Taking Action

We can begin by stepping away from the self-improvement craze and understanding our place in the larger flow of life. What are we here to achieve? What needs can we address (aside from our own) and how can we make a real difference to other lives? Meaning is relational by its very nature. It grows out of bursting our self-reflective bubbles and belonging to something larger than ourselves.

Mindfulness, hypnosis, and flow all involve states of deep attention, but each has a key differentiator.

Today I want to highlight two compelling concepts from Happy Together that can help you cultivate stronger and happier relationships.

Kegan’s 5th order of consciousness involves being able to hold onto multiple perspectives at the same time, bound together by common questions, not letting ourselves be not thrown apart in the search for common answers. Given the challenges we face in the world, the timing couldn’t be more right.

Welcome back to part 2 of the active learning studies done by my students this fall.

It seems that every year around Thanksgiving, people like to quote Dr. Robert Emmons’ work on gratitude. It becomes de rigeur to count your blessings and enumerate what you are grateful for. But I’d like to propose something a little different this year.

We are so excited to have the esteemed author Louisa Jewell as our guest for the first ever PPND webinar. Join us for a three part program: A brief interview, followed by a highpoint from her brand new book, and live questions from the audience.

There are so many creative people out there finding ways to apply positive psychology in so many different settings, from childhood to old age, from home to school to work to retirement. So how do you stand on the shoulders of these giants in our field? Hint: short window before the price of the Positive Psychology Toolkit© goes up.

What do you get when you mix together a compelling idea, numerous engaging stories, a clear structure, and a firm research grounding? You get a book that is made to stick and useful from the moment you read it. This is a book I’ll keep close by to help me plan for moments that matter. I’ve thought of at least 3 opportunities to use the ideas this week.

In her abundant, practical, and well-researched book about confidence, Louisa Jewell weaves together the science of positive psychology, self-efficacy, self-determination theory, and neuropsychology in an engaging and accessible manner.

The University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the online education platform Coursera, has launched a specialization certificate program called Foundations of Positive Psychology. The five-course series provides participants with the key theories and research in the field of Positive Psychology, as well as opportunities for application.

Character Strengths Interventions is a gold mine for practitioners. Its tips, 24 handouts, and 70 interventions are valuable nuggets. Figuring out how to quickly finding those nuggets will make this book even more useful. I hope this review helps you efficiently strike gold in this valuable book.

Getting Grit is like getting a coach between book covers. It is a clear, application-oriented book full of reflection questions, activities, and exercises for people who want to build authentic grit that will make a difference not just for themselves, but also for the communities around them.

I wasn’t sure about reading this book, but I’m ever so glad that I did. I want to read it again with my highlighter firmly in hand and note all the wisdom again. this book This book has definitely equipped me to be more compassionate when someone close to me is suffering from a tragic loss. I feel that I know better what to say, what to do, and how to be a meaningful support with less fear and trepidation, and more confidence.

Pondering the possibility that the theory of learned helplessness is both backwards and incomplete.

Andy Molinsky lays out a comprehensive system of problems and corresponding solutions clearly and smoothly. Many people will find in his book the means to make the hard climb into a better, wider world.

Including psychological well-being in a company’s health promotion effort can take you from basic wellness to greater overall well-being. It helps us do more, and do it better.

It’s time to break the silence about suffering at work. Suffering happens everywhere. From page 11 in this book, “Without compassion, workplaces can become powerful amplifiers of human suffering.” Read on to explore the alternative, where organizations and the people in them awaken compassion at work.

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) is a strong tool for exploring the past, enhancing mindfulness in the present, and imagining the future.

How might we create a deeper understanding of the elements that drive well-being? How do we capture meaning, ensure learning, and build collaboration so that people engage in the issues that strengthen their well-being? What about using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to help people think with their fingers and eyes as well as their minds.