Applying Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is built upon well-thought-out theories and backed up by research. It uses the scientific method to understand better what enables and facilitates human flourishing while remaining rooted firmly in the real world.

And while it does not suggest dismissing other areas of psychology or directly tackling people’s issues, it offers an approach that focuses on their strengths rather than weaknesses and sets goals that align with their values to build meaningful lives.

As a result, positive psychology has broad application: valuable in the home, at the workplace, throughout education, and within therapy. Indeed, wherever the skills are learned, they are widely applicable and transferrable to life areas.

After all, seeking the good life has no barriers, nor is it only appropriate to specific community segments.

It is an exciting time for applied positive psychology. Over the last three decades, considerable progress has been made in supporting clients who arrive in the therapist's office to overcome challenges and in need of creating a life of meaning and value.

Traditionally, therapy focused on the past – attempting to understand and unravel the effects of previous events and influences on how we manage now. Yet, positive psychology in therapy is different; it is not prescriptive but facilitative. It takes the client beyond theory, focusing on their strengths and values to benefit their lives now and in the future.

One such example is Hope Therapy, where clients are supported while setting clear goals, identifying paths to success, and fostering the energy, or agency, needed to tackle them.

Another approach is mindfulness therapy, which is particularly helpful in tackling anxiety, putting it in its place, and enhancing moments of joy through moment-by-moment awareness without engagement.

Coaching typically focuses on helping clients reach their goals, whether in the workplace, sports, education, or beyond. The positive psychology approach is an ideal companion and stimulus to working with clients, helping them move from surviving to thriving by building on several key elements: positive emotions, relationships, strengths, mindset, and resilience.

The approach combines an awareness of what clients can achieve while building personal resources to live more successfully in the present while finding growth and success in the future.

And it has been applied in a variety of coaching settings with great results: financial coaches help people understand spending habits and economic aspirations better; leaders coaches maximize leaders' abilities and their teams; and work-life coaches bring balance and direction where there was none, ensuring that important values are not overlooked.

The potential for using positive psychology across every aspect of our lives is limited only by our imagination, awareness, and understanding.

In fact, successes can be seen almost everywhere: including healthcare, through a focus on positive mental and physical health; politics, exploring the power of policy to enhance well-being; education, empowering students and teachers to create the ideal learning environment; and management, showing the value to business and customers of staff wellness.

Even for those individuals not seeking or expecting help, positive psychology can unobtrusively focus on what makes them feel good, gives their lives meaning, and ultimately, makes them happier.

The techniques and practices are readily available and can be shared with relatively little training by those from a range of educational and cultural backgrounds. We can also use them alongside existing techniques and approaches without fear of conflict.

Positive psychology theories all have the same goal – to contribute to a meaningful life where the individual flourishes.

As one of its fastest-growing areas, positive education aims to enable and foster growth and development in all areas that promote wellness, including resilience, social competence, and positive emotions such as optimism.

By focusing on the positives, the student’s strengths rather than their failures, and creating growth-oriented educational environments, it is possible to foster prolonged growth and development throughout their academic journey.

Rather than becoming disengaged or unmotivated, they learn to use their strengths across the curriculum, boosting motivation and increasing the well-being of both staff and students.

Another application of positive psychology is Positive criminology.

Historically, punishing criminal behavior has often led to reoffending rather than rehabilitation. Researchers in criminology typically focused on what was deviant or wrong in the lives of those committing offenses rather than how to live more positive, meaningful, and fulfilling lives.

Positive criminology shares many of the same values and goals as positive psychology and focuses on the offender’s positive life experiences, meaningful goals, and growth opportunities.

Someone's past behavior need not define their future.

So, are there any positive psychological practices we can apply to every aspect of our lives? Well, yes! While some interventions, exercises, and techniques have been created for specific situations, others work well across all areas of our being.

Benefit finding has been well-validated and works anywhere – or perhaps, everywhere. It helps well-being by focusing on the positive characteristics of negative life events, enhancing resilience, identifying meaning, creating purpose, and building compassion.

And it's simple. Think back to a difficult time or incident – something that fills you with complex feelings and emotions.

Visualize it as though watching a movie. Maintain some emotional distance and ask yourself:

'What did this experience teach me?

'How did it equip me for what was to follow?'

'What positive outcomes would not have occurred otherwise?'

It is not an easy exercise, and you may want to revisit it several times to fully appreciate the light in an otherwise dark situation.

We are great at thinking and talking about the negatives, but the good things often pass over us without a second thought. We miss out on all the positive emotions, deep engagement, meaning, and sense of accomplishment they bring.

Not only is it a great shame, but a missed opportunity to boost wellness and happiness because research has shown that practicing the savoring of good experiences has positive effects up to 30 days later.

Think back to something that happened recently that made you feel good. Close your eyes and imagine the situation when you receive that moment of joy, happiness, or love. Feel the physical sensations, sounds, touch, and taste that it invokes, and let the positive thoughts overwhelm you. Stay in that moment – eyes shut if it helps.

Developing a daily habit of savoring the present increases wellbeing now and in the days ahead.

Positive psychology is equally applicable in the workplace as anywhere else. After all, if we take Martin Seligman’s PERMA model of well-being, don’t we all want positive emotions, engagement, strong relationships, meaning, and accomplishment in our job?

Of course! It makes us feel happier and improves our physical and mental wellbeing. It boosts personal and team performance, increases business productivity, and, down the line, even enhances customer satisfaction.

And yet, a Gallup report in 2018 found that only 34% of employees are actively engaged.

So, it takes careful consideration to create the right environment, change working practices, and build growth mindsets. But, if successful, creating environments aligned to employees’ needs, where staff are supported, work-life balanced, environments promote engagement, and our needs for autonomy, mastery, and relatedness are met, we get happy, engaged staff.