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It’s summer and I know I wanna go hit the beach and maybe you do too but did you know that between 80 and 90% of all women dislike their bodies? I mean, hate their bodies. The question is can positive psychology help?

Tal Ben-Shahar mesmerized a standing-room-only audience eager to learn about the science and practical steps necessary to experience greater well-being. I return to cover the remaining two parts of his talk, as well as interesting topics that arose in the Q&A session with Julie Rice.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  On July 18, we will have a Positive Psychology News webinar featuring George E. Vaillant, M.D. discussing the REAL difference between happiness and joy.

It’s beautiful out, and it’s no surprise that nature makes us feel good. But the question is how and why, and how do we get more out of it?

Tal Ben-Shahar is deeply humble, but he mesmerized a standing-room-only audience eager to learn about the science and practical steps necessary to experience greater well-being. Then Julie Rice interviewed Tal in a riveting discussion on happiness. I shall cover 3 of his 5 major points in this article and return on Thursday with the rest.

As much as we need to feel that we belong and that others want us, it is even more critical to know that we matter, that we have something to offer, and that our contribution is seen and appreciated. Here are some actions that can facilitate a culture of mattering.

We interviewed James and Suzie Pawelski on our most recent PPND Webinar on June 20th.  We discussed relationships and the ideas from their book,   Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts. Here is the webinar in case you missed it or want to see it again!

It’s long been documented that relationships are a major predictor of life satisfaction. Also romantic relationships help people be happier and healthier and live longer. The question is, how do we have a better romantic relationship?

Part 1 ended with a question about whether human beings are capable of holistic growth throughout their adult years. In Part 2, I contend that the passing of youth does not leave us confined to learning only very specific grownup skills for which a capacity is already in place. We can go beyond skill training to growth. Kegan and Lahey give us existence proofs, three very different corporate cultures where continuous personal growth is the norm. They call these existence proofs deliberately developmental organizations (DDOs).

We’ve seen a lot in the news lately about depression with the very sad, tragic deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, both by suicide. And of course, there are 45,000 deaths by suicide in the U.S. every year and 800,000 around the world.

The question is, can positive psychology help, and a recent research study says yes.

Is there a connection between mothers working outside the home and adolescent depression? What emerged when I studied this question surprised me. It appeared that children of mothers with rewarding careers are actually doing quite well. However children with mothers who are depressed, working or not, are at a much greater risk for adolescent depression. In my quest to help working mothers find well-being, I have found numerous simple mechanisms that working mothers can use to improve their daily experience, thereby reducing the risk of depression in themselves and their children..

Researchers have long talked about the good of savoring. Recent research that came out in 2018 also shows that savoring the past can help with being optimistic about the future.

How Using Our Talents in Service of Others May Help Keep Obsessive Passion in Check

On this first episode, we talk about why are we even doing small bites? It’s because of how your brain works.

The practice of forgiveness has been found to improve health outcomes because it reduces physiological responses to stress. Forgiveness can serve as a powerful, self-administered salve. If one does not forgive, it is like handing the transgressor the skeleton key to the door of one’s life. Forgiveness might not prevent the pain of the past, but it can reduce suffering in the future.

ANNOUNCEMENT: On May 24, we will have a Positive Psychology News webinar featuring Alex Goldfayn, author of Selling Boldly: Applying the New Science of Positive Psychology to Dramatically Increase Your Confidence, Happiness, and Sales.

Do you keep up with the news? If you’re like me, you find that your well-being takes a nosedive after a dose of the news. Nonetheless, I don’t think we should avoid it. A strong democracy requires us to be informed citizens. That’s what led me to study the question: What can we do to keep informed without a major cost to our well-being?

HERO organizations are financially healthy and stable. Because the psychosocial capital exists, they are better equipped to deal with the volatile economic times that are our everyday reality.

On May 6-7, 2018, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) hosted a ground-breaking Summit on Happiness Science in Health Care: Infusing Positive Psychology into Medicine and Health Care. Participants all recognize the need to connect positive psychology and health care.

Therapist self-care represents a unique application of the principles of positive psychology. Self-care that supports and sustains clinicians’ well-being through positive evidence-based strategies has immense potential not only for the therapists’ wellness, but also for the benefit of those they serve.