Giving Compass' Take:

• Patrick Cook-Deegan for CauseArtist, a teacher of mindfulness, discusses his own experiences when it comes to inspiring his students on how to live a meaningful life. 

• How can these teachings apply to other sectors such as nonprofits and philanthropies?

• Here's an article on how to turn schools into happier places. 

Last month, I was talking to an experienced educator about Project Wayfinder, the high school curriculum I’ve developed to help students create purposeful lives. It’s a curriculum that brings together the best of the biggest innovations in secondary and higher ed, incorporating elements of social-emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness education, project-based learning, and design thinking.

As I explained what we do, the educator cut me off: “Great, but how do the students respond to it?” She asked. “Do they actually like it?”

In a word, yes. Since teaching my first mindfulness class eight years ago, I have seen the power of mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) transform the lives of high schoolers. Research has since confirmed those observations, showing that SEL high school programs lead to a more positive and caring school climates while inspiring students to be more engaged in school as they develop a growth mindset, place more value on helping others in their community, and help them generate more ambitious goals for their pursuits in higher education.

Read the full article about teaching students the recipe for a meaningful life by Patrick Cook-Deegan at CauseArtist.