Positive psychology has been the cause of heated debates for more than one year – it has no fewer opponents than supporters. On the one hand, it promises a simple recipe for happiness, on the other, it is denounced for mysticism and controversial attitudes. A person can become healthy if they direct their thoughts in a positive direction. This theory has useful techniques that are worth adopting. The lessons gained from the video that positively impact overall well-being include engagement and learned optimism.
The first lesson of positive psychology is engagement. The following levels of engagement are distinguished: satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement. Satisfaction implies that a person is generally satisfied with the company in which they work. The employee likes the salary, working conditions, and the opportunity to study, and they plan to continue working in the company, but without putting much effort (Corey et al., 2018b). Loyalty means that an employee likes the company, and they are ready to work in the organization for a long time, remaining a dedicated employee without making extra efforts. Engagement is considered the highest level when people are happy for their company, give their best and try to work as best as possible.
When a person does not like what they are doing, it is difficult to feel happy. Absolutely opposite sensations are given by the state of flow. They experience it when they are really passionate about something – so much so that they forget about time and problems. This is an inspiring feeling of high spirits and an energy surge that develops when striving for an important goal. It is easy to achieve high performance in a stream and solve even complex tasks (Corey et al., 2018a). Therefore, one should master a hobby that will entice, take courses to develop skills, and find a job more appropriate to one’s hobbies.
The second lesson of Seligman’s positive psychology is learned optimism. This is a state when a person is confident that he can avoid negative events and change their life for the better. According to the authors, this trait becomes a key element on the way to well-being. People’s psychology is often characterized by learned helplessness (Corey et al., 2018b). An American psychologist contrasted learned helplessness with learned optimism and developed a technique with which to develop this trait (Seligman, 2004). Its influence on overall well-being is a surge of strength and strengthening of immunity.
Learned optimism is the ability to look at the world from a positive point of view, which was developed by a person intentionally. Often this quality of character is contrasted with learned helplessness. Positive-minded people tend to live longer than pessimists, and also cope with stress more easily (Corey et al., 2018b). An individual who has mastered the art of positive conversation with their own self and has learned to replace pessimistic thoughts with more pleasant ones can achieve much greater results in their activities and have better health.
The use of positive psychology methods in practice has a positive impact on overall well-being. It is impossible to be optimistic all the time, there must be a balance in everything. Nevertheless, a lot of useful things can be learned from positive psychology. The big plus of the current is that it teaches one to change a point of view on life. Engagement and learned optimism help lead to changes for the better.
References
Corey, G., Corey, M., & Muratori, M. (2018a). Your body and wellness. In I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in self-growth (pp. 36-45). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning ISBN-10: 1305945727 ISBN-13:9781305945722
Corey, G., Corey, M., & Muratori, M. (2018b). Managing stress. In I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in self-growth (pp. 45-63). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning ISBN-10: 1305945727 ISBN-13:9781305945722
Seligman, M. [TED]. (2004). The new era of positive psychology [Video]. YouTube. Web.