Have you heard all this hoopola lately about Happiness? You can't get away from it. There is the Happiness project, best selling books on Happiness, and even the most popular course at Harvard is about... more Happiness. Apparently, after eight years of focusing on fear, anger and suspicion, we need some serious training to elevate our moods back to where they belong.
Over the weekend, I attended a conference about Positive Psychology, a relatively new addition to the field, and one that is receiving lots of attention. Essentially, instead of psychologists spending all their time focusing on really fun stuff like anger, depression and fear, as well as classifying mental disorders, they've decided to dedicate some serious research to the upper end of the emotional spectrum. Positive psychology studies areas like learned optimism, authentic happiness, character virtues, and "transformational positivity".
Claremont Graduate University in Southern California is taking a leading role in developing this field, anchored with one of the great minds of our time, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi -- who is the developer of "flow state" now used widely in psychology, economics and sports. The conference sold out their largest theatre of over 650 people, and another 150 watched via Webcast from far away lands like Finland, and Australia -- staying up all night to do so.
Let me tell you, these guys are hard core. This is not Chicken Soup for the Soul or some sort of New Agey affair. Hardly. Dozens of leading scholars in areas such as neuroscience, organizational development, social entrepreneurship and education research marched to the podium with power points displaying stats, charts and graphs galore. Some of them have over 300 publications to their names and combined they have probably published over a hundred books collectively in their specialties.
Dr. Martin Seligman, the "founder" of positive psychology, said via satellite, the field will be developing four main areas: Positive physical health -- how getting fit may have more to do with who you hang out with than what you eat; Positive neuroscience -- learning more and more about how the brain is impacted by positive and negative experiences; Positive social science- how can we make life worth living, more meaningful and bring these strengths to our economics; and Positive education - how to help kids develop more engagement, meaning and good relations in education without sacrificing skills.
If President Obama wants to elevate the sciences back to their rightful place, this is a great place to start. One of the speakers shared how powerful it was that Obama's inauguration speech had some mention of character or virtue in almost every single line -- and he is the only man who could pull that off without sounding corny or inauthentic. The world is listening. We want to be hopeful again, we want to be more dedicated to service, and quite frankly, we'd like to be happier.
One of the best parts of the long and dense day of data download came in the form of a lovely blonde, who floated down to the front row and looked awfully familiar. She had these sparkly eyes, pouty lips and a smile that hasn't changed since "Laugh-In". Goldie Hawn spent the day with us -- intensely taking it all in, writing copious notes, asking questions and, frankly hanging tough with the rest of us geeks.
Goldie Hawn Kicks Ass
She is my new hero. Turns out, Goldie is a big fan of Csikszentmihalyi's flow state work, and wanted to check it out. She runs a wonderful charity called The Hawn Foundation: dedicated to offering "Mindfulness Education" for children by integrating social-emotional learning, cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology and mindfulness-based stress reduction. She was very interested to see this field get the solid attention it deserves.
"Well-Being is a societal goal," said Dr. Edward Diener, was there and is the President of both the International Society of Quality of Life Studies and the International Positive Psychology Association. He is pushing to use a national account of our society's well being to stand in rank and file priority with the daily reports of our GNP, crime rate and longevity. He asserts the societal benefits of happiness result in more volunteering, pro-peace attitudes and cooperative alliances in families, schools, neighborhoods and between countries.
Maybe it's time for a new Cabinet position -- dare I say "Secretary of Happiness?"
What are your thoughts about the rise of the Happiness movement and the renewed interest in character virtures and well being in our society? I'd love to hear your comments in the box below and will try to answer as many as I can. Also, be sure to click on the RSS feed to receive future posts.
Follow Kari Henley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/karihenley
Very interesting stuff. As Kari said, it's not "Chicken Soup for the Soul."
All of the talks will be up in the next few days, so check it out!
I know from first hand experience you do a lot to help women make a life transition and try to find the sliver lining when it seems impossible to find one.
Check out www.bloomonline.com for more great tips from Barb
Kari
I've written about things related to this, one of which is an article linked below. Please read and let me know your thoughts. http://www.drjenniferhoward.com/show_article.asp?article_id=1&ctr=2
Warmly,
Dr. Jennifer Howard
Lovely to hear from you and to read a great article. It is true our society has become so fast paced, we want a quick fix for everything- even for our emotions!
I agree there is no "quick fix" to happiness or stress relief or to making your life what you want it to be. We all must embrace the Dark Night of the Soul, as Dr, Judith Rich has been writing about recently to develop a richer spectrum of experiencing all life has to offer.
