Course Team
Brilliant, Passionate You
What You'll Learn
- Reflect on the best moments of your life and describe connections between those moments.
- Describe the personal qualities that represent your best self
- Articulate what growth mindset and mindful compassion are and how they support self-improvement
- Create a life purpose statement based on your best self and values
6 Modules
18 Hours
3 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Brilliant, Passionate You
This course is an interdisciplinary look at how we can make each day the best day of our lives by examining the question, “How can you be your most brilliant, passionate self?” You will be joined on this journey by our animated host, Lewis!
You will envision your “perfect day” and then slowly deconstruct the elements of that day to better understand key elements such as finding your purpose, defining success, mental and physical health, the importance of community, and navigating risks and challenges. In addition, you will hear stories from a diverse array of individuals, including students, doctors, teachers, professional storytellers, professional athletes, coaches, and others sharing their own journeys, communities, and sources of inspiration.
Finally, you will participate in the What’s Your Purpose? Project, utilizing storytelling techniques to share your own purpose and inspire other members of this global learning community to pursue theirs.
Skills You'll Gain
- Positivity
- Storytelling
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Brilliant, Passionate You is a reflective course focused on purpose, identity, resilience, and well-being. Through guided discussions, writing exercises, and self-reflection, learners explore personal values, community, grit, and storytelling while developing greater clarity about what success, passion, and meaning look like in their own lives.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: The Best Day of My Life
- Video: The Brilliant, Passionate You
- Reading: Course Syllabus
- Reading: Help us learn more about you!
- Video: The Best Day of My Life
- Reading: Imagine
- Video: Becoming Your Brilliant Passionate Self
- Reading: "Picturing the Best Day of Your Life" - A Letter from Lewis
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Best Day
- Reading: Welcome to Week 1, Lesson 2
- Video: My Best Day, with Dr. Okanlami
- Video: My Best Day, with Professor Sankaran
- Video: Being the Best Version of Yourself, with Aaron Gougis
- Reading: A Brief Introduction to the Gamut Workbook
- App Item: “What’s the Best Day of Your Life?” - A Letter to Yourself
Module 2: What Do You Want to Be Known for on Earth?
- Video: What Do You Want to Be Known for on Earth?
- Reading: You and Your Purpose
- Video: Purpose: Find Your Why
- Reading: "Reflecting on your Purpose" - A Letter from Lewis
- Video: Who Am I?
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on "Who Am I?"
- Video: What Do I Value?
- Video: 7 Questions Exercise Introduction
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on the 7 Questions
- Reading: Welcome to Week 2, Lesson 2
- Video: Three Questions about Purpose
- Discussion Prompt: Responding to the Three Questions
- Reading: Disclaimer for Feeding Your Soul Video
- Video: Feeding Your Soul
- Video: Defining Yourself and Finding Success
- Reading: How Have You Redefined Your Life's Purpose Over Time?
- Video: The Odyssey Plan Activity
- Reading: Odyssey Plan Handout
- Reading: Welcome to Week 2, Lesson 3
- Video: On Street Interviews - What is Success?
- Video: What is Success?
- Discussion Prompt: What is Success for You?
- Video: What is a Growth Mindset and How Can it Help You Succeed?
- Video: Mindful Self-Compassion
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on Mindful Self-Compassion
- Reading: Introducing the Personalized Action Plan
- Video: Creating a Personalized Action Plan - Overview
- Video: Creating Your Action Plan
- Reading: Crafting an Action Plan - A Letter From Lewis
- Reading: "What’s My Purpose?" - A Letter from Lewis
- App Item: “What’s Your Purpose?” - A Letter to Yourself
- Graded: Module 2, Lesson 1 Quiz
Module 3: Feeling Your Best Self
- Video: Feeling Your Best Self
- Reading: Getting Back to Basics
- Video: The Importance of Physical Fitness and Adaptive Sports
- Discussion Prompt: How do You Stay Fit While Staying Put?
- Reading: "Reflecting on Intent" - A Letter from Lewis
- Video: Start with Om
- Video: Gratitude Journals
- Reading: Reflecting on Sleep - A Letter from Lewis
- Video: The Epidemic of Chronic Partial Sleep Deprivation
- Video: Two-Process Sleep Model
- Video: Sleep Duration
- Video: Keep Going and Slow Down by Managing Your Energy
- Reading: Energy Audit Activity
- Video: Vignettes on Sleep Deprivation
- Video: Balancing Work, Play, and Love
- Reading: How has physical and mental health impacted the quality of your life?
