Positive Psychology: The Path To A Flourishing Life 🌱

We often discuss Strengths-based working, but where does this specific approach originate? It stems from the field of positive psychology - a discipline that has been studied for decades and is gaining increasing attention.

Positive psychology, pioneered by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, focuses on the scientific study of what makes life worth living. It diverges from traditional psychology, which primarily focuses on identifying and rectifying what’s wrong to alleviate misery. Positive psychology emphasizes enhancing normal life to make it more fulfilling. Instead of merely moving individuals from a negative state to a neutral one, it seeks to elevate them from a neutral state to a flourishing one.

This field shifts the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What’s right with you?”. While it may sound fluffy to some, evidence-based research shows that applying positive psychology principles can significantly improve mental health and contribute to a more meaningful life.

Joanne’s Journey

For Joanne, our Strengths Consultant, the COVID-19 pandemic was a pivotal period. “This period was a turning point for many, but for me, as a person who is always energized by people around, the isolation led me to a deeper introspection”, she reflects. “The lack of social interactions drained my energy and forced me to confront my self-sufficiency. I questioned whether I could be content on my own and realized the importance of developing strategies to maintain my mental health independently.” 

During this time, Joanne’s interest in positive psychology grew, and she began exploring its concepts more thoroughly. She discovered several myths that often cloud the understanding of this field. Here’s a closer look at some common misconceptions and their realities from her perspective. 

Myth #1: Positive Psychology is Only About Being Happy

Joanne emphasizes that pursuing a fulfilling life involves more than just chasing happiness. While happiness is a component of positive psychology, the field encompasses much more. Positive psychology aims to explore and promote various aspects of well-being, including meaning, engagement, relationships, and achievement.

The PERMA model by Seligman, the theoretical framework for positive psychology, outlines 5 key elements that contribute to human wellbeing.

😊 Positive Emotions: Positive emotions like joy, gratitude, and satisfaction broaden our perspectives and build resilience.

🧘‍♂️ Engagement: This refers to being deeply involved and absorbed in activities that challenge and utilize your strengths - a state often referred to as “flow” (where time seems to stand still, and we’re fully immersed in what we are doing).

I always start my coaching sessions by expelling what "flow" is and I challenge my coachees to think deeply about moments when they felt they were in the flow. These moments reveal a lot about someone’s Strengths and corresponding needs to thrive. Once you know what gets you into the flow, you get to understand what works for you and you can amplify it!

❤️ Relationships: Meaningful and supportive connections with others are crucial for emotional support, love, and shared experiences.

🌍 Meaning: Having a sense of purpose and belonging to something greater than oneself adds significance to life.

🏆 Accomplishment: The pursuit and attainment of goals, mastery, and a sense of achievement contribute to well-being.

According to Joanne, understanding and engaging with these aspects can significantly enhance overall well-being and life satisfaction.

Myth #2: Positive Psychology is the Same as Positive Thinking

Joanne clarifies that positive psychology involves learned optimism, which is about maintaining a positive outlook even in challenging situations. This is distinct from just having a positive attitude and contrasts with learned helplessness, which occurs when people feel they have no control over their circumstances and consequently give up trying to change their situation, leading to a sense of powerlessness. It’s about balancing optimism with realistic strategies to handle life's difficulties.

Joanne’s personal experience with learned optimism, especially from her formative years, underscores the importance of this concept. “My mother taught me the power of optimism from a young age, but I wanted to delve deeper into its mechanisms and applications” she shares. “This was also something I struggled with at school, as teachers didn’t foster learned optimism. For example, I wanted to take extra classes in my final year to step up to a higher level. Instead of encouraging me to do it, my teacher told me I could give it a try, but most likely wouldn’t succeed as it was too advanced. I was told I was thinking too positively. Now, I know the importance of learned optimism and how much further it can take you, and it’s something I believe everyone should know.”

Myth #3: Strengths Are More Important than Weaknesses

In Joanne’s view, focusing solely on Strengths without acknowledging weaknesses is a misconception. Positive psychology advocates for a balanced approach, where Strengths are leveraged to manage and address weaknesses. 