I would love to continue to dialogue with you offline. I can be reached at: karihenley@comast.net
Thanks again for writing
Kari
As a pediatrician and parent, I have been pondering how to transmit these lessons, ideas and practices to kids-my own and my patients. There is currently an epidemic of anxiety, inattention, and depression in our children. I believe many of these difficulties could be significantly ameliorated through the application of positive psychology techniques. I am very interested to learn if anyone has experience in this type of approach with children.
Thank you,
Bruce Freeman
I have heard through Dr. Martin Seligman's work that children up to age 10 can be identified to have a potentially "depressive" nature, and there are now techniques that can be used to help boost their overall optimism significantly.
I also would love to hear of other's experiences in working with children. Dr. Hans Henrik Koop works in Denmark and has conducted powerful studies on talent development in schools, creativity and innovation.
Appreciate your post!
What you write is music to my ears! Thank you. I know that there is so much we can do to help ourselves to master our journey through life. We need the education to assist us to do so. What a blessing that the education is available. We just need to distribute it. I know it will make a great difference.
I appreciate your enthusiastic contribution in this direction.
With love,
Anne
I am so appreciative of your support, and for taking the time to read and comment.
I absolutely agree- the science is out there to help us significantly improve our lives, our work environment and our relations with each other- it is a matter of getting the word out there. It also is about filtering it in various new ways to reach beyond the lab and into our homes.
It also requires a change in mindset- how come 'happy' emotions are not weighed equally with angry, stressful or fearful ones? One researcher suggested we need a 3:1 ratio: 3 positive emotions to counter one negative one!
Thanks again
Kari
Its Great to see your blog which focused on happiness as its kinda fuel to live wonderful life ahead. I will be glad to have more and more article on this from your side in future
As far as I am concerned, I strongly beleive that One should work out on all possible positive alternative available and if not available, then must use the power of ur past life experience or happening, which have supplement of positivism in it, to help you to gather a 100% sure +ve alternative available as it is definitely there. Further, to make your mind spirit and body well being, you essentially have to be happy from inside and for being happy your mind should be occupied with only positive thoughts which like nuclear reaction create next positive thught. Simply When you FEEL gud from inside -- then you THINK gud and finally you BEHAVE gud.
Thank You
Manish Marwah
+919818612474
marwah.manish2006@gmail.com
Here here!
Thank you so much, Manish, for your thoughts. I liked seeing our scientists find a neutral way to speak about feeling "enlightened" emotions, and naturally for many of us, this naturally moves us into a more spiritual dimension.
For so long, it has been our faith, and our beliefs that serve as our life preservers to manage the challenges of life. I love the idea of Feeling good leading to Thinking and thus Behaving "good."
Thanks again!
It is impossible (and irrational) if people are living in a very stressful situation. No amount of pretty thoughts are going to put a roof over the head of somebody who has just lost their job, home etc... nor will positivity help people who are at risk of that.
You can't drink from an empty glass, pretending to do so will not quench your thirst, although it could indicate madness.
Clearly, when we are in suvival mode, all gears are focused on the basic human needs, and should be. I believe some of the research and work being done addresses the question: what is the difference between someone facing adversity who comes through it well versus those who don't?
Some people have a natural tendency to see the glass as half empty, or half full. Previously there didn't seem to be much to change that. However new research is showing our overall approach to life can be given enough of a boost to serve as a "tipping point" that helps elevate our mindset and inspire creativity, well being and endurance to make it through life's daily challenges. You can check out: www.authentichappiness.org for a whole slew of assessments that are quite interesting.
Thanks again for writing.
You rock, woman! I nominate YOU for Secretary of Happiness! Your writing brings a smile to my face and to my heart as well.
Thanks for your cutting edge perspective on what matters.
Much love,
Judith
for those who have not yet read Dr. Rich's post- check it out on the new movement to be a "born again American"- another example of rising the tides of positive emotions on a global scale.- Not to mention a front page response from Normal Lear himself!
Here's to a great community arising at the Huff Po
Kari
It has been found that people who have at least four good friends are twice as likely to survive heart disease, and I am sure the presence of family and a dose of optimism goes a long way in managing the grueling road of chemotherapy.
I hope he can be an inspiration to others!
Kari
Here's an alternative perspective on these sorts of "projects" from the oldest book of wisdom in the world:
===
Do you want to improve the world?
I don't think it can be done.
The world is sacred.
It can't be improved.
If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.
If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.
There is a time for being ahead,
a time for being behind;
a time for being in motion,
a time for being at rest;
a time for being vigorous,
a time for being exhausted;
a time for being safe,
a time for being in danger.
The Master sees things as they are,
without trying to control them.
She lets them go their own way,
and resides at the center of the circle.
===