Have you ever attended Sunshine Bowling? The people we support are so supportive of each other and love to celebrate strikes, and spares, and even effort. High fives are given freely. It’s infectious and happy and everyone feels good, even when they aren’t playing their best game. It’s not just with individuals we support either. It’s the culture of bowling and other sports.
Many of the people we support suffer from low self esteem. Many were bullied and excluded in school. It’s not uncommon for them to have a negative self image. The High Five Effect could be a simple strategy that becomes a powerful tool in our toolkit. Encourage the people you support to high five themselves in the morning while giving themselves some positive affirmations. You are kind, you are loveable, you are a hard worker, you are a good friend (build this list). Once it becomes a habit add in a high five at bed time!
Your brain subconsciously knows what a high-five means: celebration, reassurance, teamwork, determination. So when you give your reflection a high- five, your brain automatically gives you that little thrill you get when you do it with someone else. It tells you that you’re cheering on the person you’re high-fiving—in this case, yourself.
Check out some of the research:
The Power of The High Five – Maki Performance Training
While you’re in the mirror, brushing your teeth, thy this!