Joanne’s own experiences in educational settings showed her the value of leveraging Strengths while also working on areas of improvement. “Strengths are as important as weaknesses, however, society teaches us that it’s more relevant to know what you cannot do. I noticed this particularly at school: when I wanted to focus on my Strengths instead of constantly focusing on what I didn’t do well, the school didn’t take me seriously. They saw me as too optimistic. Now I know that you can address challenges and grow both personally and professionally when you lean into your Strengths.”

Myth #4: Working on Your Strengths Keeps You in the Comfort Zone

Joanne points out that focusing on Strengths doesn’t mean avoiding challenges or stagnating. On the contrary, using and developing Strengths often involves stepping out of one’s comfort zone and tackling new challenges.

Positive psychology encourages starting from a place of capability and confidence, which can lead to greater challenges and growth opportunities. For instance, someone with Arranger Strength might take on new, more demanding project management responsibilities that push them to develop further. By applying Strengths to face new and demanding situations, individuals can grow and learn more effectively. This approach helps in pushing boundaries and discovering new potentials.

Myth 5: Working on Your Strengths is Easy

Leveraging Strengths is not as straightforward as it might seem. Joanne highlights that it required self-awareness and responsibility to apply Strengths effectively. It involves recognizing when Strengths aren’t being utilized well and making necessary adjustments.

When people feel that using their Strengths is working against them, they need to ask themselves whether to blame the environment or themselves. Here, the challenge lies in critically assessing whether their Strengths need more development or they need to be more vocal about what you need from your environment to make their Strengths thrive. This process can involve overcoming personal or environmental obstacles and demands continuous reflection and adaptation.

Applying Positive Psychology Daily

By integrating positive psychology into daily routines, individuals can create more fulfilling and joyful lives. Here are some practical ways to incorporate positive psychology into everyday life:

✨ Start your day with gratitude. Maintain a gratitude journal where you jot down three things you’re thankful for each day. This practice fosters a mindset of appreciation and joy, setting a positive tone for the rest of your day.

🕰️ Identify and embrace flow moments. Reflect on times when you were so engrossed in an activity that you lost track of time. Recognizing these instances can reveal your strengths and the conditions under which you thrive, helping you to seek more of these fulfilling experiences.

📞 Cultivate meaningful connections. Regularly connect with loved ones, whether through weekly dinners, gym classes with colleagues, or video calls with family. These interactions strengthen bonds and foster a sense of belonging.

🌱 Engage in purposeful activities. Volunteer or work in fields that contribute positively to others or the world, such as sustainability, healthcare, or education. This involvement provides a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction.

🚀 Set and pursue personal and professional goals. Whether it’s training for a marathon or aiming for a career milestone, achieving these goals can offer a profound sense of accomplishment and personal growth.

Fostering Positive Psychology at Work

Leaders play a crucial role in creating an environment that nurtures positive emotions, leverages individual Strengths, and aligns work with a greater sense of purpose. By fostering a positive organizational culture, leaders can drive both personal and professional growth among their team members. Here are some practical tips for applying positive psychology in the workplace:

🎉 Creating a positive environment. Encourage positive emotions, address negativity, celebrate small wins, and express gratitude regularly. Consider organizing appreciation lunches or team-building activities that foster positivity.

💪 Leveraging employees’ Strengths: Identify and utilize employees’ Strengths by providing opportunities for them to engage in activities and work tasks that challenge and utilize these Strengths. Regular feedback helps employees recognize and develop their Strengths.

🤝 Promoting teamwork and collaboration. Encourage regular check-ins and social interactions among employees. Create spaces and opportunities for team members to connect and support one another, fostering a collaborative work culture.

🚀 Aligning roles with the organization’s mission. Help employees see how their work contributes to a greater purpose. Regularly communicate the organization’s mission and values, showing how individual roles contribute to these goals.

🛠️ Setting clear goals and providing necessary resources. Ensure employees have the tools and support they need to achieve their goals. Recognize and celebrate steps toward accomplishments, reinforcing a culture of progress and achievement.

Conclusion

By embracing positive psychology, both individuals and organizations can create a more fulfilling and flourishing life. Focusing on Strengths and what’s right with us can transform our personal and professional experiences, leading to greater satisfaction and success! ✨