- Reading: Disclaimer for Take Each Day As Something Special Video
- Video: Take Each Day as Something Special
- Reading: The Schema Exercise
- App Item: “Incorporating Health and Purpose” - A Letter to Yourself
Module 4: Building a Brilliant, Passionate Community
- Video: Building a Brilliant, Passionate Community
- Reading: Introduction to Communities
- Video: If You Want to Go Far, Go Together
- Video: Thinking About Communities: An Interview with Dr. McCray
- Discussion Prompt: Thinking About Our Different Cultural Groups
- Video: Culture: It matters more than ever
- Discussion Prompt: Positive Interactions in the Age of COVID-19
- Reading: How Do We Create Positive Cultures? - A Letter from Lewis
- Video: Introducing the GIVE Model
- Reading: A Deeper Dive into the GIVE Model
- Video: Introducing Strength Spotting
- Discussion Prompt: Using the GIVE model and Strength Spotting to Build a Positive Community
- Reading: Welcome to Module 4, Lesson 2
- Video: Look for helper feelings in your culture
- Video: Learning from Your Community
- Reading: Reflecting on Helper Feelings - A Letter from Lewis
- Reading: What’s important in a community?
- Video: See yourself through the eyes of others
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on Community Vignettes
- Reading: What’s the Best Day of Your Life? - A Letter from Lewis
- App Item: “Reimagining the Best Day of Your Life” - A Letter to Yourself
Module 5: Navigating Challenges and Risks When Leading a Passionate Life
- Video: Navigating Challenges and Risks When Leading a Passionate Life
- Reading: Maintaining Hope in Trying Times
- Video: The Energy Engagement Map
- Reading: Try the Energy Engagement Map Activity
- Video: The Flourishing Triangle
- Reading: Your Flourishing Triangle
- Video: What is Grit, Why Do Gritty People Succeed, and How Can You Develop Your Grit
- Reading: Reflecting on Grit
- Video: Four Types of Givers and Requesters
- Video: The Reciprocity Ring
- Video: Making a Thoughtful Request for Help
- Video: What is an Opportunity?
- Video: The Power of Work
- Video: Healthy Conflict
- Video: Approaching Conflict Constructively
- Video: Self-Care Strategies
- Video: Navigating Challenges
- Video: Maintaining Passions in the Face of Adversity
- Reading: Reflecting on Energy, Grit, Reciprocity, and Opportunity - A Letter from Lewis
- App Item: “Identifying Grit, Your Support Network, and the Tools Needed to do Your Work” - A Letter to Yourself
- Graded: Module 5, Lesson 1 Quiz
Module 6: Empowering a Passionate World
- Video: Empowering a Passionate World
- Reading: The Power of Reflection
- Video: What is Reflection?
- Discussion Prompt: How Would You Define Reflection?
- Reading: Reflection Guidelines: The Five Cs
- Discussion Prompt: Discuss the 5 C's
- Reading: Introducing Stories and Belief Systems - A Letter from Lewis
- Video: Each of Us Has a Story to Tell
- Video: Storytelling and Belief Systems
- Video: Inciting Empathy
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on the Importance of Stories
- Reading: Welcome to Week 6: Lesson 3
- Video: Introduction to Story Structure
- Video: Storytelling: Holly Hughes
- Video: Storytelling: Ashley Lucas
- Video: Storytelling: Priscilla Lindsay
- Reading: Welcome to Week 6, Lesson 4
- Video: Using Your Passions to Empower Others
- App Item: Workbook Activity: The Story of You
- Discussion Prompt: Reflecting On the Power of Your Story
- Ungraded Plugin: Brilliant, Passionate You: Credits
- Reading: More learning opportunities!
- Reading: Share your feedback!
- Graded: Module 6, Lesson 2 Quiz
Grading Policy
To earn a certificate in this course, learners must complete three quizzes and pass each quiz with at least 80%. Each quiz is worth approximately 33.3% of your final grade.
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No prerequisites needed!
