Positive psychology - a brief guide

"Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play."

The Positive Psychology Centre at Penn University

According to Martin Seligman– the founding father of positive psychology– the positive psychology movement can be described as: “The study of what constitutes the pleasant life, the engaged life, and the meaningful life.”

It is the psychology of wellness, rather than illness. Positive psychology is interested in flourishing, finding meaning, identifying personal strengths, optimal functioning, and relationships. It is focussed more on pro-social behaviour rather than personal development. Research has shown that, to feel happier, if we focus our attentions on helping other people, rather than ourselves, we feel happier. Susan Lyubomirsky’s book, “The How of Happiness” is a great place to start, and I have provided details below. If you have time, I have provided a link to a twenty-five minute video where Seligman explains his approach.

Random acts of kindness are one way to do things for other people, not oneself, but there are many other ways. Think about what your strengths are - or do this test to see what your top 5 strengths are and plan how to use these for the benefit of other people. For example, if one of your strengths is gratitude, you could write a thank you letter or card to someone you care about who has helped or supported you. If it’s appreciation of beauty, you could volunteer at an Art Gallery, or arrange to take a friend to visit one together.

To increase your own happiness, keeping a gratitude diary or joy journal has been shown to be an effective way of feeling happier. By focussing on three good things every morning and evening, not only do we identify them, but we re-train our brain to be able to seek and find things to be thankful for.

I use the Five Minute Journal - a product based on Positive Psychology principles.

BOOK: The key tenet of The How of Happiness by Susan Lyubomirsky is that every human being has a happiness 'set point' which, depending on how high or low it is, can determine how positive or negative they feel. This book offers a practical approach to help readers increase their set point, and find a level of happiness above that which they would normally feel, and feel more satisfaction in life. Based on scientific research and trials, this is a groundbreaking book that offers a practical plan to enable readers to achieve a more positive outlook at home, at work and in their personal life. It will also be of enormous benefit to the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from depression in the UK as it provides the tools to feel better about life.

VIDEO:  Martin Seligman, the new era of positive psychology, TED talk, July 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FBxfd7DL3E

Copyright © 2017 Autonomous Ideas Limited, All rights reserved.