5 Ways to Apply Positive Psychology

Been hearing a bit about positive psychology, however not sure how to apply it to your work and life? Great – you are in the right spot! In this post I am going to talk about –

• What is Positive Psychology?
• Martin Seligman and Positive Psychology
• 3 Books on Positive Psychology
• 5 Quick Ways to Apply Positive Psychology

Let’s get started!

What is Positive Psychology?

There are many definitions of positive psychology. A few of them include, positive psychology –

• “is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.” ~ Positive Psychology Centre

• “is the scientific study of human flourishing, and an applied approach to optimal functioning. It has also been defined as the study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals, communities and organisations to thrive. Positive Psychology is grounded in the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within them, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.” ~ Positive Psychology Institute

• “is the branch of psychology that uses scientific understanding and effective intervention to aid in the achievement of a satisfactory life, rather than treating mental illness. The focus of positive psychology is on personal growth rather than on pathology, as is common among other frameworks within the field of psychology.” ~ Wikipedia

Martin Seligman and Positive Psychology

Here is a nice overview of positive psychology, its history and some research from Martin Seligman.

3 Books on Positive Psychology

There are many books on positive psychology. Three that I have read include –

• Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being by Martin Seligman
• Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification by Christopher Peterson

5 Ways to Apply Positive Psychology

There are many ways to apply positive psychology in your work and life, however I am going to share 5. 5 ways to apply positive psychology are –

1. Find work that focuses on your strengths. Do you know what your strengths are? If not, you can find them out here. Once you know your strengths, you can take the time to focus on them and create a life sharing them. “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is to give your gift away.” ~ David Viscott.
2. Cultivate gratitude. When was the last time you wrote a card to thank a friend, client, colleague or family member? What about ringing one of those people on the phone to thank them for all they have done for you? As the saying goes ~ “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” William Arthur Ward. 
3. Practise mindfulness. By practising mindfulness you can learn to savour and appreciate the moments in your life. Remember “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” ~ American Proverb. 
4. Adopt a growth mindset. When you adopt a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset, you embrace challenges, learn from criticism, persist in the face of setbacks and find lessons and inspiration from others.
5. Write a future diary. When you allow yourself to see that you are capable of solving problems, you are more likely to find ways to solve your problems. So, grab a diary or journal and write about your preferred future. As you are writing, you can get clear about –
   • What will your future look like, feel like and sound like?
   • How do other people respond to you in this positive future?
   • How does your life change and transform?
   • What types of things do you see yourself doing to help and support other people?

I hope this page has helped increase your awareness about positive psychology and given you 5 ways to apply positive psychology in to your work and life. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

If you are ready to take yourself on the journey of uncovering your greatness, why not join the Toolkit? A place where I share tools, inspiration and ideas to live a courageous and openhearted life.