Discovering Better Choices

Values are a person's judgment of what is important in life, from how to behave to what their goals are. In the discovering better choices class, we work together to understand why understanding our values clearly by determining why values are important: values determine how we perceive situations and our goals and outcomes in life. We make decisions that align with our personal values. To make better decisions, we need the right values. After the discussion on values, the class completes a worksheet in which we identify our current values and which values were in conflict based on the situation that led to needing to take the discovering better choices class. Lastly, we complete an activity that reinforces selecting values first before making decisions that go against them.

An influence is something or someone that consciously or unconsciously affects your thoughts, feelings, and/or actions. For example, the behavior of your parents influences your own current and future behavior in similar situations. Our attitudes are an established predisposition about something or someone that we then see come out in our behavior. Influences form our attitudes, which results in our behaving in a certain way. The discovering better choices class will spend time examining the ways in which how our influences can hurt us or help us in our efforts to make better decisions. ISAE focuses on choices and consequences; we are free to choose, but we are not free from the consequences of our choice. We then discuss how decisions have a Ripple Effect not only with ourselves but also with others. The class will complete a worksheet called The Ripple Effect where participants write how the Ripple Effect has manifested in their life and the lives of people involved in their actions, both emotionally/psychologically and financially.

At the start of the Discovering Better Choices class, participants will complete a worksheet called What did it really cost you? â?? Was it worth it? that breaks down the participants' total cost of their choice that led to the class, including legal consequences, total time lost, and other negatives that were a cost besides times and money, like a relationship change, trust, their reputation, their job, or their involvement in other activities. Then they will ask themselves the questions, Was it worth it? Why or Why not? After the worksheet, the class moves to discussion about laws and legal rights, starting with defining the distinctions of the justice system and the different courts (civil, criminal and municipal and juvenile) and laws that govern them. We begin to define and break down the charges of: shoplifting, assault, crimes of violence, crimes of extraordinary risk, minor in possession, minor in consumption, harassment, disturbing the peace and the new law of juvenile sexting crime. The instructor provides information about the statute of limitations and the factors that the court will take into consideration before making a decision as to the length and severity of an offender's punishment. Lastly, we define what does it mean to have a case expunged or sealed of criminal record.

We talk about Why We Make Bad Decisions and Understanding Cognitive Distortions. When we obsess over an outcome we create illusory stress, or what most of us think of as "worrying about" something. We conceive of a possible a negative outcome which we do not desire, and then we obsess over this possible future and wind up making negative choices to try to avoid it. This is the level of the reactive mind. Human emotions like fear, worry and hopelessness end up becoming the driving force of our choices.

During this section of the making better choices class, we talk about the three classifications of drugs, which are depressants, hallucinogens, and stimulants. We will use scientific and situational information to explain how using drugs and/or alcohol plays a significant role in a person making bad decisions. Drug and alcohol abuse interferes with the frontal lobe of the brain, which is our chief executive functioning in helping us to make good decisions. With the rise of vaping, we also spend time discussing in more detail the effects of electronic cigarettes/vaping and whether it really is safer, as many people believe.

The life skill techniques we discuss are: Using Effective Coping Skills and Stress Skills and Tips. We define what coping skills are and identify the two types of coping skills one needs to manage stress and cope in everyday life. Coping skills can be broken down into two types, immediate and preventative. Immediate skills are those we use on the spur of the moment to deal with unexpected or volatile situations. Preventative copings skills are those that should be practiced regularly to maintain a healthy body and attitude. Each participant identifies their coping skills and how they use them. We identify seven top stress skills one can use to manage stress and/or negative emotions like anger.

We begin by defining and discussing the meaning of anger, aggression, and violence. The class participants will be spilt into four groups and each group will brainstorm the positives or negatives of anger or violence. Afterwards, we review as a class and have a discussion about what was identified. Then each class participant will complete a mini Interpersonal Anger Assessment Tool Quiz to find out what level of anger they have and what steps they can use to manage their anger.

There is a 21 question quiz that the class will complete towards the end of class. But don't worry! There is no failing score for this quiz. All questions will be reviewed and discussed as a group to ensure everyone has learned.

In our society today, citizens are extremely aware that an encounter with law enforcement can bring about high anxiety, worry, misinterpretation, disrespect, and possibly even anger. The intense and overwhelming variety of feelings can drive an encounter with law enforcement from good to bad very quickly. We at ISAE would like for you to know that we understand and we are honoring our commitment to the community to uphold our value that "Knowledge is Power." Since we cannot always predict how law enforcement will behave, we as citizens must respond in a way to reduce risk to ourselves, be respectful, stay calm, and protect our safety and the safety of others. For this reason, ISAE has taken on the initiative to educate others in how to improve citizen etiquette during encounters with law enforcement in some of our appropriate classes. Here are a few tips to remember: 1. Signing a citation (otherwise known as a ticket) is not an admission of guilt. It is just an agreement that you will appear in court to address the issue. 2. Law Enforcement has to ability to conduct one of two searches: a Consensual search occurs when the person gives permission for the search and a Non-Consensual search occurs when an officer believes probable cause exists and will conduct a search without a person’s permission. It is always good to remind ourselves that law enforcement exists to serve and protect and with that comes an enormous amount of power. It is up to us to decide how we choose to maintain a level of respect, responsibility, safety, and freedom at all times.