I just completed my 11 month course in positive psychology. I feel proud and really good about it. I had initially been ambivalent about taking it because I wasn’t sure if I had the discipline to stick with it, as most of it is online: weekly videos, writing assignments (reflection papers) and study group calls, along with lots of reading. It’s a subject I’m passionate about. When an unsolicited check appeared in my mailbox a year and a half ago from an unknown insurance policy that my father had (he died 3 years ago), for pretty much the exact amount of the course, I took this as a sign and immediately registered for the course. My father was a life-long learner as am I, and so I jumped off the fence into the Yes side.
Here it is almost a year later and I graduated with a certificate in Positive Psychology taught by one of the most esteemed and popular Harvard professors, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar. His course there drew the largest audience- over 1400 students.
This certificate program was given through Kripalu, a yoga retreat center in the beautiful Berkshires in Lenox, Massachusetts. Two hundred people from all over the world had the fabulous experience of coming together twice during the year for “immersions”- 5-day intensive and actively engaged learning retreats infused with music and yoga/meditation.
A way of life, a way of living a rich and flourishing life, this is an approach with practical applications based on scientific research. Many of the ideas are not new and are not rocket science; they’re just not implemented enough. As the French philosopher Voltaire said, “Common sense is not so common.” Now that there is science backing up much of the concepts such as studies on gratitude, exercise, brain changes connected to meditation, among much else, positive psychology is here as an authentic part of psychology. Instead of focusing on pathology and the adverse conditions of people as traditional psychology does, it focuses on what works and studies how people can bring more of the positive qualities and emotions into their lives so as to live better; not simply to go from a -5 to 0 but rather from a -5 to +5. Problems are dealt with through a different lens. Managing and growing from our difficulties is key.
As part of serving this forward, I will be putting out one practical application a week. Challenge yourself to try some of them. Small actions can make a difference and can start an upward spiral. I’m implementing one right now as I write this – having relaxing music playing from my TV in the background (recently hooked up surround-sound speakers in my den so I can hear it beautifully in another room) and have a small beach-scented candle lit as I love smells. I created a very pleasing and comforting ambiance while I sit at the computer.
Practical application: Put one or two things into your immediate environment that gives you pleasure and makes you feel good.
Questions, comments – contact me for further information or for coaching/counseling on incorporating this into your life, either to increase well-being or to help deal with challenges.
