THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS:

Positive Psychology and You

Brian Smith McCallum, M.S., LPCHelen Kobrin, LPC, CADCNorth Shore Counseling

www.northshorecounseling.com

PSYCHOLOGY 1.0

Psychology 1.0 = Mental Illness

PSYCHOLOGY 2.0

Psychology 2.0 = Mental Wellness

“Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.”

-Martin Seligmanauthentichappiness.org

What is Positive Psychology?

1. What is the “The Good Life”?

2. What makes life meaningful?

3. What are people’s strengths?

Positive Psychology: 3 Questions

1. Positive emotions

2. Positive traits

3. Positive institutions

Positive Psychology: 3 Foci

H = ?

What Is Happiness?

H = S + C + V H: Enduring Happiness S: Set Point C: Circumstances V: Factors Under Your Control

Seligman’s Happiness Equation

10%

50%

40%

Happiness

Circumstances Genetics Activities

The Happiness Pie

Success does not lead to happiness.

Happiness leads to success.

Advantages of Happiness

Create and Cultivate Happiness

Three Good Things

Mindfulness

Savoring

Gratitude Letter

Strengths in Action

1. Think of 3 good things that happened.

2. Write them down.

3. Reflect on how and why they happened.

3 Good Things

1. Write a letter to someone, expressing gratitude.

2. Hand deliver letter to recipient.

3. Read aloud letter to recipient.

Gratitude Letter / Visit

1. Become aware.

2. Stay in present moment.

3. Notice thoughts and feelings . . . nonjudgmentally.

Mindfulness: A Process

Sharing with others

Memory Building

Self Congratulation

Absorption

Savoring

1. What are three objects that I see?

2. What are three sounds that I hear?

3. What are three objects that I can feel?

Mindfulness: Three Senses

“Everything can be taken from a [hu]man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”

- Viktor Frankl

Inspiration

“… flow – the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.”

-Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi

Find . . . And Go With The “Flow”

When Challenge Meets Skill

Discover Your “Signature Strengths”

Wisdom and Knowledge

Courage

Humanity

Justice

Temperance

Transcendence

Key Resource: Authentic Happiness

Key Resource: Values in Action Survey

Martin Seligman: TED Talk

Live Happy App (Apple / iOS)

“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”

-John Stockdale, Vietnam POW

Stockdale Paradox