So What is this Positive Psychology thing anyways?

I love telling people that I'm going back to school for "Positive Psychology", as it's great fun to watch their response. Here's how it went yesterday with a very successful, intelligent corporate marketer that I know... she nodded, wrinkled her brow inquisitively, then smiled slowly and said... "COOL!" She then admitted that she had NO idea what it was, but that it sounded really great. This is the typical response.

So what is Positive Psychology? Is it saying that traditional psychology is "negative"? No. Is it rose-colored-glasses brainwash psychology? No. Am I going to be a clinical psychologist with a couch when this is done? Definitely not.

But what I am going to do is work with people, organizations, groups and communities to help them flourish. Yes, FLOURISH. Not just be happy, or positive all the time, but to really blossom. And if we think about how a flower blossoms, it is from the inside out. It is an unfolding of the petals toward the sun.

For people to flourish, what if we build from the inside? From character strengths, positive emotions like hope and gratitude, ideas tucked deep within, healthy muscles and heart waiting to be used? What if organizations built from the inside? Focusing on employee well being, best practices and organizational virtue to reach higher profitabililty? Momentary pleasures like a deal won, or a piece of cake, or a raise have been proven to unfortunately just be "momentary". We need a longer term solution.

Unfortunately, many people today are simply existing, trying to muddle their way through life, enjoying the momentary happiness, but unsure of how to find lifelong satisfaction. Positive Psychology says that the the absence of illness is not wellness. To be HEALTHY we must go beyond fixing a problem (like disease, apathay, misery, depression). We must allow for comprehensive flourishing. Flourishing relationships, feeling important meaning in life and work, savoring positive emotions and enjoying achievement.

Don't we all want this for our children? Flourishing? For our companies? For our communities? For society at large?

For more on Positive Psychology, visit http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/