Historically and culturally, Positive Psychology took a giant leap forward this summer with two complementary international conferences held in China on Positive Behavioral Science and Positive Education. These events aimed at promoting mental health, happiness, …

The 6th Biennial Meaning conference took place August 5-8 in Vancouver Canada. The theme was Creating a Psychologically Healthy Workplace, and sessions also touched on a deeper theme — the importance of meaning to the quality of our lives. Many of the sessions were recorded and recordings are available for purchase, if this brief summary makes you wish you had been there. My own presentation on articulating a shared and valued purpose at work is available in the collection.

When I stumbled upon research about the effects of the economic crisis on well-being, I was primed to be curious because I had just read Louisa Jewell’s critique of Bright-Sided and the numerous comments it …

The Positive Neuroscience Project has announced the recipients of the 2010 Templeton Positive Neuroscience Awards, $2.9 million given to 15 new research projects at the intersection of neuroscience and positive psychology. Read on to learn about the winning projects that explore a range of topics including how the brain enables humans to flourish, the biological bases of altruism, and the effects of positive interventions on the brain.

A friend of mine suggested that I read Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America, because it is always good to be knowledgeable about the criticism in your field. So …

Visiting an 87-year-old friend in a supported living facility, I have been wondering what gives meaning to life when someone is no longer able to serve others or contribute to lifetime passions or pursue a larger purpose.

Have you ever observed how people try to change their behavior and become increasingly frustrated while they keep on doing the same thing over and over. It’s no easy task to change an individual’s behavior. Prochaska and DiClemente prepare us for the story of change –that it can be a spiral and that there are specific processes that support an individual in moving through each stage.

We often think of forgiveness as something that we do on behalf of others. That’s called interpersonal forgiveness. Unlike gratitude, however, which makes the giver and receiver feel good, forgiveness is more of a one-way …

Delegates from more than 50 countries joined forces at the inaugural Exercise is Medicine™ World Congress with two goals: Unite with others across borders to build a healthier world and globalize Exercise is Medicine™ as a positive movement. The goal is to make exercise the most widely prescribed drug in the world!

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin gave a keynote speech at the Exercise is Medicine™ conference. In charge of 6500 uniformed health officers, Dr. Benjamin is an advocate for prevention in health care, and told the audience “People need our help!”