The mind and behavior, can be traced back to ancient Greece and Egypt. Theorists have introduced variant perspectives of “what makes us tick” and the focus has been on understanding dysfunctional behavior in order to help the mentally ill.

In 1998, Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggested a new focus; one on positive human functioning to help individuals. Positive Psychology is not intended to replace traditional study, but it’s a new movement focused on the study of how to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

Learning how to achieve emotional well-being is a popular topic today. Just type “self-improvement or personal development” and the number of hits is astounding.

Why is developing a positive attitude and outlook important?

Being emotionally healthy does not mean you won’t encounter challenging times. However, it may indicate that you will “bounce back” more successfully than the “my glass is half empty” persona.

Melinda Smith, M.A., Robert Segal, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. contributed to the article, Improving Emotional Health: Strategies and Tips for Good Mental Health. 

They defined mental health as:

“Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.
Good mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive characteristics. Similarly, not feeling bad is not the same as feeling good. While some people may not have negative feelings, they still need to do things that make them feel positive in order to achieve mental and emotional health.”

They also reported:

“Unfortunately, too many people take their mental and emotional health for granted – focusing on it only when they develop problems. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health. The more time and energy you invest in your emotional health, the stronger it will be. The good news is that there are many things you can do to boost your mood, build resilience, and get more enjoyment out of life.”

They list tips and strategies for taking care of yourself that include getting a pet to discovering new things (Read more…)

According to Changingminds.org, happiness correlates to relationships, health, experience, and even religion (To read more…)

They also report that there are three key routes to happiness:

• Sensory Hedonism: Pleasure through direct experience.
• Achievable Challenge: Happiness from hard work.
• Devoted Service: Happiness by helping others.

They provide a long list on specific things you can do to achieve happiness that include living an active life to living in the moment (To read more techniques…)

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In her article, Resilience, coping, and faith: How our beliefs help us through a crisis, she shares an “action plan” for getting through the tough times.

Her action plan includes incorporating positive-self-statements and refusing to give in to the temptation of quitting. (To read more…)

Christopher Peterson is professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and in his article, What is Positive Psychology, and What Is It Not?, he clarifies the importance of what the science of Positive Psychology has uncovered.

He wrote:

“Consider what has been learned in recent years about the psychological good life, none of which was mentioned in any of the psychology courses I took a few decades ago:

• Most people are happy.
• Happiness is a cause of good things in life and not simply along for the happy ride. People who are satisfied with life eventually have even more reason to be satisfied, because happiness leads to desirable outcomes at school and work, to fulfilling social relationships, and even to good health and long life.
• Most people are resilient.
• Happiness, strengths of character, and good social relationships are buffers against the damaging effects of disappointments and setbacks.
• Crisis reveals character.
• Other people matter mightily if we want to understand what makes like most worth living.
• Religion matters.
• And work matters as well if it engages the worker and provides meaning and purpose.
• Money makes an ever-diminishing contribution to well-being, but money can buy happiness if it is spent on other people.
• As a route to a satisfying life, eudaimonia trumps hedonism.
• The “heart” matters more than the “head.” Schools explicitly teach critical thinking; they should also teach unconditional caring.
• Good days have common features: feeling autonomous, competent, and connected to others.

The Good Life Can Be Taught

Even if your temperament is to see only the ugly, the brain can be “re-programmed.” It is possible to learn resilience and how to greet each day with a smile.

Frances Cohen Praver, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and relational psychoanalyst and author.

In her article, The Brain Is the Seat of Love,she said it best by writing:

“”It may seem impossible, but it is not. There is hope. The brain is plastic which means that it can reshape itself.”

Learning how to “reshape” or “reframe” our thinking is worth the effort. Positive Psychology is teaching us that even if we are going through the darkest of days, it’s possible to still believe that “life is good.”

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011