PROVO — People can be happier if they can learn to understand themselves, says one Campus Education Week teacher.

Paul R. Warner is retired from the LDS Church Education System where he trained and assisted in hiring new LDS seminary teachers. He also served as chaplain to non-LDS BYU students and was executive director for America's Freedom Festival, the annual 4th of July event in Provo.

His three classes Monday, Aug. 20, focus on "The Pursuit of Happiness," discussing personalities, communication styles and how the desire for righteousness affects emotional health.

In the first hour he looks at different personalities, how people think, order their lives and their motives in their relationships with others. Whether a person is introverted or extroverted impacts their relationships, he said.

"Some people think something is wrong with them ... A lot of people don't realize they are not totally unique ... that they share similarities with other people," he said.

The second hour Warner looks at communications styles.

People either become silent or aggressive if they get out of the comfort zone, he said. People who are willing to share openly and calmly discuss issues in tight situations usually have an emotionally healthier lifestyle and a larger arena for feedback, he said.

"People who are fearful can quickly become (either) silent or violent," he said.

Decisions made on fear can be emotionally dishonest, he added. Creating emotional health takes time and consistent effort. Emotionally unhealthy attitudes usually extend back into childhood, he said.

In the third hour Warner explores emotional health and the desire for righteousness.

"The more righteous and committed a person is to a God-centered lifestyle the more emotionally healthy and open they are," he said.

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