What is Positive Psychology?
Positive psychology is the study of happiness. Psychology traditionally focused on dysfunction—on people with mental illness or other psychological problems and how to treat them. Positive psychology, by contrast, is a relatively new field that examines how ordinary people can become happier and more fulfilled.
Happy people are often considered lucky and view themselves likewise. Richard Wiseman, a psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire and author of The Luck Factor, spent a decade researching people’s perceptions of their luck. He found that those who call themselves lucky score higher on the personality factor of extraversion. That means that they are more likely to have a fortuitous encounter because they meet lots of new people and keep in touch with a large group of friends and acquaintances. These advantaged souls also score higher in openness, and lower in neuroticism, the tendency to experience negative emotional states like anxiety, anger, guilt, and depression.
Wiseman conducted an experiment in which he placed the same chance opportunities—money on the ground and a potential encounter with a connected business person—in the paths of two different people, one who claimed she was an unlucky person, the other who said things always seemed to work out well for him. The “lucky” guy immediately noticed the money on the ground and pocketed it, then struck up a conversation with the business person in the coffee shop where he’d been planted. The “unlucky” woman, meanwhile, stepped over the cash, and sipped her coffee without saying a word to the same business person (www.psychologytoday.com).
The findings from Wiseman’s research clearly shows that we are the creators of our situation; obviously there is some external factors which can be beyond our control but an individual’s perception and approach to a circumstance is equally important.
There is a crucial interplay between our inner state and the environment, it is balancing these two factors throughout our lives in terms of how we perceive and interpret the conditions of each. How do we achieve that ‘lucky’ feeling, is it an act of faith, a strong belief or simply a superstition. It’s cultivating a positive attitude, feelings of gratitude and being helpful towards others, regarding challenging situations as opportunities for growth. Most importantly, being open to change, trying something different and developing a healthy and realistic self concept.
It is easier said than done, since many of us are preprogrammed to negativity, especially if you read the news bulletins on a regular basis, and automatically meditate on the least inspiring stories for the day. Until recently, the masses believed that people are at the mercy of vast, uncontrollable forces (whatever you interpret theses forces to be). The thought that you create your own reality is sweeping through the minds of millions. All those awakening to their higher selves are becoming aware of the creation of their own reality.
Our positive thoughts and beliefs make a significant contribution to others, as we believe that we create our reality, therefore taking responsibility for our lives and this is broadcasted (telepathic) to others. Thoughts held in common by masses of people determine the way the world works. As an increasing number of people arrive at the understanding that we create our own reality, this in turn, many fundamental changes will occur in society. The way we think affects our immediate lives and the wider society in which we are a part of.
www.essencelife.co.uk
- When You Look for Luck, You Get Luckier (psychologytoday.com)
- “The Luck Factor” (danerwin.typepad.com)
- Are You Positive? (elementalwellnesscoaching.wordpress.com)
