What is Positive Psychology?

 

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes like most worth living. Beauty is a science and science require testing theories against evidence. It is not a sequel to the secret and should not be confused with untested self-help, fly by night motivational speakers, or New Age philosophy. Much of psychology has been concerned with answering the question "what is wrong with you?" It has sought to make individuals less miserable to treat pathology and mental illness.

The goal of positive psychology movement used to make normal life more fulfilling. It asks the question "what is right with you?" instead of trying to help a patient go from minus 8 back 20. The goal is to help individuals move up the other side of the scale. The field is intended to complement not replace traditional psychology. It does not seek to deny the importance of studying how things going wrong, but it does assert that strength is as important as weakness, and that it is just as important to build on the best things in life, as to repair the worst.

Positive psychology is concerned with increasing well-being. Will be in the same thing is happiness? Not exactly. Martin Seligman, co-founder of the positive psychology movement, describes will be in as being made up of five pillars positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Ranchers and exploration in positive psychology the term "flow" was coined by Mike Csikszentmihalyi, co-founder of the positive psychology movement.

Flow is a stat of absorption in one's work is characterized by intense concentration, loss self-awareness, a feeling of being perfectly challenged, neither bored nor overwhelmed, and a sense that time is flying. Flow is an intrinsically rewarding experience it can also help one achieve a goal, or improve skills, and is highly related to creative insight.

Mindfulness is intentionally focused awareness one’s immediate experience. the experience is one of moment-by-moment attention to thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and surroundings. To practice mindfulness is to become grounded in the present moment benefits include reduction of stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

Learned optimism is the idea that a talent for joy can be cultivated. That said, it's important to note the research tells us that the path to fulfillment requires considerable hard work. There are a few, any shortcuts, to sustained happiness and well-being. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something it is contrasted with learned helplessness which is when one believes that he or she has no control over what occurs and that external forces such as genetics or social class ultimately dictate his or her ability to accomplish a task or succeed evidence suggests that well- being is not simply the result of a fortunate spin of the genetic roulette wheel there are things that people can actively do to lead more fulfilling lives.

But we must ask ourselves if we applied the tenets of positive psychology to education business and government, if we encouraged individuals and communities to build on their strengths, if we focused attention on the pillars of well-being, if we channeled more energy into what makes life worth living, what might be possible?

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