you embrace your values, the greater your sense of fulfillment."
- Russ Harris, The Happiness Trap
Intention: To transform your complaints into commitments by using course concepts to effectively navigate a challenging life situation. To apply your knowledge of HD205 lessons to your life in order to create long-term results that align with your personal values.
Mechanism: You will explore a complaint that stems from a personal value, create an action plan, and engage in a safe and modest risk to address your complaint. This risk must include FACE TO FACE conversation with another human being.
To complete the stretch, please work through the following steps:
Part 1: Identifying and Taking the Risk
1. Complete an ACT Matrix worksheet either using a complaint you identified in lecture or a new one that is important to you. You'll find extra blank copies on Blackboard. You must identify a safe and modest, communication-based (FACE TO FACE) risk that addresses your original complaint and aligns with your value(s).
2. Take the safe and modest, communication-based risk you identified to address the situation. Don't just think about doing it; you must actually engage in the process and put the plan into action. You may not use cueless communication. Examples of cueless communication include but are not limited to communication by: letter, email, texting and Facebook. You must actually use your voice to communicate, face to face.
3. After completing the safe and modest risk, notice whether it was successful: did the situation change in a constructive way? If your safe and modest risk did not transform the situation constructively, adjust. Identify other safe and modest risks you could make and continue to address the situation.
Part 2: Reflection Essay
After taking the safe and modest risk(s), write a cohesive essay by including an introduction and conclusion in addition to answering each of the prompts below (remember, you can use this in your junior writing portfolio).
1. Write an introductory paragraph that captures the reader's attention and sets a clear frame for your essay. This should include why you intentionally chose to take the safe and modest risk that you did.
2. Describe in detail: What is the nature of your complaint that you are addressing?
3. Describe in detail: What safe and modest risk (committed action) did you take and with whom?
4. Include an explanation of why this action was a risk in your growth zone. Specifically, how well did you stretch out of your comfort zone? Be sure to explain your experience in the growth zones (comfort, growth, panic).
5. Identify and describe each of your values underlying your complaint. (Lower right of ACT Matrix)
6. Describe the uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, sensations and urges (possible internal obstacles or challenges; e.g. lower left of ACT Matrix) you were willing to experience in order to achieve the safe and modest risk (committed action) you completed. You must correctly identify thoughts, feelings, and sensations for full credit.
7. Choose ONE of the following course concepts listed below and describe how you applied it to address a non-constructive behavior that you were "doing" or "not doing" (Upper left of ACT Matrix) that was preventing you from taking your safe and modest risk.
a. Concepts include: Present Moment Connection, Defusion (from unhelpful thoughts), Expansion (around uncomfortable emotions), Observer Self, Consensus, Feedback, Circles of Influence, TKI.
b. Your audience here is one of your friend's intelligent grandmother who has never taken HD205 and is unfamiliar with the course concept.
8. Assess the safe and modest risk experience: Describe, in detail, what you experienced while taking your safe and modest risk(s) by answering the following questions:
a. What "worked" and "didn't work" as far as navigating the safe and modest risk is concerned?
b. What adjustments did you make or could you have made in hindsight (NOTE: answering ‘none' or something to that effect is not acceptable)?
c. How did the situation evolve or change?
d. How were you personally responsible and accountable for your role in the experience?
9. What did you learn in this process that you can apply to other areas of your life? Why might it be important for you to continue to practice this process of values-based committed action?
10. Concluding paragraph that summarizes main points of the essay.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
Attachment:- ACT-Matrix-Template.rar