Positive Psychology and Existentialism: A Reconciliation of Meaning and Acceptance

Introduction

At first glance, positive psychology and existentialism might seem like an odd couple, like a bubbly cheerleader dating a brooding poet. One’s all about sunshine and rainbows, focusing on happiness and what makes life good, while the other ponders the heavier stuff, like meaning and mortality. But hey, opposites attract, right? Turns out, these two have more in common than you’d think. Existentialism isn’t all doom and gloom; it’s about embracing life’s challenges and finding your own meaning. And positive psychology isn’t just about plastering on a smile; it’s about building resilience and cultivating genuine well-being.

So, buckle up for a wild ride as we explore how these seemingly different fields can actually team up to help us live more fulfilling lives. We’ll delve into how existentialism’s focus on meaning can supercharge positive psychology’s pursuit of happiness, and how accepting life’s curveballs (hello, existentialism!) can make us stronger and more resilient. Who knows, we might even uncover some surprising truths about what it means to be human.

 

Positive Psychology: A Brief Overview

Forget those dreary therapy sessions where you endlessly dissect your childhood traumas. Positive psychology is like a breath of fresh air, focusing on what makes you awesome and how to make life even better.

Think of Martin Seligman as the captain of this feel-good ship. He’s the one who kicked off this whole movement, and thanks to him, scientists are now busy studying all the things that make us happy and fulfilled. We’re talking happiness, optimism, gratitude – all that good stuff. They’re even figuring out how to get “in the zone” with this cool concept called “flow.”

But wait, there’s more! Positive psychology isn’t just about studying happiness; it’s about actually boosting it. Want to feel more grateful? Start a gratitude journal! Need to chill out? Try mindfulness! And if you’re looking to level up your personal strengths, well, there are interventions for that too. So, ditch the doom and gloom and jump on the positive psychology bandwagon. It’s a fun and fascinating journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life. Who wouldn’t want that?

 

Existentialism: A Philosophical Framework

Forget those stuffy philosophers pondering the meaning of life in dusty libraries. Existentialism is way more exciting than that!

Think of it as a philosophy for rebels and free thinkers. It’s about ditching the rulebook and figuring out what life means to you, even when things get weird or downright depressing. We’re talking big names here, folks: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus – these guys weren’t afraid to ask the tough questions. Existentialism isn’t about following the crowd or blindly accepting what you’re told. It’s about being true to yourself, knowing your own mind, and embracing the fact that life is full of surprises (and not always the good kind).

So, if you’re tired of the same old answers and ready to forge your own path, existentialism might be your jam. It’s a philosophy that challenges you to think for yourself and create your own meaning in this crazy, unpredictable world. And who knows, you might just discover something amazing about yourself along the way.

 

Reconciling Positive Psychology and Existentialism

At first glance, positive psychology’s focus on happiness and well-being may appear incompatible with existentialism’s emphasis on accepting life’s difficulties and the inevitability of suffering. However, a deeper exploration reveals a surprising synergy.

1. Meaning and Well-being: Both positive psychology and existentialism recognize the fundamental importance of meaning in human life. While positive psychology explores how meaning contributes to well-being, existentialism delves into the nature of meaning itself and how individuals create it in their lives. Positive psychology interventions, such as identifying personal values and engaging in meaningful activities, can be seen as tools for fostering existential meaning.
2. Acceptance and Resilience: Existentialism emphasizes the acceptance of life’s inherent difficulties, including suffering, loss, and death. This acceptance, rather than leading to despair, can foster resilience and growth. Positive psychology research has demonstrated that individuals who accept negative emotions and challenges are more likely to cope effectively and experience post-traumatic growth.
3. Authenticity and Self-Actualization: Both positive psychology and existentialism value authenticity, the act of living in accordance with one’s true self. Positive psychology research on character strengths, such as courage, integrity, and creativity, aligns with existentialism’s emphasis on self-awareness and living a life that is true to one’s values.
4. Freedom and Responsibility: Existentialism underscores the importance of individual freedom and responsibility. While positive psychology acknowledges the influence of external factors on well-being, it also emphasizes the role of personal choices and actions in shaping one’s life. Positive psychology interventions, such as goal-setting and self-regulation strategies, can empower individuals to exercise their freedom and take responsibility for their well-being.

 

Examples of Integration

• Logotherapy: Developed by Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, logotherapy is a form of existential therapy that focuses on helping individuals find meaning in their lives, even in the face of suffering. It has been integrated with positive psychology interventions to enhance well-being and resilience.
• Mindfulness-Based Existential Therapy: This integrative approach combines mindfulness practices with existential exploration to help individuals cultivate self-awareness, acceptance, and meaning in their lives.
• Positive Existential Psychotherapy: This therapeutic approach integrates positive psychology interventions, such as gratitude practices and strengths-based approaches, with existential exploration to foster well-being, resilience, and meaning.

 

I often think of those people who believe in the fear of life spoilage. What do they mean by spoilage? How can you spoil life? How can you spoil a relationship? Well, it’s not a clock, it’s not a structure that you can just destroy. Didn’t it last forever? Maybe the concept of qualities has changed. And for us it is more important to know how many seconds it takes to accelerate a car to 1OO/km than the fact that you don’t want to use it for 10 years, you want to replace it in 3 years if you can. The question is, hasn’t this also been transmitted to human relations? Is the important thing about human relationships to last until the cemetery separates us? Is it really only death that separates us? Marriages used to last much shorter. Women died in childbirth, men fell in battle, in a serf rebellion, but then came the plague, disease, they have died of it… Could it be that it is not the quality of the relationship that lasts 45 years, but 2-3 years full of adventure and life?

 

Conclusion

So, it turns out that positive psychology and existentialism aren’t just a mismatched duo – they’re more like a dynamic power couple, each bringing their own unique strengths to the table.

By combining the best of both worlds, we can ditch the one-size-fits-all approach to happiness and create a more well-rounded recipe for a fulfilling life. This means not only chasing those feel-good moments but also embracing the challenges and uncertainties that life throws our way. Think of it like this: positive psychology gives us the tools to build a happy and thriving life, while existentialism reminds us to find meaning in the journey, even when the road gets bumpy. Together, they provide a complete toolkit for navigating the complexities of human existence and flourishing in an uncertain world.

So, why settle for a half-baked approach to happiness when you can have the whole enchilada? Embrace the wisdom of both positive psychology and existentialism and unlock the full potential of what it means to live a truly good life.

 

Bibliography

• Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
• Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press.
• Wong, P. T. P. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 52(2), 69-81.

 

References

• Batthyány, A., & Russo-Netzer, P. (Eds.). (2014). Meaning in positive and existential psychology. Springer.
• Schneider, K. J. (2008). Existential-integrative psychotherapy: Guideposts to the core of practice. Routledge.
• Wong, P. T. P. (Ed.). (2012). The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications. Routledge.

 

Listen to the audio version of this article

Read more about Roland Majla and his other articles HERE

 

‘We Are The Positive Psychology People’