Positive psychology has been around for centuries, but it’s experiencing a resurgence in popularity in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic—and everything that came with it—had a negative impact on mental health as a whole, increasing the number of people experiencing mental illness like anxiety and depression.
Can refocusing on what’s good in life help reverse that trend?
Defining Positive Psychology
When you think about psychology, you may think of it as problem-focused. That type of psychology can be helpful, allowing people to work through issues they’re facing and improve upon weaknesses.
Positive psychology works differently. As its name indicates, it focuses on the positive. That includes positive emotions like happiness, positive character traits or interests, positive relationships and positive institutions.
Positive psychology is the scientific study of what constitutes the “good life.” Its roots can be traced back to ancient Greece, where people sought out eudaimonia, which translates as happiness.
In the 1960s, an American psychotherapist named Carl Rogers expanded on this thought, emphasizing that all people strive to fully function and reach their potential.
Fast-forward to the 1990s. Martin Seligman is often noted as the father of positive psychology. As President of the American Psychological Society, he promoted positive psychology as a science of human flourishing.
The Benefits of Positive Psychology
Someone who is living out positive psychology focuses on finding meaning and satisfaction in life. That doesn’t mean ignoring the negatives that crop up. Instead, it means accepting them as part of life and finding ways to improve well-being.
Because positive psychology focuses on building and developing positive character traits, it offers many benefits. Research has shown, for example, that practicing gratitude, a type of positive psychology exercise, benefits both physical and mental health.
This type of psychology also encourages other practices that promote well-being, such as more frequently feeling awe and finding a sense of purpose in life.
It makes sense. At its roots, positive psychology focuses on connecting with others, savoring the pleasures of life and developing a sense of gratitude—all best practices for feeling and being at your emotional best.
Putting Positive Psychology into Action
Wondering how to reap the benefits of positive psychology in your everyday life? Try these tips:
- Take a deep dive into your strengths. Are you your own worst critic? Many people are. Flip that mindset by taking the time to identify your best traits. Knowing your strengths gives you a foundation to build from as you strive for fulfillment and lasting happiness.
- Think PERMA. Seligman identified five building blocks for well-being: positive emotions, engagement with a project or idea, positive relationships, meaning and achievement. Look to incorporate each of them into your life regularly.
- Find your flow. “Flow” is considered a state of immersion in an activity that brings pleasure or enjoyment. To find your flow, do an activity you enjoy, like creating art, hiking or playing pickup basketball. When you’re completely immersed in the activity, that’s your flow.
- Build a gratitude practice. Focusing on items, practices and people you’re thankful for is one key way to find the positives in life. You can do so in many ways, such as expressing your gratitude to others, keeping a diary of daily reflections on gratitude or including it in your morning prayers.
- Savor the good stuff. Love grandma’s chicken and dumplings? Slow down the next time you eat them and truly soak up the taste. Spotted a beautiful sunrise? Don’t rush to grab your cup of coffee—stay at the window to watch the colors unfold. Taking time to savor pleasure is a known way to improve well-being.
There are many other ways to practice positive psychology. The trick is to simply focus on what makes you thrive and include more of that in your life.
More to Read
- Men’s Mental Health: Breaking the Silence
- Sports Psychology: Unlocking Mental Resilience for Peak Performance
- The Surprising Connection Between Gratitude and Mental Health
- How to Create a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C, Executive Director of the Klein Family Center.
