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Positive psychology is not about being happy all of the timeLet’s be clear, positive psychology does not recommend happiness at all costs, nor to always think positive. Life is made of tragedy and adversity. Happiness is not linear. It is impossible to be happy all of the time. All of our emotions have their place and are legitimate. Sadness helps us turn a chapter; joy to connect with others and move forward. There is no good or bad emotion. What counts above all, is what we do with it. Positive psychology is a science Positive psychology is a science. “Positive psychology is the scientific study of optimal human functioning. It aims to discover and promote the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive.” Martin Seligman (2002). Unlike traditional psychology, it focuses on what is right with the human being. It states that health is not the absence of illness, that being in good health does not guarantee self-fulfillment… and that happiness is actually much more than just the absence of misfortune! Positive psychology looks for answers to questions like: Who are those individuals that function well? Why do they function so well? What differentiates happy people from others? What differentiates a resilient child from another? To answer these questions, for the last twenty years, researchers in positive psychology have conducted serious scientific studies to identify what are those factors that allow us to blossom. And the good news is that well-being is accessible to everyone. Happiness is a legitimate goal Discussing happiness is such a trendy subject, that sometimes we do not take it seriously. However, as Sonja Lyubormirsky, positive psychology professor at the University of California, says: “Happiness constitute a serious, legitimate and worthy goal.” Cultivating your happiness is neither ridiculous nor naïve. To flourish has a lot of benefits. Compared to others, happy people are largely more social, active, creative, cooperative, productive and are more confident. It has been demonstrated that happy people have a better immune system and live longer. In addition, happiness is contagious. It also benefits the persons around happy people: their spouses, families, colleagues and communities. What does positive psychology offer us? Positive psychology offers tools and techniques, scientifically tested, to help us increase our level of well-being. They are simple and free. Sometimes so simple, that we might be skeptical. The difficulty remains more in their application and practice.
Why don’t we all apply them? Because increasing our level of well-being requires effort, constancy and an active daily investment… like practicing a sport, mastering a language or a musical instrument. The goal is not to be happy, but to cultivate happiness or to train our happiness muscle… and maintain it. I will speak about these tools all along my next blog postings... because working on our personal and professional flourishing is probably the best investment we might make in our life! Your reactions, comments and questions are always welcome! www.nancybonamy.com Subscribe to my newsletter in English Follow me on Facebook Cet article en français - Inscrivez-vous à ma newsletter en français
2 Comments
Alan Osborne
24/4/2018 08:16:32 am
Thanks for such commendable insight. I would like to say that positive psychology is usually based on the postulation that individuals want to lead a fulfilling life, to become the best self, and to polish their experiences of affection, work, and frolic. It is the field that is subjected to complement, not to substitute the conventional cast of mind. Better you should start working with a life coach, by which you can get the right recommendations for unearthing the satisfaction in productivity, building a strong relationship with others, and “ defeating your freezing presumptions- http://www.reginafasold.com/blog/how-to-defeat-your-self-limiting-beliefs/ ”.
Nancy Bonamy
24/4/2018 10:46:34 am
Dear Alan, thank you very much for your comment. Of course, I cannot agree more, being myself a life coach, that coaching is a great way to take stock of your life satisfaction in all areas of your life and from there work on what you need to increase your well-being. Positive psychology offers a lot of practical and simple tools to support your well-being, better deal with your thoughts, emotions and behaviors, etc. Thank you very much for your input and interest. All the best, Nancy Leave a Reply. |
Expert in transitions, resilience and well-being, I help expatriates and humanitarian workers create the positive changes they need to thrive, bounce back with agility and optimize their life and career transitions.
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