RESOURCES
Helpful Resources
On this page you will find links and helpful resources to use at home or in your classroom to support your Taiohi to thrive. Our Manahau programs and work as 24-7 youth workers is supported and underpinned by current therapeutic models and shaped by E Tū Tāngata. Below you can read a little about both DNA-V (The thriving Adolescent) and E Tū Tāngata.
DNA-V
D, N, and A stand for discoverer, noticer, and advisor, three classes of behaviour, or less technically ‘ways of being, or spaces, that we can move between’. We can learn to flexibly move between DNA to become more skilled at each, and use them to create a life with heart – value and vitality (the V).
The Advisor
Represents our inner voice. It is an incredible skill that helps us humans navigate the world efficiently. In contrast to the discoverer, the advisor space is about avoiding trial and error. It involves judging, evaluating, generating rules, listening to our self-talk, and problem-solving. The advisor can become a problem if we use it blindly, we can lose contact with the physical world and use worry, rumination, our own self-talk or rules even if they do not help us grow. DNA-v can be used to train skilled advisors.
The Noticer
Represents a group of behaviours all humans are born with. This is the space where we notice what is going on inside our bodies and what is going on in the outside world. Noticing helps us to identify and use information from the world. We learn to notice incoming messages, attend to them, and respond to them or allow them to come and go without responding. For example, we get notice our anger, and decide then how best to act, rather than merely reacting to our anger. Skilled noticers are able to appreciate the present moment and respond to their noticer messages in ways that help them thrive.
The Discoverer
Encapsulates how we humans are driven to explore and interact with the world through direct experience. This skill involves learning by trial and error. Stand up, fall down, stand up again. Discoverer can be a scary space, but it is also the place we move into if we want to broaden and build our life. We also go into discoverer if we want to fully engage with the physical world, as when an athlete gets into the full flow of a game or a carpenter is fully absorbed in making a beautiful table. In both of these examples, there is direct contact with physical reality and feedback about what is and is not working. Unskilled discoverers can get stuck repeating impulsive behaviours that have short term payoffs but long term costs. DNA-v can help young people become skilled discoverers.
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E Tū Tāngata
We have a good reputation. New Zealanders are generally known as: friendly, hardworking and laid back. But live here for a while and you’ll also discover we have a bad habit of criticising one another. This criticism can range from good-natured ribbing amongst friends to brutal slurs towards strangers on Facebook and everything in between.
Otherwise known as the Tall Poppy Syndrome, this culture of criticism is so entrenched in our society that individuals self-deprecate in order to beat others to the punch (so to speak). We have become our own harshest critic and we live with the erroneous belief that, somehow, your success is a threat to mine.
But just because something is, doesn’t mean it should be.
The three pillars of E Tū Tāngata are:
- You Have Value
- We Succeed Together
- Others Matter
Below you will find a description of each of the pillar. But if you want some awesome ideas and resources jump onto the E Tū Tāngata website to check out ideas to support a culture at home or in your class room that lifts each other up.
You Have Value
We have worth and value before we ever say or do anything. Most people “get” the intrinsic worth that a human being has when they hold a newborn baby. The baby has not done anything or achieved anything (in fact he or she just takes) and yet we know how precious and valuable he or she is. If we could see that child’s future, one that contains abuse, neglect or trauma of some form, it would not lessen the child’s value. Equally, if we saw a future that contained mistakes the child makes, or hurt the child causes that they need to be responsible for, it still does not lessen their value.
With the principle, “You have value”, we want to help people to know the intrinsic value they have. We want people to find trustworthy mirrors which help remind them of the value they have. When a person knows the value they have it helps them to better interpret the messages they receive from difficult situations and grow their resilience. When a person knows they have value regardless of their external circumstances, it gives them the courage to they need to step beyond Tall Poppy Syndrome and make their unique contribution in this world.
We Succeed Together
One of the cultural peculiarities of Tall Poppy Syndrome is that we show we “care” by mocking each other. There can be some light-hearted fun with this, but without direct encouragement and support people tend to wilt. E Tū Tāngata wants to foster a different approach: one where it is common practice to call out and support the strengths we each have. Together, not only can we create something greater than ourselves, but it also enables us to be the best, and healthiest versions of ourselves.
With the principle of, “We Succeed Together”, we want to encourage the team mindset, and encourage people to consider more and more, “How can we succeed together?” When the strengths are called out of each one of us, when the strengths and successes are supported in each of us, we lift the wellbeing and achievement for everyone.
Others Matter
When we recognise that “you have value” (that everyone one has intrinsic worth and value) then we realise that this is also true for those who are different to us, those who are ‘other’ than us. When we recognise that “we succeed together”, we realise that this is true no matter how far we go beyond our comfort zone, and those we know. And when we care for others and show them that they matter we change this world for the better.
With the principle, “Others Matter”, we want to help people lift their eyes to those around them who they may not normally see, consider or interact with.
We want to help people dream up different ways to show others that they matter. Each person may need it shown a specific way for them. It may involve: conversing, including them, affirming them, listening to them, providing practical support, entering their world, being present with them, seeking to understand their point of view, befriending, and so on. Imagine what would be different if this way of being was our default way of being!
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Using the methods you and ur team showed us I was able to succeed in my schooling get into good classes make friends easily around the school and jst learnt to be myself and be true to myself.