What is Positive Psychology?
Many people think of psychology as a way to fix problems and negative aspects of life or thinking. However, Positive Psychology takes a different approach. Rather than focusing on fixing what’s wrong, it’s about creating a life that is enjoyable and meaningful, it focuses on the good things in life, and it’s much more than positive thinking. As Peterson (2008) puts it, “positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living”.
Positive Psychology is the science of human flourishing – what it is that allows people to thrive in life. By studying what makes people happy and successful, we can learn how to make life more fulfilling, how people can cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of life.
What is Positive Education?
Positive education is the application of positive psychology within schools.
Seligman et al (2009) define positive education as ‘education for both traditional skills and for happiness.’ Norrish, Williams, O’Connor, & Robinson (2013) conclude “the fundamental goal of positive education is to promote flourishing or positive mental health within the school community.”
In advocating for this approach to education, I really can’t find better words that this:
“In two words or less, what do you most want for your children? If you are like the hundreds of parents I’ve asked, you responded, ‘Happiness’, ‘Confidence’, ‘Contentment’, ‘Balance’, ‘Good Stuff’, ‘Kindness’, ‘Health’, ‘Satisfaction’, and the like. In short, you most want well-being for your children.
In two words or less, what do schools teach? If you are like other parents, you responded, ‘Achievement’, ‘Thinking Skills’, ‘Success’, ‘Conformity’, ‘Literacy’, ‘Mathematics’, ‘Discipline’ and the like. In short schools teach the tools of accomplishment.
Notice that there is almost no overlap between the two lists. The schooling of children has, for more than a century, been about accomplishment, the boulevard into the world of adult work.
I am all for accomplishment, success, literacy, and discipline; but imagine if schools could, without compromising either, teach both the skills of well-being and the skills of achievement. Imagine Positive Education”. (Seligman et al, 2009, p.293-294).
Seligman urges us to “turn to what makes life worth living, not just to curtailing the disabling conditions of life, but to building the enabling conditions of life.” (Seligman et al, 2009, p 307).
As an Educational Psychologist, I often see school staff and learners who are just getting by, stressed and unhappy. Others may be getting good grades or progressing in their career but in fact, I see far too often that this is at the expense of their happiness and wellbeing.
Clearly, things cannot stay the same – change is needed. Educators and learners are first and foremost humans before anything else, and we need to prioritize their happiness and wellbeing, whilst teaching them the skills that schools have traditionally taught.
So I decided to take action and founded HAPPI to help teachers improve their wellbeing and the wellbeing of their students. With HAPPI, I’m now on a mission to build a nation of schools full of flourishing schools using the incredibly powerful science of Positive Psychology.
Yes, I know building a nation of flourishing schools is quite a mission, but that’s my vision and I like a challenge! Ready to join me?