University faculty and staff seeking practical tools to navigate today’s work and life challenges are invited to join upcoming learning sessions focused on helping participants live their best life by prioritizing well-being, happiness and resilience.

The Thrive! well-being series, facilitated by Jaime Weisberg of Northbound Coaching & Consulting, returns to campus with refreshed content, updated research and new strategies drawn from the field of positive psychology.

The program offers 12 monthly sessions, each held twice—once on North Campus and once on South Campus—to accommodate different schedules. Sessions run for one hour during lunchtime and are designed to stand alone, allowing participants to attend as many or as few as their schedules permit.

“This is the kind of program that people usually don’t know they need until they get here,” says Weisberg, who has facilitated the program for higher education institutions, nonprofits and corporations over the past seven years. “It’s for anyone curious about how to live better, feel better, understand how our minds work and eager to put evidence-based tools into practice.”

What to Expect

The sessions cover topics ranging from the science of happiness and optimism change in habits, mindfulness, goal setting and relationship-building. Each session combines research-backed theory with practical application through activities and group work, equipping participants with immediately usable tools.

“I think we’re sold a narrative on happiness that it’s a destination that we might arrive at someday,” says Weisberg. “When we go into the science of happiness and what really makes us thrive, people are surprised that it’s something you can be creating all along, and that the factors that lead to happiness are actually quite broad and can be different for each person.”

Why Now?

The need for these tools has only intensified over the years. Remote and hybrid work arrangements, cultural upheaval and the lingering effects of the pandemic have contributed to skyrocketing rates of loneliness and mental health challenges.

“Our mental health and well-being have never been more challenged than it is at the moment,” Weisberg says. “People are usually adept at seeking out support when they have illness or trauma. There’s also a lot of people who might not feel unwell, necessarily, but just don’t feel as vibrant as they could be—that’s who this program is for.”

The in-person format offers additional benefits beyond content delivery. Weisberg points to the neurological advantages of gathering with others who share similar goals. “We produce oxytocin, the calm-and-connect hormone, when we’re connecting with other people,” she says. “There is an implication on our nervous systems when we’re all coming together to connect and learn together.”

More information about session dates, topics and registration is available on the Wellness Initiative website. As a reminder, the Syracuse University Wellness Initiative provides opportunities, programs and resources to empower faculty and staff to lead a balanced and healthy lifestyle.