Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is "the scientific study of what makes life most worth living", or "the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels that include the biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global dimensions of life". Positive psychology is concerned with eudaemonia, "the good life", reflection about what holds the greatest value in life,  the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life. I absolutely find value in this theory. I am very big on the “Life is what you make of it” attitude. While watching and listening to Martin Seligman’s Ted talk, I learned about the three happy lives. The first is the Pleasant Life which consists of a person having as many pleasure and positive emotion as possible. The second is the Good Life or (engagement). This life consists of pleasure vs flow meaning a person re-crafts their work, love, and play to suit them for positivity. The third and final life is the Meaningful Life. A person with this life knows their strengths, and they use themselves in service of something larger in life than theirs personally.

When it comes to life, I am very optimistic and positive. I choose to see the good and positive things in life, people, love, work etc. I haven’t always had this state of mind though. On Martin Seligman’s website https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/learn/growth, Growth through Adversity or “Post-traumatic Growth” may take five forms including but not limited to improved relations with others, identification of new possibilities for one’s life, increased personal strength, spiritual change, and enhanced appreciation of life. These positive changes relate to the development of important qualities of character, such as diligence, generosity, love, purpose, and humility. My closest friends and family would all agree that my typical response to a problem is “ what can I do to help or change this situation?” I tend to look at what I can do personally to either get through a situation myself or help anyone else through their hardship. I truly believe that when you put good positive vibes out into the universe, then you will receive those back ten-fold. I would say that I am more positive than negative when it comes to life.