23 May Happiness – an interesting application of positive psychology
Developed by the American psychologist Martin Seligman, positive psychology – sometimes referred to as the new science of happiness – aims to deepen understanding of what helps promote positive mood states and desirable human qualities.
For most of us the pursuit of happiness is elusive and appears to be outside of our control, but Dr Johnstone says it doesn’t have to be so. “There are many ways we can foster positive moods. A simple technique is to identify something that has happened in the last 24 hours that you feel pleased about. When you focus attention on what you feel good about, your mood improves.”
Dr Johnstone believes the key is to recognise that the mind can be trained in strategies that bring long-term improvement in mood. “We can learn ways to become happier,” he says, “and that is what I teach my clients.”
This is entirely consistent with what we do here at The Happiness Institute…but to read more about Dr. Johnstone’s dedication to happiness and his applications of positive psychology – click here.