Pick any chapter from Chris Peterson’s posthumously published book, Pursuing the Good Life: 100 Reflections on Positive Psychology, and you’re in for a real treat. His reflections cover every aspect of what it means to be human and to live a life worth living. Even sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll get a passing mention, although you won’t find them listed in the index.
Category:
Hope
-
-
Making Hope Happen is fun to read and full of both science and stories. Lopez helps us understand that there is a difference between optimism and hope. He outlines The Hope Cycle, which includes goals, agency, and pathways. He makes a case for the value of cultivating hope in our lives.
-
Even though Ken Keir focused on Honda’s R&D philosophy, explaining that in recessionary times, the company goes against the tide and invests more in R&D rather than less, by the time we reached slide 5 of the presentation on the Honda strategy, vision, values, and behavior, it was pretty clear to me that here was a company founded on positive psychology principles. How did I know?
-
AllCreativityHopeIn-the-NewsOptimismRelationshipsSelf regulationSportsStrengths
2012 London Olympic Games: The Optimism Legacy
During the recent London 2012 Olympic Games an unparalleled mood of optimism and hope swept across the United Kingdom. It was without doubt an extraordinary two weeks. The question is whether we can maintain and capitalize on that sense of Olympic optimism now that the games are over, the athletes have all flown home, and life is settling back to normal. As with the sporting legacy, only time will tell.
-
The Society of Behavioral Medicine recently published a debate on the health implications of positive psychology between Lisa Aspinwall and Richard Tedeschi on the one hand and James Coyne and Howard Tennen on the other. Positive psychology for health care has been a bit of a controversial subject since some feel that too much positivity or optimism can be damaging to health or cause people to be lax about their health.
-
AllAweGratitudeHome and FamilyHopeIn-the-NewsLoveOptimismPositive EmotionRelationshipsSpirituality
Oprah’s Last Class
For twenty years my dear friend Ann and I have been watching the Oprah Winfrey show, so it seemed appropriate that we watch Oprah’s last show together. Through the power of storytelling and television, Oprah brought to life many lessons taught by positive psychologists around the world. She used her final show to share her greatest lessons from 25 years of the Oprah show. Here they are…
-
Over three hundred delegates convened on Friday April 8th for the Leading to Well-Being Conference held at George Mason University. The conference brought together scholars and practitioners to focus on the intersection of positive psychology and leadership. One of the conference organizers, Nance Lucas, explained, “We are committed to raising people’s awareness around the science of well-being and positive psychology and helping people apply this in their lives personally, organizationally, and in their communities.”
-
AllGritHopeHumilityPathway 3 "Meaning"RelationshipsStrengths
The Good Life According to J. K. Rowling
by Amanda Horneby Amanda HorneTwo weeks ago a very good friend wrote to me, “This is wonderful – perhaps some grist for your newsletter?” She included a link to J. K. Rowling’s June 2008 Commencement Address. Rowling said she had two key themes: the benefits of failure, and the importance of imagination in finding empathy. But I found much, much more.
-
Are there positive ways to combat employee negativity? Are you interested in improving personal and organizational performance and at the same time personal and organizational well-being? Over the long Christmas…
-
I’ve been thinking about how to sum up the main topics of positive psychology. Many people think of Chris Peterson’s three word summary, “Other people matter.” This phrase, powerful in…
-
AllHopeLoveMindfulnessPathway 3 "Meaning"Positive FeelingsRelationshipsResilienceSpirituality
The Art of Comforting
by Denise Cleggby Denise CleggWhen we chose the theme of relationships as a topic for PPND this month, I asked myself, what is true love? I would describe myself as a (covert/genuine/tentative-but-rational … Heathcliff!!)…
-
AllAweCommunicationGritHopeLovePathway 1 "Pleasure"Positive FeelingsRelationshipsSavoring / In-the-Moment_1 Positive Experiences
(Film Review) UP: The Power of Now for New & Old Adventures
by Louis Alloroby Louis AlloroLast week I saw (from the first row, and in 3-D) Disney Pixar’s Up , an animated film about life, adventure, and friendship. The film certainly pulled on my heart strings in a very “other-people-matter” positive-psychology way. The film also speaks to this month’s theme of fun and play. […]
-
AllHopePathway 2 "Engagement / Flow"Pathway 3 "Meaning"ResilienceStrengthsStress_2 Positive Traits
Beyond Resilience: Growth after Adversity
Growth occurs not through the suffering itself, but through the individual’s struggle and reconstruction of shattered assumptions. Many people then make dramatic life changes and shift priorities based on this new way of seeing the world. In doing so, they can also change the world.
-
I’ve recently become aware of a question that’s important to many of my coaching clients: “What are the skills for resilience I can use throughout my life?” I’ve been thinking about this…
-
AllGratitudeHopePositive FeelingsResilienceStrengthsStress
Resilience: A Valuable Resource in Adversity
by Eleanor Chinby Eleanor ChinWho isn’t affected by the financial melt-down these days? As a coach, I hear daily about the psychological, physical, emotional and relational impact of rocky financial times. Adversity is part…
-
AllAppreciative InquiryGoalsGratitudeHopeLoveMindfulnessMotivationOptimismPositive FeelingsResilienceStrengthsTaking Action
Positive Psychology Pyramid
by Dave Shearonby Dave ShearonThe “Positive Psychology Pyramid” is an approach to organizing positive psychology research to help those seeking “better” to move forward. What’s your metaphor or organizing image? (For those who like an organic theme, see the end of the post.)
-
AllBusinessGritHome and FamilyHopeMotivationOptimismParenting & SchoolsPathway 2 "Engagement / Flow"Pathway 3 "Meaning"Topics_2 Positive Traits_3 Positive Organizations
How to See More Motivated Teens
When did we start calling kids “self-motivated” if they responded to someone or something outside themselves? Doesn’t the word “self” mean that it comes from the individual himself? Is someone truly self-motivated if they are doing something to get a reward from someone else? Teens who are not top students may appear to be unmotivated when we look only at their school performance.
-
AllHabitsHappiness ExercisesHome and FamilyHopeHumorLoveMotivationPathway 1 "Pleasure"Pathway 2 "Engagement / Flow"Pathway 3 "Meaning"StrengthsTaking Action_1 Positive Experiences_3 Positive Organizations
From Ho Hum Holidays to a Whole Lot of Fun
by Louis Alloroby Louis AlloroI have had the good fortune of being born into a large, Italian family, for which I am utterly and completely grateful…. Communitas is a ritual-building process that inspires and revitalizes while reaffirming relationships within a community, state University of Virginia psychologist Jonathan Haidt and his colleagues. According to Anthropologist Victor Turner, building communitas is an essential step to activating a community to healthy family functioning, healthy child development, and other dimensions of well-being.
-
AllHabitsHappiness ExercisesHealthHopeInterviewMotivationPathway 2 "Engagement / Flow"Resilience_2 Positive Traits
Empowerment over Disability
If you met Denni Chipollini before one of his speaking engagements, you’d see his communicative smile and feel his positive attitude. But you’d never guess what the story behind his energy is.
-
Barbara Heileman and Jan Elsner have been practitioners of positive psychology in business contexts in Australia for several years. When I asked, “What is the most burning thing you want to share with us?” their response concerned effective ways of measuring outcomes in terms that are organizationally relevant to business.