by Lynn Soots | January, 2017 | Classroom Reflections
“Be in charge of your own happiness” Before taking this course I thought about how much I hoped to learn some new ways to keep myself happy. An Ah-Ha moment for me was learning about happiness and how to focus on mindfulness. I did not realize how many factors play a role in keeping myself happy. During this course, I have learned that staying happy it truly in my own hands. Although life gets in the way and it is easy to focus on the negative things, making sure to keep my thoughts out of the negative thinking traps helps maintain a happy lifestyle. Shifting focus from negative to positive Focusing on things in my life that help me remain a happy person, whether it is working out or just taking some time to read a book plays a factor in maintaining happiness. Happiness overall can come in any form, shape, or size. I learned that it is better for my health to try and stay more positive and to be a happy person. I have noticed that I used to focus a little too much on the negative, and it seemed as if that was all my life was made up of. When I began focusing more on the positive that surrounds me every day I began to feel overjoyed. A happy me, a happy world around me Now I try to set some time aside for myself away from my mother and wife role. During this time I do something that I enjoy doing. Although being a mother and wife has created some of the greatest days...
by Lynn Soots | January, 2017 | Classroom Reflections
Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream —John Lennon Before Taking Positive Psychology, my thoughts about the course were that I wondered what on earth positive psychology meant. I thought that the course was going to be very analytical, and based more on learning facts and seeing the underlying meaning. As it turns out, this course was very enjoyable, and I was able to take away a lot of great information. It has also provided me with a lot of tools that have helped me to view the most positive side of my world. The positive tool of FLOW One of the most enjoyable parts of the course was learning about FLOW. As we learned about FLOW, I was able to make connections and realize that I have experienced it before. I used the term being in the zone, but it is basically the same thing. FLOW is when you enter a state where everything just flows, time is not a factor, you barely have to think and everything is in sync. Throughout the experience, there is a sense of accomplishment, but you do not feel as though you are working. When the experience is done, there is a feeling of accomplishment and a feeling of being relaxed and revived. When we learned about FLOW, I kept thinking of all the times which I have experienced FLOW. I thought deeper and thought of how I felt, during and after. I tried to remember what went through my head, but there was nothing significant that I could remember, it was like being on autopilot, but everything was done with...
by Lynn Soots | January, 2017 | Classroom Reflections
The mind is everything. What you think you become ~Buddha Focusing on Strengths Instead of Negativity Before taking Positive Psychology, my thoughts about the course were exactly what the name of the course stated—Positive Psychology. I expected it to be a bubbly class with all positivity that screamed be hapPY, haPPY, HAPPY! During the course, I realized that while my first assumption may be true to some degree, positive psychology does not only address the positive but the negative as well. Strength to make peace with negativity An Ah-Ha moment for me was learning about how to focus on strengths and use them to get past the negatives in life. This was especially eye-opening to me, as it is hard to try to be positive when everything seems to be going wrong. Sometimes the negative overcrowds our thoughts and it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to be positive. I learned that instead of focusing on positive or negative aspects to focus on my strengths! Focusing on my strengths helps me to remain focused and not to be discouraged. I can use those strengths to kick the negativity to the curb because I have the strengths to overcome this trial and tribulation! When I developed that mentality I am was easily discouraged, nor did I feel overwhelmed with anxiety about the future. Is was a clarity moment, as I know I am able to do anything that I put my mind to! Positive psychology opened my eyes to a better way of looking at things within my life. Balancing the focus I learned...
by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
“The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand we listen to reply.” Using what I learned I thought Positive Psychology was about having a positive outlook on life, and how to deal with things in a positive manner. I know that psychology deals with different point of views and always helps me apply what I have learned to my life. After the course, I expected to apply my knowledge and to become a more positive individual. An Ah-Ha moment for me was learning about communication. This was a very important topic because I believe that communication is the key to personal and career success. Communication is very vital to any type of relationship, whether it is personal or professional. Poor communication is the cause of many problems because of misunderstanding, miscommunication, and poor listening. Positive Psychology opened my eyes to proper communication. No matter what the situation is, there is a way to properly express your point of view; whether it is through verbal or non-verbal communication. Listening to understand “Communication skills are essential for empathizing with others, for understanding their concerns, and for setting the stage for interpersonal problem solving” (Carr, A Pg. 369). The text explored how miscommunication and misunderstanding are big problems in the world of technology when is come to communication. Generally, there is a lack the connection of emotions and body language when we use technology to communicate. As the stated quote indicates, we do not listen to understand we listen to reply and also state our own point of view without paying attention or understanding others. Strong enough to embrace...
by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
NLimits, like fear, is often an illusion.— Michael Jordan Introduction to a new journey Before taking the course Positive Psychology I was not so sure what to expect. I thought positive psychology was the same as positive thinking. I realized that positive psychology was not about being happy all the time, but focused on developing strengths we already have; our self-efficacy of what is possible from within. I realized that positive psychology shows us how negative emotions can be used to become more resilient; an intrinsic motivation. An Ah-Ha moment for me was learning about FLOW. I am often losing track of time and focus when I run. It is because I enjoy it while challenging myself without reaching a point of anxiety or total exhaustion. FLOW is exactly that! I was not familiar with the term, but when I started to read about FLOW, I saw how intrinsic motivation could lead a person to emerge into an activity due to the pleasure received. Related theory While reading the positive psychology book by Dr. Carr, I came across the theory that best relates to FLOW and how I understand it. The self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), suggests that people tend to be driven by a need to grow and gain fulfillment. This theory focuses primarily on internal sources of motivation known as intrinsic motivation. This why a person who is enjoying something, tends to lose track of time; it becomes an activity of free-will and a reward unto itself. An eye-opening experience The eye-opening experience: positive psychology opened my eyes to a very interesting concept introduced by Albert...
