Teaching Kids Kindness, Empathy, and Mindfulness - Ash Manuel (ep. 998)

After applying the principles from Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage to his own life, he realized that gratitude isn’t just an innate trait – it’s a skill you can cultivate. Determined to fill the gap he’d felt in his own schooling, Ash launched Growing With Gratitude with a mission to embed a culture of gratitude across the whole school ecosystem.

In this conversation we’ll explore:

• Why teaching gratitude early matters – building resilience, joy and mental‑health foundations for the next generation.
• How the program works – from the “Daily Habits of Happiness Wheel” web app to hands‑on activities like gratitude trees, jars, and the “Stop‑Think‑Appreciate” sticker system that turn abstract concepts into tangible classroom experiences.
• The power of habit – why the classic “three‑things‑I’m‑grateful‑for” list can become a chore and how creative variations keep kids engaged.
• Real‑world impact – evidence‑based results from pilot schools, adoption in over 40 countries, and the holistic approach that involves parents and teachers as role models.
• Ash’s personal grit – how gratitude helped him transition from a full‑time PE teacher to running his program full‑time, and the daily practices that keep him grounded.
• Top reading recommendations – Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage and the Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Joy.
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Whether you’re an educator, parent, or anyone looking to embed gratitude into daily life, Ash’s story offers practical tools, inspiring anecdotes, and a clear roadmap for creating happier, more empathetic classrooms—and ultimately, a more compassionate world.

Stay tuned, hit that follow button, and let’s dive into the world of gratitude with Ash Manuel. 

Resources:

Ash's website: https://ashmanuel.com/

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Timestamps:

• 01:00 – Ash’s mission: Helping children, teachers, and families start life with gratitude and a giving mindset.
• 01:59 – Origin story: Ash discovered gratitude’s link to success while researching property investing; inspired by Sean Achor’s The Happiness Advantage.
• 02:41 – From personal habit to school program: Turning daily 2‑10‑minute gratitude habits into a scalable primary‑school curriculum.
• 03:44 – Program overview: Growing with Gratitude creates a whole‑school culture of gratitude using the “Daily Habits of Happiness Wheel” web app (95 % online).
• 04:54 – The power of early teaching: Cultivating gratitude, kindness, empathy, and mindfulness early builds lifelong happiness and resilience.
• 05:19 – Redefining success: Parents’ true success is a child’s happiness, not just academic or career milestones.
• 06:08 – Holistic approach: Involving students, teachers and families so gratitude practices reinforce each other.
• 07:02 – Teaching the mind: Gratitude isn’t innate—it can be taught; the program also teaches reframing and positive thinking.
• 07:53 – Reframing tough days: Turning “bad” experiences into perspective shifts (e.g., focusing on family, health).
• 09:01 – Favorite gratitude quote: Oprah Winfrey – “Be thankful for what you have; you end up having more.”
• 10:22 – Money vs. mindset: Happiness comes from internal perspective, not how much you own.
• 12:30 – When gratitude feels hard: Acknowledge negative emotions, then consciously find something to be grateful for (e.g., comparing to those worse‑off).
• 14:58 – Gratitude as a coping tool: Using practiced gratitude habits to bounce back during tough times.
• 16:44 – Daily practice impact: Regular gratitude, kindness, empathy, and reflection become a mental toolkit.
• 18:19 – Personal gratitude journey: Shift from “I was grateful” to actively cultivating gratitude over the last six years.
• 20:03 – Turning passion into full‑time work: Using gratitude to transition from a nine‑to‑five job to running the program.
• 21:59 – Teaching gratitude to children: From simple “3‑things‑I’m‑grateful‑for” lists to more engaging activities.
• 23:24 – Creative activities demo: Gratitude tree, gratitude jar, “Stop‑Think‑Appreciate” stickers, and other hands‑on tools.
• 25:12 – Engaging the environment: Making gratitude visible and interactive rather than a purely mental exercise.
• 26:22 – Advice to younger self: Plant gratitude seeds in primary school to protect teens and adults from later mental‑health challenges.
• 28:58 – Gratitude vs. self‑criticism: How gratitude builds a stronger emotional foundation than beating yourself up.
• 30:45 – Daily habits for the host: Teaching, creating lessons, and constant reframing keep gratitude alive for Ash.
• 33:00 – People Ash is grateful for: Parents, partner, friends, mentors, authors, and the broader gratitude community.
• 35:53 – Book recommendations: The Happiness Advantage (Sean Achor) and The Book of Joy (Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu).
• 37:44 – Global reach: Online, evidence‑based program used in 40+ countries; free resources plus full‑school packages.

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