Positive Psychology & H(app)inomics
Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and qualities that enable individuals and communities to prosper. Positive psychology has three aspects:
1. Positive emotions - Subjective
2. Positive individual traits – Individual and
3. Positive institutions - Group
Positive emotion is about contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future.
Positive individual traits refer to strengths and qualities, such as the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, creativity, curiosity, integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self-control, and wisdom.
Positive institutions are about studying the strengths that foster better communities, such as justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance.
Positive emotions lead to the pleasant life.
Is positive psychology the same as positive thinking?
Positive psychology is different from positive thinking in many ways.
Positive psychology is grounded in the experimental and scientific study.
Positive psychology recognizes that in spite of the advantages of positive thinking, there are times when negative or realistic thinking is appropriate, whereas positive thinking is about being staying positive at all times.
Wealth is weakly related to happiness.
Activities such as shopping, good food, and money – do not lead to fulfillment in the long term, indicating that these have diminishing returns
Engaging in an experience that produces ‘flow’ is gratifying that people are willing to do it for its own sake, rather than for what they will get out of it. People consider the activity as a reward.
Flow is experienced when one’s skills are sufficient for a challenging activity in the pursuit of a goal. When we experience flow then our concentration is on being in the moment and in this state, self-awareness disappears and sense of time get distorted.
This is mindful engagement.
Trying to maximize happiness can lead to unhappiness
People who witness others perform well experience an emotion called ‘Elevation’ that motivates them to perform their own deeds well.
Positive psychology is descriptive and not prescriptive
Positive psychology is descriptive, not prescriptive. It does not tell people which choices they should make rather it is all about informing them what is known about the consequences of their choices. The good life for one person is not necessarily the good life for another.
Two dimensions across the Happiness continuum could possibly be:
1. Doing Well
2. Feeling Good
If you are doing well and feeling good, then you are FLOURISHING
If you are doing well and not feeling good, then you are most likely STRUGGLING
If you are not doing well and not feeling good, then you are SUFFERING
If you are not doing well but feeling good, then you are FLOUNDERING – settling
To feel contented in life we need to have
1. Positive Emotions - Happy
2. Engagement - Involvement
3. Relationships – Positive
4. Meaning – Purpose
5. Accomplishment - Success
Positive psychology is all about building on STRENGTHS. There is a strong connection between well-being and the use of strengths because strengths help us make progress on our goals and meet our basic needs for independence, relationship, and competence.
Examples of STRENGTHS related to:
KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM
Creativity
Curiosity
Love of learning
Wisdom / perspective
Open-mindedness
COURAGE & FIRMNESS
Bravery
Persistence
Integrity
Vitality
HUMANITY & LOVE
Give & receive love
Kindness
Social intelligence
JUSTICE & FAIRNESS
Citizenship
Fairness
Leadership
TEMPERANCE
Forgiveness / mercy
Modesty / humility
Prudence
Self-regulation
TRANSCENDENCE / SPIRITUAL
Appreciate excellence/beauty
Gratitude
Hope
Humor
Spirituality
Happiness is a state of wellbeing or pleasurable experience.
Happiness is a collective phenomenon. People’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected.
There are four happiness interferences:
1. Express gratitude
2. Smile more
3. Recall a pleasant event that happened
4. Perform an act of kindness.
It was found that all four interferences increased happiness, but the greatest increase occurred among those who recalled a pleasant event from their past. They appeared to be more excited enthusiastic & expressive.
Activities that enhance Happiness:
1. Meaningful Relations
2. Act of Kindness - Empathy
3. Physical Exercise or Activity
4. Attitude for Gratitude
5. Appreciating & Relishing
6. Expressing creatively
7. Give more
8. Think Realistically
9. Enjoy Moments – Seek New Experiences
10. Live Mindfully
11. Treat Money as RESPONSIBILITY and Not a REWARD
12. Be You – Accept yourself the way you are.
So If you want your life to count then you have to take a count of your life.
Remember
Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of Mind than outward circumstances.
CA Vinod Kr Sharma