by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
“Happiness is a function of accepting what is. Love is a function of communication. Health is a function of participation. Self-expression is a function of responsibility” —Werner Erhard Before Taking Positive Psychology, my thoughts about the course were: How can anyone teach me about Positivity. If I been trying to find it this long, it’s no way you can tell me how to feel or the steps to make it. I’m set in my ways. An Ah-Ha moment for me was learning about how Self- love and communication is good for the soul. Opening the heart and soul Positive Psychology opened my eyes to my deepest and forgotten moments. Many of us go through life trying to stay positive and happy, and we all think that we got the hang of it. However, I learned that NO one has it together. We all go through depression, self-hate and lack of communication. Each person handles it differently; some better than others, but we all go through pain and failures of our life. It’s okay to feel this way as long as you have the tools to turn it around into something positive and know that you have something to fight for. Self-love is usually thought to be easy but many times we look in the mirror and forget who we are. We lose our faith, hope, and our joy. We feel that no one loves us enough, and sometimes we feel that we do not deserve that love, but I came to realize that how can anyone love you when you don’t love yourself. Why should they love you? What...
by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns; or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses ”—Abraham Lincoln Prior to learning about the field of positive psychology, I thought it was just another of the may viewpoints within psychology. I thought that positive psychology would aim to teach future practitioners to have a positive view of the difficulties patients or clients face. While I wasn’t completely off base, I had no idea what that positive view would be; how do you look at depression as a good thing? Looking from a new perspective It was an ah-ha moment to become more educated on the teachings of positive psychology and realize it’s not just about looking at the issues in a positive way. It’s about having a whole new perspective in psychology. Positive psychologists attack issues as if they’re not issues, labeling something as an issue itself marks it difficult. Labels say it shouldn’t be happening and we need to find a way to stop it. Whereas, positive psychology tells us, the difficulties we face are normal! Depression happens, anxiety happens! Those diagnoses are not the problem; the way we view them is. Fields of psychology outside of positive psychology aim to teach “sufferers” how to cope and get rid of their issues after they have begun. Positive psychology is retroactive, how? by starting with a focus on strengths not weaknesses. Focus on strengths, not weakness; we all have weaknesses Positive psychology has the ability to teach us how to handle these issues before they even set in; because it is normal and these issues tend to happen to everyone at...
by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
“To live hopeful, with our nothings; allows us to live satisfied with our littles; hence, exemplifies living humbly with our everythings.” Before purchasing my Positive Psychology textbook, I imagined the course would have charts and images of kumbaya scenarios with Yoga–like breathing and stretching exercises. Maybe, I would see a throw-in Neo-non-denominational proverb or two, along with positive haiku to exercise the mind positively. I envisioned an epitome of relinquishment. Now with all this one would think, here at Chaminade? Well the last term outside the Chaminade gym, a professor was instructing yoga–like stretches with about 20 students: male and female. I asked my wife, as we passed, is that the Positive Psychology Class? She said, don’t worry, I signed you up for the PSY455 (Postive Psychology) on–line course with Dr. Soots. Now, I’m pretty convinced today, that what we saw was not a PSY455 class. At age 46, it’s rare I get an Ah–ha moment. I prefer the dark cloud over ’Silver Linings.’ However, from Week 2’s “Think Tank,” thanks to a fellow learner, his response gave way for an ‘Ah–ha.’ He posted: I know, logically, there is no way she would have allowed the kids to do such things if she was awake, so a better response would be concern and compassion for my wife, not attack. Another fellow learner replied: Taking that reasoning and not reacting is a strength I hope to have once I start a family Options give us true control This allowed me to feel better at not always being in control. I commend these two fine classmates who have made me realize,...
by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” ― John Holmes Finding the Truth Before Taking Positive Psychology, my thoughts about the course were that of unassuredness and apprehension. I have taken many psychology classes and there has been a mockery from many people that deem Positive Psychology a joke. One professor went so far as to state that Positive Psychology is for those not strong enough to deal with the dark reality of life. However, just a few short weeks into the class, I realized that to be false. Positive Psychology is not about just focusing on the positive and ignoring the negative. It is about finding one’s strengths and pinpointing weaknesses that need to be worked on. It is about reaching one’s potential while remaining within realistic parameters. Human suffering, as unpleasant as it is, also has a bright side, compassion. What compassion holds The definition of compassion is an emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help. It is the reason people put themselves at risk or volunteer to help others. Compassion has been shown to have physical and psychological benefits as well. Research suggests that connecting with others in a meaningful way can speed recovery from a disease and even lengthen our life span. Compassion should be a desired trait for all Psychologists, especially those in a clinical setting. A patient can deduct almost immediately if the therapist in invested and wants to help them or if all they are a name and a time. If a therapist is compassionate and demonstrates they are...
by Lynn Soots | December, 2016 | Classroom Reflections
“You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy” ~Buddha Before taking this course— I have to be honest, I did not always first think about how grateful I was. I learned that the key to true happiness is indeed gratitude. The only way to receive abundance in your life is to first be grateful for what it is you already have. Believe me; life will begin to change for the better. This class was more than I thought it would be, it actually taught me something valuable about life. Gratitude=Abundance An Ah-Ha moment for me was learning about how being grateful actually improves not only your mental health but also your physical health! Yes, it’s unbelievable. Your immune system gets stronger, your blood pumps better and you have more mental clarity than ever before. You start to look at the world differently and lead with different intentions— truly amazing. On the optimistic path and moving forward Positive Psychology opened my eyes to how I think people should be grateful and positive in life. So often, we try to chase an idea of what we think we should be, or what other people tell us we should become. What we don’t realize is that we get one life—just one. While we need to strive to be the best version of ourselves, we also need to open our eyes to all of the blessings that already surround us each and every day. Just being grateful for waking up in the morning is enough. If you stay humble and grateful for the small things in life, the bigger blessings will...
