Finding Your Happiness: A Self-Care Toolkit

A reflection on resilience and self-care inspired by "The Pursuit of Happyness"

What were the biggest challenges Chris faced?

  • Selling the bone density machines.
  • Financial Instability
  • Housing Instability
  • take care of his son alone

How did he demonstrate resilience and inner strength?

  • Chasing down the stolen machine
  • He went from jail to an interview
  • He completed internship and passed the exam

What self-care strategies do you think he used - intentionally or unintentionally?

  • The rubix cube
  • Being with his son
  • Crying when they had to sleep in the men’s room

What could he have done differently to support his mental health more?

Chris showed incredible resilience and never gave up, even in the toughest situations. To support his mental health even more, he could have:

  • Taken small moments to rest or relax when possible, even during his busy schedule.
  • Allowed himself to express emotions openly, like talking with a trusted friend or mentor.
  • Maintained simple routines, like eating and sleeping regularly, to stay physically and mentally strong.
  • Accepted support from others when offered, without feeling he had to handle everything alone.

How did the support (or lack of it) from others affect him?

Financial constraints motivated Chris to work harder. While in his internship, where it was difficult to secure a full-time position, the advice and encouragement from his superiors motivated him to work harder.

5 practical self-care strategies that can be used in a challenging time:

  • Take Deep Breaths
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Talk to somebody about it
  • Get enough rest and sleep

Two ideas for building support systems:

  • Talk to the people around you and let them know what you are going through
  • Reach out to agencies that can offer some form of help. Like we have Community Services and Gaurd Me

Quote or lesson from movie that relates to self-care or resilience:


Group Assignment - "Finding Your Happiness: Self-Care Through Life's Challenges"
Group Member : Ajay Kumar, Junghyun Kim, Michelle MacLean, Parth Sengal