Growth motivation and positive psychology.
We examined growth motivation and positive psychology. In that chapter we look at the concept of holism and positive psychology. This is very different from traditional psychology that is very symptom based and disease orientated. Traditional psychology focuses more on the disease model and the examination of symptoms. Positive psychology looks more at happiness, well-being and how humans might flourish. Some of the concepts that will be explored this week include living life above zero and the meaning of The Good Life. Seligman three components of positive psychology are: The pleasant life, the engaged life and the meaningful life. What are the positive strengths that you can build on?
Sample Solution
Positive psychology is an important field of research that looks at the ways in which humans can flourish and have a sense of wellbeing. It focuses on strengths rather than weaknesses, positivity instead of negativity and emphasizes the value of resilience and growth mindset (Joffe & Yardley, 2017). Positive psychology identifies some key strengths that we can build on to enhance our lives. These include optimism, gratitude, flow experience, mindfulness, self-efficacy and character strengths such as courage or kindness (Seligman et al., 2016). Optimism helps us look at challenging situations with hope instead of despair; gratitude motivates us to appreciate the good things in life; flow experiences are those moments when we are completely absorbed in doing something enjoyable; mindfulness enables us to stay present even during difficult times; self-efficacy gives us the confidence to pursue our goals; and character strengths help us become better versions of ourselves.
By cultivating these positive strengths through mindful practice, we can move towards living ‘above zero’, a concept proposed by Seligman (2016). This means aiming for an overall level of well being that transcends mere absence from psychological illnesses or negative states. We can achieve this goal by actively engaging with activities that bring joy into our lives: practices such as volunteering for causes close to your heart or spending time outdoors in nature will increase our enjoyment levels (Grant & Schwartz, 2020). Additionally it’s important to focus on meaningful pursuits like developing relationships with people who share similar values or taking part in activities that offer a sense of purpose beyond merely existing day-to-day – all while making sure not to neglect one’s needs along the way. By following this path we can find greater satisfaction out of living The Good Life – ultimately leading toward increased well being through practicing positive psychology principles.
In conclusion, Positive Psychology offers many tools for improving mental health such as optimism, gratitude and flow experience – among others – so that individuals may work towards achieving their own version what constitutes The Good Life. Through using these strategies and understanding more about positive psychology principles one will be able take action steps toward flourishing mentally so they may live life above zero – building upon personal strengths for greater happiness overall.
