15 Apr 7 Positive Strategies for Happiness and Life Success
I'll come right out and say it, from the very start, that for regular readers of this blog there may not be anything new in this article I'm about to share.
But that being said, it's a great summary of Positive Psychology principles and a wonderfully practical list of tips for more happiness and life success.
So if you're interested in a quick review and/or a happiness boost/reminder then, read on and enjoy…
by Dr. Colleen Georges from the Huffington Post
As a positive psychology coach and educator, people share with me all the time, "I just want to be happier." Whether we are looking for greater harmony in our family relationships, more meaningful friendships, greater purpose and satisfaction at work, or more engagement in our community, the end goal is usually the same — happiness.
I fell in love with positive psychology because unlike traditional psychology, which aims to take us from dysfunctioning to mere functioning, positive psychology endeavors to bring us the steps beyond to thriving, flourishing, and happiness. The field offers numerous research-backed tools for doing just this.
These are seven of my favorite positive psychology happy habits for enriching our work and lives overall:
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Focus on Strengths: Too often we think, "What's wrong with me and how can I fix it?" instead of "What's right with me and how can I use it?" Even organizations make this error, drawing attention to ways the company and its employees are underperforming rather than maximizing how they're excelling. However, countless studies have demonstrated we are at our best when engaging our strengths. Two pioneering strengths assessments, the VIA Survey of Character Strengths and Clifton StrengthsFinder, provide tools for individuals to identify their strengths and leverage them for greater happiness at home and work. Father of positive psychology Dr. Martin Seligman and his colleagues found that when we use our strengths in new and different ways regularly, we experience higher levels of happiness and lower levels of depression. Furthermore, the VIA Institute on Character, in partnership with MAPP graduate Michelle McQuaid, conducted the VIA Strengths at Work Survey and discovered that 70 percent of professionals who use their strengths at work each day report feeling engaged, influential, and that they're flourishing in their workplaces.
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Express Gratitude: Rather than yearning for what we don't have, we do more good for our health and happiness by expressing gratitude for all we do have. Whether thanking a higher power, friends, family, colleagues, or strangers, gratitude has lasting positive impacts. Studies by leading gratitude researcher Dr. Robert Emmons have found that those who practice gratitude experience greater joy, pleasure, happiness, and optimism. Moreover, a gratitude survey by The John Templeton Foundation discovered that 88 percent of professionals indicated expressing gratitude to their work colleagues makes them feel happier. Saying "thank you" to others, counting your daily blessings, writing a gratitude letter, and recognizing a colleague's contributions can have critical impacts on happiness.
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Be Kind and Generous: Occasionally, we can get caught up in being busy and forget to take time for kindness. In Give and Take, Dr. Adam Grant shares research on how giving to others has a significant impact on our personal and career success and happiness. Grant suggests such things as seeking opportunities to do a favor for someone, practicing random acts of kindness, volunteering in your community, and helping colleagues craft their jobs to their strengths. Simple kindnesses matter too, like smiling at a stranger, paying a compliment, or holding the door for someone…
…keep reading the full & original article HERE