by Emily Minter
Understanding positive psychology will help you feel more fulfilled and happier in your everyday life.
What is positive psychology?
Positive psychology focuses on well-being – promoting a fulfilling and satisfying life, instead of focusing on what is clinically wrong. It’s a relatively new branch of psychology that has proven to be helpful for many people with and without mental illness.
Positive psychology isn’t about putting on a smile and pretending everything’s fine. Life can be tough, with constant disappointment and hurt. Positive psychology is about equipping people with the strategies to cope with life’s upsets and enjoy it at the same time.
How can I get started?
- Do life together
Seek out others to share experiences with. Sharing experiences has been proven to enhance our own enjoyment and boost our memories of certain events. - Savour moments
Take mental photographs and absorb the moment. Allow yourself to become totally immersed – don’t think, just sense. - Engage with your surrounding
This can be done through mindfulness techniques which help you to focus on your senses for a complete experience. - Figure out your strengths
Are you great at giving gifts? Are you really good at netball? Don’t be afraid to give yourself a pat on the back, be proud of what you can do, and get out there and do it! - Find meaning in your life
Through forgiveness, acts of kindness, thanking the people around you and being grateful for the good in each day.
For so many of us, these things seem impossible and unattainable. That’s okay! Feel encouraged to take on some of these tips, especially mindfulness.
As students, it can be so easy to get lost in the business of our families or work and we forget to take some time out for ourselves just to relax our minds. So take that time, you’ll benefit from it!
