By
Charity Vizcaino
Positive psychology is transforming the way we think about mental well-being, shifting the focus from trying to fix what’s broken to enhancing what makes life truly fulfilling. Traditionally, psychology has been synonymous with diagnosing and treating mental health issues, often casting a shadow over the field with associations of illness and disorder. But as positive psychology took root in the 1990s, it introduced a refreshing change: instead of zeroing in on problems, it celebrates and cultivates our unique strengths and sources of happiness. By emphasizing principles like gratitude, hope, and personal growth, this approach offers practical strategies for enriching our lives and achieving deeper satisfaction. In this article, we’ll explore how positive psychology can help you boost your overall well-being and live a more vibrant, meaningful life.
How does positive psychology differ from traditional psychological approaches, and what are some key principles of this field that can help improve overall well-being?
When we go to a medical doctor when sick, we expect the physician to ask questions about our symptoms and how they’re manifesting. By pathologizing our symptoms, they’re usually able to make a diagnosis and treat what ails us.
Similarly, applied psychology and psychiatry practices in the 20th century, largely looked to understand “What is wrong” with individuals. To be clear, not all subsets of psychology take this approach, but historically they have. However, the stigma associated with the word ‘psychology’ has stuck for generations. For many, hearing the word makes them think of “illness”; some might even associate it with words such as “insane” or “crazy”. While many psychology practices are used to look at “abnormal” behaviors that are causing distress; the fields, particularly, Counseling Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, have strived to deviate from viewing clients as problems to be solved, to treating clients from a holistic approach.
The theory of Positive Psychology originated in the 1990s and aims to help people uncover their unique strengths and help foster a functioning, meaningful life. Some of the main tenets of this theory include: looking at the role of collectivism vs individualism, gratitude, hope, altruism, and personal values and strengths.
Can you explain the concept of “flow” and its importance in achieving happiness and fulfillment in daily life? What are some practical ways to cultivate flow experiences?
Consider an artist, who paints for hours on end without food or rest. As students learn poring over a newfound subject. An athlete who performs a routine repeatedly. A musician who plays a new song until perfected.
“Flow” is a concept from Positive Psychology that colloquially we might refer to as “Being in the zone.” It is an activity that you enjoy doing where there is intense and focused concentration.
In defining “flow” further, it is described as an autotelic experience, meaning the activity that is being done is pleasant, enjoyable, and intrinsically motivating in and of itself. You might think, “Umm, so when I binge-watch episodes on Netflix, I’m flowing?” Negative. The model of the
“Flow State” incorporates two dynamics, High-Skill/High Challenge:
- The individual is highly skilled at this activity and feels a sense of control during the process because they know what to do.
- The activity presents enough of a challenge for the individual to teeter between apathy/anxiety and relaxation/control.
How do theories of happiness, such as the Hedonic and Eudaimonic approaches, contribute to our understanding of what makes life meaningful and satisfying?
“Eudemonia” is a Greek word that translates to being in “good spirit”, “welfare,” or “happiness.” Eudaimonic events are ones where a person approaches their life by looking at how their actions can produce a life of meaning and purpose, not solely moments of joy. These experiences, as opposed to hedonic ones, allow an individual to grow, learn about themselves, and reach their potential.
Hedonic experiences are satisfying moments of pleasure or “feeling good” that are temporary.
Examples of this are: going on vacation, an achievement like buying a new car, or having a buzz from drinking.
If you’ve ever observed a child on Christmas day after unwrapping gifts, you will notice that at some point, maybe by that evening or in a week or two, the luster of new toys begins to wear off, and the child begins asking for a new toy. This human behavior is often referred to as the Hedonic Treadmill or Hedonic Adaptation. Hedonic Adaptation is defined as the typical baseline most humans revert to after a really good or really negative event. In Positive Psychology, this adaptation refers to the fleeting moments of joy that occur after a hedonic experience.
We, humans, can’t help but be drawn to fast-acting, quick fixes to our moods and life circumstances. However, we also know the emptiness we feel afterward and, sometimes, the shame that comes from indulging in hedonic moments that aren’t congruent with the person we want to be. I would encourage readers to get to know what their values are, and discover what gives them a sense of purpose in life. One of my favorite types of therapy to learn more about your values and living a life of meaning is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
What are a couple of positive psychology interventions that readers can begin to implement in their lives to begin building resilience and foster a more positive outlook on life?
Earlier, I mentioned that one of the core principles of this theory is gratitude. A mixed-methods study looking at the impact of using gratitude journals found that participants who wrote in the journal every day, for two weeks experienced higher levels of optimism, joy, and meaning than the group that did not. The research acknowledged that writing every day could lose significance over time (hello, hedonic adaptation). It was suggested that individuals wanting to begin do so for bursts at a time (perhaps two weeks on, two weeks off, etc). (My personal favorite is “The Five Minute Journal.”)
Another exercise that can help readers become acquainted with their strengths is by taking the VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) assessment. It is an online, free 96-question measure of 24 character strengths.
