Understanding Positive Psychology

The field of Positive Psychology is the scientific study of Well-Being. In 1996 the president of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Martin Seligman, decided that is was time to look deep into what creates personal thriving, post-traumatic growth, longevity and a life worth living.

Up until that point in Psychology the focus had been on mental illness. It was concluded that eradicating negative behavior and negative thought patterns did not automatically create positivity and thriving. Dr. Seligman felt that a whole branch of psychology was missing. He and a multitude of colleagues forged ahead to create thousands of global studies that birthed theories, interventions, strategies and groundbreaking information that shed light on the importance of the application of Positive Psychology for all walks and phases of life.

Dr. Seligman developed teachable intervention acronyms like PERMA. Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Achievement. Highlighting the necessities for a positive and thriving existence. Helping others to understand and achieve the basic human needs of Autonomy, Relatedness and Competence is part of the focus of Positive Psychology.  Learning how to create positive emotions, set and stick with obtainable goals, create healthy and positive relationships and community, while leading with our signature strengths are ways in which we begin to create Well-Being. This field of study has now taken root all over the world and is enthusiastically becoming part of main-stream psychology.

Positive Psychology and The Arts

Paring this field of study with the creation, observation and expression of art is a powerful tool for growth minded development. When people experience art in the form of writing, performing, music, or fine art they are often able to not only feel joy, interest and curiosity, but are also able to work through difficult experiences and emotions that are too problematic or uncomfortable to address head on. It allows another avenue for assimilation and learning in children and adults. In the process of creating, we are able to explore and reframe events, feelings, and experiences. When done in a workshop environment we learn from other’s experiences, which creates and develops empathy. This inherently develops support and community while we explore our own inner life.

Developing Creativity facilitates flexibility in thinking, tolerance for ambiguity, tolerance for frustration, willingness to restructure problems and openness to more experiences. Creativity creates a heightened vitality that is restorative. It offers a more complete understanding of the world.

Knowing one’s constellation of strengths through creating and then receiving feedback gives way to higher functioning. Exploring topics of Positive Psychology through writing and performing prompts creates strategies for coping skills and self-reflection. Topics can be about forgiveness, spirituality, hope, humor, perseverance, gratitude, acceptance, love, courage, justice, fairness, honesty, self-regulation, judgment, curiosity and such.

Positive Psychology and Parenting

Children have their own intrinsic constellation of strengths. In this day and age of the downfalls from social media, video games, and the sheer exposure to media in general, children, teens and young adults can lose their way to the development of emotional and social intelligence, and succumb to social comparison, feelings of isolation, unworthiness, and a whole assortment of negative emotions. Every young person deserves to thrive, have well- being and develop to meet their potential with a solid understanding of themselves. Positive Psychology interventions can help to guide them to their best possible selves. Parenting strategies based in Positive Psychology intervention can go a long way to help the healthy development of our children.