Psychological Concepts/Strategies for Success Worksheet Overview Reflect on the following psychological concepts and strategies you’ve been learning about in the first 2 weeks of this course:
Elements of success
Big 5 personality traits
Definitions of success
Self-awareness
Strengths
Mindfulness
Gratitude
Self-esteem
Positive thinking
Attitude
Consider which of these psychological concepts or strategies covered in Ch. 1 and 2 of this week’s reading can be used to improve your success in the following aspects of your life: at work, at school, and with your family or other personal relationships. In this worksheet, you choose 2 psychological concepts or strategies for each aspect of your life and explain why you chose each strategy and how it can help you increase your success in that aspect of your life.
Before you begin, review the sample responses below to get a better idea of what a response might include. Sample Responses Aspect of Life – Work
Psychological Concept/Strategy Description/Rationale
Self-awareness I am not sure what career path I want to take and understanding myself better will help. I want to know what I am good at, what is going to make me happy, and if I am heading in the right direction.
By being self-aware, I will learn what my strengths, weaknesses, interests, and skill levels are. By knowing more about myself, I will be able to create a clear career path.
Aspect of Life – Family/Personal Relationships
Psychological Concept/Strategy Description/Rationale
Mindset Having a positive mindset will help me be a better parent to my children. This is something I can control and decide each day. Some days I struggle, but I try my best to stay present with my children, find balance each day, and remember what I am thankful for.
Aspect of Life – School
Psychological Concept/Strategy Description/Rationale
Self-discipline Graduation is at the top of my list of goals, and to accomplish it, I must have self-discipline. With self-discipline, I must remind myself why I started this goal in the first place. I will find ways to keep my eye on the prize by avoiding distractions, making a strict schedule (and sticking to it), and creating good study habits.
Your Responses Now it’s your turn.
Select 2 concepts or strategies for each aspect of your life (work, family/personal relationships, and school), and enter your responses into the following tables. Aspect of Life – Work In Column 1, identify 2 psychological concepts or strategies that can help you succeed at work.
In Column 2, write a 50- to 75-word description of why you chose each concept or strategy and how it can help you increase your success in your work.
Psychological Concept/Strategy Description/Rationale
Aspect of Life – Family/Personal Relationships In Column 1, identify 2 psychological concepts or strategies that can help you succeed in your family and personal relationships.
In Column 2, write a 50- to 75-word description of why you chose each concept or strategy and how it can help you increase your success in your relationships.
Psychological Concept/Strategy Description/Rationale
Aspect of Life – School In Column 1, identify 2 psychological concepts or strategies that can help you succeed at school.
In Column 2, write a 50- to 75-word description of why you chose each concept or strategy and how it can help you increase your success in school.
Psychological Concept/Strategy Description/Rationale
Reflect on Your Learning Write a 50- to 75-word reflection on your learning. Include which of the psychological concepts or strategies is most important to your general success in life and why that concept or strategy is significant for you.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Here’s a full worksheet example, with detailed explanations for each section:
Aspect of Life – Work
Psychological Concept/Strategy: Self-awareness
Description/Rationale:
Self-awareness allows me to understand my strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers, which improves my decision-making and communication skills. At work, being self-aware helps me collaborate better with colleagues and identify areas for professional growth. It also helps me align my actions with my values and career goals, leading to increased job satisfaction and effectiveness.
Psychological Concept/Strategy: Positive thinking
Description/Rationale:
A positive mindset helps me approach work challenges with resilience and optimism. When setbacks occur, maintaining positive thinking allows me to focus on solutions rather than problems. This attitude fosters creativity, reduces stress, and creates a more productive and collaborative work environment, which ultimately enhances success and job performance.
Aspect of Life – Family/Personal Relationships
Psychological Concept/Strategy: Mindfulness
Description/Rationale:
Practicing mindfulness helps me stay present during interactions with my family and friends. By focusing on the present moment, I am better able to listen, empathize, and respond thoughtfully. This improves the quality of my relationships by reducing misunderstandings and increasing emotional connection, which leads to stronger bonds and more harmonious relationships.
Psychological Concept/Strategy: Gratitude
Description/Rationale:
Expressing gratitude in my personal relationships strengthens my connection with loved ones. By acknowledging the positive contributions of family and friends, I foster an atmosphere of appreciation and mutual respect. Gratitude also helps me focus on the positive aspects of my relationships, which enhances my emotional well-being and nurtures lasting connections.
Aspect of Life – School
Psychological Concept/Strategy: Self-discipline
Description/Rationale:
Self-discipline is essential for managing my time effectively and staying focused on academic goals. By creating a study schedule, setting priorities, and avoiding distractions, I can maintain consistent progress toward graduation. This strategy ensures that I meet deadlines and achieve high performance in my coursework.
Psychological Concept/Strategy: Strengths
Description/Rationale:
Focusing on my strengths allows me to excel in school by leveraging my natural talents and abilities. By identifying what I’m good at, I can approach assignments and challenges with confidence. This strategy also helps me enjoy learning more and stay motivated, as I know how to apply my unique skills effectively to academic tasks.
Reflect on Your Learning
Throughout this exercise, I’ve learned that self-awareness and mindfulness are central to success in all areas of life. Self-awareness allows me to understand my values, strengths, and areas for improvement, while mindfulness ensures that I remain present and focused in my daily interactions and tasks. These concepts are vital because they form the foundation for better decision-making, improved relationships, and effective goal-setting. By applying these strategies consistently, I can achieve success across work, school, and personal relationships.
Explanation
The psychological concepts and strategies listed in this worksheet highlight how success is deeply tied to mindset, self-awareness, and intentional action. In the context of work, self-awareness helps identify my career path and areas where I can grow, while positive thinking builds resilience to overcome obstacles. These skills are transferable across industries, making them essential for professional growth.
For personal relationships, mindfulness and gratitude are transformative. Relationships thrive when individuals are present and actively listen, which mindfulness fosters. Gratitude amplifies this by creating a positive feedback loop of appreciation and mutual support. Together, these concepts improve communication and emotional connection, creating more fulfilling relationships.
In school, self-discipline and strengths-based learning are key to academic success. Self-discipline ensures consistency and progress, which are critical for managing the demands of schoolwork. Leveraging personal strengths makes learning enjoyable and reduces stress, as I can approach challenges with confidence in my abilities.
Overall, self-awareness is the most significant concept for success because it serves as the foundation for all other strategies. Understanding myself allows me to apply positive thinking, mindfulness, and self-discipline effectively, tailoring them to my specific needs and goals. By becoming more self-aware, I can navigate challenges with clarity and purpose, fostering success in every aspect of my life.