“I have been teaching psychology at the University of Pennsylvania for more than thirty years . . . . . one year I was stumped for an assignment to do ‘something fun with doing something altruistic.’ Marisa Lascher, one of the least conventional of the students, suggested that we have a ‘Gratitude Night’ . . . Class members would bring a guest who had been important in their lives, but whom they had never properly thanked. . . Each would present a testimonial about that person by way of thanks, and a discussion would follow each testimonial. The guests would not know about the exact purpose of the gathering until the gathering itself . . . There was literally not a dry eye in the room . . . Crying in any class is extraordinary, and when everyone is crying, something has happened that touches the great rhizome underneath all humanity. Gratitude Night is now the high point of the class. As a teacher and as a human being, it is hard to ignore all this.”

-Marty Seligman in Authentic Happiness

 

 

 

“Many of the exercises that work actually begin in my courses . . . hence, the gratitude visit, which was dreamed up by Marisa Lascher. In five courses on positive psychology, I assigned students to carry out in their own lives the exercises we had thought up. What ensued was remarkable. I have never seen so much positive life change in students or heard the sweetest words a teacher can hear – life changing – used so often to describe the course.”

-Marty Seligman in Flourish

 

“Your NYTimes piece was both moving and motivational as a young woman in the workforce. Thank you”
“Marisa, I just read your essay in the NYT. I loved it so much. As a writer I know how important it is to hear that something you wrote resonated with others, so just wanted to let you know it did. Congrats!”
“I read your Modern Love article and it was incredibly inspiring to me during this stressful time of beginning my career.”
“I read your NYT article today and it describes me at 34. Truly inspirational and honest!”
“I just wanted to thank you for your honesty and bravery in writing your New York Times article. I don’t know you at all but I can relate to all the stresses and struggles of building a career and looking for love that were so eloquently shared in the article.”
“Stumbled across your article about empathy at work, and it resonated deeply . . . Kudos to you for sharing your journey.”

Connect with Marisa to increase your business success with compassion.