What is Positive Psychology?
Although its origin is widely debated, the term ‘positive psychology’ has often been traced back to the American psychologist, Abraham Maslow. He first coined the term in his book “Motivation and Personality”. Maslow studied how people responded to hardship and difficulties in life and came to the conclusion that psychology focused more on the negatives than the positives i.e.it placed a greater emphasis on the limitations and weakness of human beings. He believed that it was more beneficial for people to focus on their strengths and positive emotions in order to overcome adversity.
Therefore, in essence, positive psychology refers to the focus on positive psychological states and character strengths in order to improve your overall well-being.
Whilst this all sounds great in theory, you may be wondering how you can apply positive psychology into your own life in a practical and tangible way. Here are 4 simple ways in which you can do this:
1.Practicing Gratitude
What better way to enhance your well-being, than to practice gratitude? Taking time out of your day to make a mental or physical note of all the things that you are grateful for, is essential. This is something most people are familiar with, but it bears repeating as many people forget to include it in their daily lives. Gratitude enables you to foster positivity into your life as you are making sure to appreciate the things in life that you often disregard or take for granted.
2.Creating Goals
Creating tangible goals and working towards them generates optimism and hope. When you lay out a plan and are able to visualize the things you want to achieve, you will naturally begin to feel more hopeful and enthusiastic about life. You will encounter challenges; however, you should not view them as obstacles. Instead, you should acknowledge them as necessary occurrences that test your strength and build your character.
3.Taking a Course
If you are determined to fully optimize positivity in your life, a great way to cultivate positive psychology into your life is by enrolling into a positive psychology program. Growth is a continuous journey and it doesn’t have to be one that you figure out on your own.
Positive psychology programs will enable you to learn from experts in the field, who will help to teach you how to apply it into your life to an advanced level. You can even receive a positive psychology certificate, allowing you to teach others and give them the knowledge of positive psychology.
4.Being Kind
Kindness comes in many forms and one way in which you can practice kindness is through empathy. Recognizing that everyone you will ever encounter is a human being with anxieties, fears, hopes and dreams, just like you, allows you to subconsciously create an emotional connection with people. You are more likely to smile at a stranger, easily offer a compliment or donate your time or money to help someone in need. Positivity emanates from these actions and in return, you will build relationships that contribute to greater positivity in your own life.
With a deep passion for writing, David Shields has been a blogger for more than 15 years. He frequently writes about Psychology, Mental Health, Meditation, Coaching, and Positive Psychology topics. His captivating style and extensive knowledge create meaningful content for his audience.