I’m taking a break from regular blog posting while my boys are on Spring Break. But today’s Full-Color Friday topic is one of my favorites: Positive Psychology, so I don’t want to miss it.
Martin Seligman & Authentic Happiness
Martin Seligman, a leader in the field, has lots of resources on his website. Try out some of the questionnaires. I haven’t filled out all of them, and once I do I’ll be back with the ones I think are most helpful. But it’s a good way to start thinking about how to strengthen some of the characteristics associated with happiness.
Also: A TED talk I’ve enjoyed by Seligman
The Greater Good Institute
Out of U.C. Berkeley (Go Bears!) comes a great website full of resources, articles and newsletters. I especially like the Raising Happiness section by Christine Carter, author of the book by the same name. Sign up for their newsletter for a dose of good news in your in-box.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi & Flow
Csikszentmihalyi, who’s kind of a big deal, introduced us to the idea of “Flow,” or getting so involved with something that time seems to stop. He believes that seeking Flow experiences is what gives meaning to our life, and also helps us cope with trauma and the inherent pain that life brings. Here’s a TED talk where he discusses how he got interested in resiliency, creativity and flow.
Psychology Today’s Roundup
As Positive Psychology gets more popular, that bastion of pop psychology, Psychology Today, has posted quite a few articles about it. As much as we therapists bash Psychology Today for not being academic enough, it really does summarize some key concepts pretty well. And, they have a pretty good directory for finding therapists in your area.
I’ll be writing more about positive psychology research and how to use it practically. It’s one of my favorite subjects, and I definitely get into the “flow” while talking about it.
Here in northern California, the clouds are breaking up, so I’m going to go out and enjoy the sunshine!
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