A scientific branch called “positive psychology” specializes in the investigation of happy feelings, contentment, and flourishing. Positive psychology aims to comprehend how people and societies can thrive rather than focused on mental illness and disorder.
In contrast to traditional psychology’s dominant focus on detecting and treating mental health illnesses, positive psychology first arose in the late 1990s. The basic principle of positive psychology is that there are facets of human experience and behavior that may be researched and developed to advance thriving and well-being.
“Subjective well-being,” which relates to a person’s experience of happiness and life satisfaction, is one of the main ideas of positive psychology. According to research, several things might affect one’s subjective well-being, such as happy feelings, enjoyable relationships, and a sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Research in positive psychology has discovered several behaviors and strategies that can foster flourishing and well-being. Here are a few examples:
Gratitude: It has been discovered that expressing gratitude for the wonderful things in life fosters pleasant emotions, boosts resilience, and enhances interpersonal relationships.
Mindfulness: Practice of mindfulness meditation has been shown to lower stress, enhance cognitive performance, and boost happy feelings.
Positive relationships: It has been shown that keeping up good interactions with others fosters wellbeing and guards against depression and anxiety.
Flow: It has been shown that partaking in activities that cause a state of “flow”—a sensation of intense focus and enjoyment—promote wellbeing and happy feelings.
Strengths-based approaches: Approaches that emphasize a person’s strengths rather than their faults have been found to help people feel better about themselves and have higher self-esteem.
Positive psychology goes beyond just promoting personal happiness. Additionally, it has significant effects on the development of societal and communal well-being. For instance, social support, social connectivity, and a sense of belonging are significant factors in increasing wellbeing and lowering the risk of mental health issues, according to positive psychology studies.
It’s not about obtaining eternal happiness or disregarding unpleasant feelings or experiences that you can win the battle of positive psychology. Instead, it involves developing a resilient, appreciative, and optimistic mindset that helps people to flourish even in the midst of adversity. You may build a sense of well-being and thriving that will have a good effect on all areas of your life by implementing these techniques and routines into your everyday life.