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Course Description

In our fast-paced lives, moments of unexpected joy and gratitude often go unnoticed. Finding Joy: Embracing Mindfulness and Gratitude is a transformative experience designed to help you reflect on your core values and embrace practices that bring more joy and gratitude into your everyday life. Through guided self-reflection, mindfulness exercises, and practical strategies, you’ll discover how gratitude and joy can profoundly enhance your overall well-being. By the end of the course, you will have an actionable plan to integrate these practices into your daily routine, fostering greater balance, fulfillment, and connection in life.

Course Outline

The online course, with a mixture of synchronous virtual meetings and self-paced content begins with a session to explore strategies, set intentions, and establish goals. Over the next four weeks, participants will engage in online learning through readings, reflections, and goal-setting activities on Moodle and weekly Zoom sessions for support and connection. The experience concludes with a final Zoom gathering to celebrate growth, reflect on insights, and solidify personal action plans for sustaining joy and balance in daily life. This flexible format combines community, self-reflection, and practical tools to create lasting positivity.

Course Schedule

• March 3, 5:30pm -7:30pm, Online via Zoom: Kickoff Session – Exploring Joy and Goal Setting
  Online synchronous session to introduce the course structure, set intentions, and explore strategies for cultivating joy and gratitude. Engage in group discussions and activities to reflect on personal values and define individual goals.
• Weeks of March 10, 17, 24: Online Learning and Reflection
  Utilize Moodle to access curated readings, mindfulness exercises, and journaling prompts focused on fostering gratitude, joy, and balance. Participants will complete reflective assignments, set weekly goals, and share progress within an online community.
• Weekly Zoom sessions: Mondays at 6pm ET
  Join live, interactive sessions to discuss challenges, share successes, and troubleshoot strategies, modeled after a group health coaching format.
• March 31, 6-7:00p ET: Closing Reflection and Celebration
  Final Zoom session to reflect on growth, share experiences, and celebrate progress. Participants will review their personal action plans for continuing joy and gratitude practices beyond the course.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of the concept of gratitude and its impact on overall wellness.
• Explore various ways to cultivate a positive mindset and cultivate joy in daily life.
• Learn  and practice practical techniques for incorporating gratitude and joy into daily routines.
• Reflect on personal values and identify areas where gratitude and joy can be incorporated to align with personal  goals and values.
• Create an action plan for incorporating gratitude and joy practices into daily life beyond the course.

Instructor Information

Professor Marna Winter
Senior Lecturer. Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education

Marna Winter is a Senior Lecturer in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education at Elon University. Her educational philosophy emphasizes fostering supportive and inclusive communities where learners can thrive. Marna’s scholarship focuses on leveraging relational pedagogy to promote wellness and create a sense of belonging within educational and community settings. In addition to her academic work, she is an NBC-HWC Holistic Health Coach, helping individuals restore balance and cultivate sustainable wellness practices. Her work integrates education and wellness, highlighting the importance of connection, well-being, and community in learning environments.