Generate A Better World

Generate A Better World

The willingness to change the world in the classroom of EMAPP* A few days ago, in a Portuguese EMAPP class, we were talking about the scope of our final projects when we realised that all of us wanted to “change the world”. Upon listening to this illation, that someone said out loud, we all agreed and laughed about the accurate and timely nature of the statement. In fact, all of our projects, in some way, support the desire to improve society, to contribute to the common happiness or to develop more positively the human beings and their belonging groups. As a matter of fact, positive psychology, as a scientific knowledge, seems to match perfectly with this shared purpose but why this happens? Do we all want to be superheroes or is there a scientific explanation for this desire to make a better world? Generativity: When the legacy brings well-being There is a concept that can explain this collective interest. It’s called generativity and belongs to Erikson[1] referring to the adults’ concern for and commitment to the well-being of the next generations as manifested in parenting, teaching, mentoring and other behaviors that aim to leave a positive legacy for future generations (for example, being a reference to someone, feeling useful, doing some volunteer work, etc). According to the model of the mentioned author, generativity can be reached at midlife which happens at the age of 35-60 years. What studies have shown is that generative individuals have higher levels of subjective well-being and happiness[2]. That is, generative individuals look for the well-being of others and, from this demand, achieve personal well-being....
Go Luck Yourself!

Go Luck Yourself!

Are some people luckier? Have you noticed that some people seem to experience more good luck than others? Why is that? Are they just lucky so-and-so’s or might they actually be able to ‘attract’ good luck? Books such as The Secret may sell you the idea of a universal ‘law of attraction’, in which ‘like attracts like’ and that positive thoughts will bring positive things your way, and negative thoughts attract negative events. Personally, I’m not convinced. However, that’s not to say there is nothing we can do to influence our luck. As someone who has spent an unhealthy amount of time exploring the concept of luck, or more specifically, the psychology of luck (I did a PhD on the topic!), I’ve come to the conclusion that ideas drawn from positive psychology might just shed some light on the matter. It’s all part of a project called ‘Go Luck Yourself!’, which you can find out more about, and even participate in, here. To give you a flavour of the project, consider these 5 simple, yet effective, ways to change how you think about luck and see how they have the power to transform your luck experiences… Embrace ‘luck’ So many things in life are uncertain, unexpected and unplanned. Most days will involve events like this, big or small. The challenge (indeed, the fun!) is to embrace these events and acknowledge that much of what happens to us is down to luck, good and bad. Notice it. Accept it. Embrace it. The ‘good luck mindset’ If you tend to expect good luck rather than bad, you may find that you’re...
Playing To Strengths…Through Style?

Playing To Strengths…Through Style?

Identity and style On the heels of divorce, I hadn’t been feeling great, awkward in everything I wore, not sure whether to look available or aloof. My empty handed shopping expeditions left me frustrated and feeling old. When your identity changes, so does style, but what was my identity now? Trying to achieve one’s style is linked to identity and how we see, portray, and feel about ourselves. Yet, the pressure to follow trendy styles made me feel foolish and out of place. Who I am/was/would be and what I was wearing did not reflect my current state. I was surprised to discover the role clothes played in how I saw myself and hesitated writing this blog, Seriously? Fashion, style, and positive psychology?! How our look affects us I’m not talking about spending thousands on clothes or hours in a spa, nor a narrow focus on appearance to the exclusion of intellect, or personality, rather, playing up physical strengths that make us unique and beautiful to bring out the best in ourselves. In fact, Mausch and Hefferon (2014) are on the case; how we look affects us. Consider a haircut; it’s not major, but enough to refresh you for a time. Changing our look can disrupt the habitual ruts in which we find ourselves, transform identity and be a source of positive emotion. While standards vary, we easily spot beautiful people. Not the usual runway models, they are individuals who confidently express their identity through a carefully developed sense of style that suits them well (cut, color, size), demonstrates self-respect for the body (no gratuitous cleavage, purposeful thong lines,...
Help for the Despairing

Help for the Despairing

The impact of suicide The impact of suicide on the families and society is considerable, so why is it that in 2013 there were 6,233 successful suicides recorded? This means that in every 85 minute period someone kills themselves, according to the Office for National Statistics. Or in a little over 7 hours – 4 men and 1 woman die by their own hands. Sadly, this does not reflect the number of people who commit suicide by hidden ways, like the brave army officer who stands in front of a terrorist, which can be considered suicide by another, or the individuals who make their suicide seem like an accident. Help make a difference Positive Psychologists have a major role to help in this area by helping the men and women who feel that suicide is the way forward and helping with their families too. What is it that we can do to help make a difference? Part of this will start with understanding the reasons people want to commit suicide, which range from desperation, wishing not to be a burden on others, right through to experimenting or testing and just losing hope. Some figures One of the first things to understand is that up to 95% of us will form a plan to commit suicide at sometime in our life! For men this increases in the 40 plus age group and there are also massive jumps in widowed men, within the first two years of being widowed. For patients, it is within two weeks of being discharged or losing the support of a key worker. The importance of this...
Shared Decision Making and Positive Psychology

Shared Decision Making and Positive Psychology

Sharing my journey As something of a foreword, I suppose the following blog serves two purposes, firstly to cement my own inchoate ramblings and serve as a way of documenting my journey or learning process. Secondly, to share observations that I see as interesting in the hope that there are others out there that are like-minded and have a shared interest. Changing focus My research path and direction has recently straightened itself out as I move from examining the highly individual engaging, satisfying flow experiences to a focus on exploring shared decision-making between clients and practitioners in counselling and psychotherapy. That is, examining how therapeutic goals and methods are decided upon in a way that sees patient involvement as key, whilst at the same time utilising the expertise of the practitioner as well as encouraging open communication and the exchange of information within the therapeutic relationship. Shared decision making Shared decision-making can be seen to hold an important place within what is known as the pluralistic approach to counselling and psychotherapy (Cooper & Mcleod, 2011), which is there area where most of my reading has been directed lately. Adopting a philosophical stance of pluralism, this framework for counselling and psychotherapy asserts that there are may be different methods or a series of different techniques, as well as the way they are delivered, that might be more preferable and work best for each individual client and the meeting of their therapy goals. A different approach On the surface this seems like quite a topic shift, and you’re probably raising an eyebrow right about now. Yet, I see a natural progression...