One of the most important questions for people of at any age is how do we become completely content? This is the question that positive psychology and related research seeks to find the answer to.
The never-ending desire for happiness and the constant quest for happy lives have resulted in the rise of a whole sector focused on ensuring that we are well with a variety of solutions, programs, guides and advice for living an optimistic and positive life.
Recent global events such as the coronavirus pandemic as well as witnessing the murders of unarmed Black individuals at the hands of the police have brought us to a state of despair and sadness. Many of those who are feeling the weight of these tragic events are looking to think of ways we can bring out the positive within our communities as well as in our lives by focusing on the things that can give the life a greater significance. Positive psychology can play an important role in your mental wellbeing.
Positive psychology refers to the study and study of the positive aspects of life that include happiness, well-being satisfaction, happiness and the ability to flourish in our daily lives. The field studies the factors that go into creating a life that is full of importance, and in meaning that allows the person to thrive.
Positive psychology concentrates on factors such as optimism, optimism and joy however it goes further than simply addressing positive emotions. The field of psychology includes traits such as self-esteem, character strengths and well-being. We will discuss how these characteristics can be utilized in the work environment, personal life and relationships with others, and how these aspects are connected to living an enjoyable life.
What is what are Three Levels of Positive Psychology?
Positive psychology isn’t only about experiencing a sense of well-being , but rather the people who promote this science frequently speak of”the “Three Levels of Positive Psychology”:
Subjective level: The subjective experience is about feelings of well-being, happiness as well as optimism and similar emotions or experiences that are connected to your everyday experiences.
Individual level: The personal level is where you combine your subjective feeling of well-being and the characteristics or qualities to make you complete person, like forgiveness and love.
Group level: The group level is focused on positive interactions with your fellow members, and includes qualities like altruism, social responsibility and other qualities that help strengthen the bonds of friendship.
What is the reason? Positive Psychology is Important
The primary goal of positive psychology is to help people identify and develop their character strengths, instead of directing their efforts towards addressing shortcomings. Positive psychology emphasizes the need for people to change their perspective from a negative one towards a more positive outlook in order to enhance the living quality.
According to research on positive psychology positive thinking is among the primary factors that drive our lives. We all experience positive and negative outcomes , yet it often more easy to focus on negative outcomes while ignoring ways that we can harness the effects of positive experiences to alleviate the negative. In the past, psychology research has was focused on the psychological issues and abnormalities that make some individuals more different than others. The diagnoses are the reason for negative behaviors and patterns of behaviour. These diagnoses encompass the mental health problems that a lot suffer from, including depression and anxiety.
The research into positive psychology but, is more focused on scientific explanations for positive thinking and behaviors. Positive psychology doesn’t deny the presence of flaws and flaws in our thinking and behaviour however it believes that equal weight must be given to individuals’ strengths and qualities.
Positive psychology is crucial since identifying what motivates people to lead more fulfilling lives could lead to better strategies to manage mental illness, resolving bad habits, and increasing our productivity and happiness. For instance, instead of looking at the traits that underlie the problem with addiction to drugs Positive psychologists could look at the resilience of those who have made it through a successful recovery and help promote this kind of resilience among patients who are likely to follow.
Positive Psychology, as well as the PERMA Model
The promotion of well-being is a major area of focus for positive psychology. Well-being levels that are higher are connected to higher productivity, longer life span and more fulfilling relationships. In this sense, Seligman proposed the PERMA model to define and explain wellbeing in a wider sense. PERMA can be described as an abbreviation that refers to the five components of well-being. It is now widely accepted as a model within the area of positive psychology. Below is a brief explanation into what is known as the PERMA theory:
Positive feelings:
Positive emotions can have significant effects on wellbeing. Positive emotions could result from cultivating feelings of forgiveness and gratitude over the past, having fun present momentarily and having faith in the future.
Engage – E:
For a better quality of life Also, it’s essential to cultivate an attitude of involvement. It is possible to achieve this by fully immersing yourself in engaging in something you enjoy and are skilled in. This type of involvement creates an experience called flow, which is a feeling that you experience when your abilities are adequate for a specific problem with a certain purpose to be achieved. The idea”flow “flow” was invented by Mihaly csikszentmihaly. He is prominent name in the field of positive psychology.
Relations:
Being social creatures, people tend to rely on connections with people around them to flourish and the help that we receive from these connections can give our lives an identity and purpose.
“M” means:
Being able to feel positive emotions on its own does not suffice to live an enjoyable life. Seligman recommends seeking meaning to be the best quality of happiness. Meaning can be obtained by putting your strengths to something greater than yousuch as an organization or cause that is social in nature that makes a significant contribution to the community you’re involved in or a charity.
A – Accomplishment:
It is a fact that when we reach our goals and are successful and feel fulfilled, we experience an immense sense of satisfaction. If the motivation to achieve these goals isn’t present and we don’t feel a feeling of wellbeing is hard to achieve.
Experimenting the Personal Benefits of Positive Psychology
Positive psychology suggests that focusing on positive aspects of activities or circumstances can help create conditions that lead to a more positive and more fulfilled lives.
Happiness isn’t just based by amplifying positive experiences or having a lifetime full of passion it is also a matter of living life with meaning and purpose. Thus, you can boost your enjoyment by engaging in activities you’re attracted to, using your talents to be successful in your field and choosing an occupation that’s appropriate to what you’re most enthusiastic about.
What can you think of as an example from Positive Psychology?
According to Seligman’s advice that you can boost the feeling of true happiness by focusing your efforts on doing more things that make you feel happy and able to be content with your routine and feel more positive emotions. Also, you should work to enhance relations and focus on strengthening your relationships with your family and friends. ones.
If you’re feeling like you’re not finding purpose in your relationships or work, Seligman also recommends that you pursue your own interests or volunteer activities and discover new ways you can be fulfilled through your actions that impact people’s lives. The most important thing is to be focused on meeting your goals while maintaining an appropriate balance between your goals and other factors that matter in your life, like the importance of self-care and relationships.
How can Positive Psychology used?
Positive psychology is also an object of critique and has been accused of spreading false beliefs about positive psychology. As a result, the principles of positive psychology are sometimes dismissed as bearing more in common with self-help tactics than scientifically-proven theories.
However, positive psychology practices are currently being applied to other areas of therapy, with evidence-based results that prove its efficacy. The practice of wellbeing therapy, which was developed through the work of the psychologist Giovanni Fava from the University of Bologna and focuses on the well-being that is self-observed by the patient, not only on the self-reported distress of the patient.
Carol Kauffman, director of the Coaching and Positive Psychology Initiative at the Harvard School of Medicine’s McLean Hospital, outlined four methods to incorporate positive psychology into traditional therapeutic methods In the Harvard Mental Health Letter. These techniques typically involve changing the therapeutic focus away on negative experiences and emotions towards positive ones. creating a language of strength as well as keeping in balance the positive and negative aspects of particular circumstances or actions and implementing strategies that inspire hope, like discovering the necessary skills to deal with the issue and changing the focus to those abilities.
Although the principles of positive psychology indicate that success is based on your strengths, it’s essential to focus on your weaknesses and find an equilibrium that is healthy, to ensure that you live an enlightened life. If you’re looking for more details on positive psychology, and how to take a specific and customized approach to living the best life, consider the ease of working with an online licensed psychotherapist.