Your Well-Being

Part 1: Gratitudein Action

Part 2- Using your Strengths

Part 3- Maximizing Positive Emotions

Part 4- Meaningfully engaged

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Prerequisite: Positive Psychology 1:the science of happiness

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Part 1- About positive psychology. History

Part 2- The roots of happiness?

Part 3- Is well-being the same as happiness?

Part 4- The PERMA model

Recommended Prerequisites

© 2012 Explore - Learn - Grow ® I Contact

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The PERMA model - Positive Psychology

* Positive emotion* Engagement* Positive relationships* Meaning * Accomplishment

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Part 1: Gratitude in Action

Studies conducted by Michael McCullough, PhD.from the University of Miami and Robert A. Emmons, PhD. from the University of California, show that grateful people are more:

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• optimistic• energetic• enthusiastic

• determined• interested• joyful

They also feel stronger about handling challenges,have fewer illnesses, get more sleep and exercise more.

Part 1: Gratitude in Action 5

Part 1: Gratitude in Action

• Count good things – 10, 20, and write them down, in a Gratitude journal

• Keep a simple "Gratitude list at night or in the morning, every day (see "Simple Abundance" by Sara Ban Breathnach"

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Where do I start ?

Part 1: Gratitude in Action 7

* Give yourself one week to write a gratitude letter to someone who had been especially kind to them but had never been properly thanked

* Then deliver it in person.

Where do I start ? Continued

Part 1: Gratitude in Action

GoodListDaily.com

AllAboutGratitude.com

YouTube.com – Gratitude Dance!

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More ideas from the internet

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Part 2- Using your Strengths

The Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV) handbook of human strengths and virtues, by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman, represents the first attempt on the part of the research community to identify and classify the positive psychological traits of human beings

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They defined 6 virtues and 24 Character Strengths, which are:1. fulfilling;2. intrinsically valuable, in an ethical sense (unlike gifts, skills, aptitudes and

expertise which can be squandered);3. non-rivalrous;4. not the opposite of a desirable trait (a counterexample is steadfast and

flexible, which are opposites but are both commonly seen as desirable);5. trait-like (habitual patterns that are relatively stable over time);6. not a combination of the other character strengths in the CSV;7. personified by people made famous through story, song, etc.;8. in most cases, observable in child prodigies9. absent in some individuals and nurtured by societal norms and institutions.

Part 2- Using your Strengths 10

Part 2- Using your Strengths

To find out what your character strengths are:

* go to authentichappiness.com

* Complete the free Via Strengths Survey

* What did you learn about yourself?

* How do you apply them in your daily life? What do you need to change or adjust?

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Part 3- Maximizing Positive Emotions 12

* Let's look at P from PERMA: Positive emotions

* “…positive emotions broaden (rather than narrow) an individual’s thought-action repertoire” (Fredrickson, 1998, p. 315).What does it mean in simple words?

* Joy broadens because it creates the urge to play, push the limits, & be creative;* Interest broadens because it creates the urge to explore, take in new ideas, learn. * Contentment broadens because it creates the urge to sit back & savor your current life circumstances and integrate these into a new view of yourself & the world around you.

* “…In turn, these broadened thought-action repertoires can have the often incidental effect of building an individual’s personal resources, including physical resources, intellectual resources, and social resources”

Part 3- Maximizing Positive Emotions 13

Positive emotions broaden (rather than narrow) an individual’s thought-action repertoire.

Part 3- Maximizing Positive Emotions

* Which Positive Emotions do you experience over the course of a normal week?

* When does it happen? With whom? What is the context?

* How do you feel? What does it trigger as a reaction?

* Can you expand these moments? Add new ones?

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Part 4- Meaningfully Engaged

Let's now look at M of the PERMA: Meaning:

* The meaningful life is the largest long-term contributor to the full life (happy, satisfied, engaged etc.)

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Part 4- Meaningfully Engaged 16

The meaning has been interpreted in multiple ways by writers and philosophers:

1) To realize one's potential, passions and ideals (also defined as to achieve eudaimonia, a flourishing of human spirit)

2) To achieve biological perfection, i.e. to live as long as possible and/or to reproduce,

3) To seek wisdom and knowledge, to tame the mind, as to avoid suffering caused by ignorance and find happiness

4) To relate to God or a supernatural power

5) To love, to feel, to enjoy the act of living, to have fun, seek pleasure

6) To have power, to strive for power and superiority.

7) To do good, to do the right thing

Part 4- Meaningfully Engaged 17

Let's look in more details at "meaning: from the point of view of positive psychology:* To do good, to do the right thing* What can people do to be "meaningful"?

● To leave the world as a better place than you found it● To do your best to leave every situation better than you found it● To benefit others, give more than you take● To end suffering, create equality, challenge oppression● To distribute wealth, be generous● To contribute to the well-being and spirit of others● To help others, to help one another● To take every chance to help another while on your journey here● To forgive, accept and forgive human flaws● To be emotionally sincere● To be responsible, honorable● To seek peace

Part 4- Meaningfully Engaged

* What are your strategies to utilize your signature strengths in service of something larger than themselves ?

* The larger the more meaning, this will enhance the meaning of your lives and thereby your well being.

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Click on the screen

* Authentic Happiness :: Using the new Positive Psychologywww.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu

* http://positivepsychologymelbourne.com.au

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_Strengths_and_Virtues_(book

* Make a Gratitude Adjustment | Psychology Today

Sources and References 19

Slide Transcripts 20

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