I ended my last post, Staying Positive In A Negative World, by saying in my next article I would share with you some strategies for doing just that, how to stay positive in a negative world. When I went to write the article, I realized before I could do that, you have to understand what positive psychology is and how it relates to success in your life. When you understand how the two work together, it will increase your desire to create happiness, and the strategies will be even more important for you. Let’s start by understanding what this whole positive psychology thing is all about.
During an interview of Dr. Steve Taubman on my podcast “Let’s Coach with Carolyn”, Dr. Steve discussed how one can obtain more happiness in their lives. Dr. Taubman is a bestselling author and world-class speaker who has dedicated his life to showing people how to thrive through their challenges. The interview began with a discussion on positive psychology.
Positive Psychology is…
For many years’ psychology was focused on the abnormal – neurotic, schizophrenic behaviors. Most of the early research looked at what was wrong; how are people failing to live up to their potential. No one really looked at what that potential was. What does it look like when someone is happy? What is going on inside that person’s brain? Positive psychology does study this, allowing us to begin to understand, what happens inside of someone when they are happy and what happens in the world when they are exposed to happy people.
Studies have shown when there is a workplace where there are more happy people, productivity goes up, engagement goes up, and sick time goes down. The study of positive psychology recognizes when people are focused on the positive when they are taught skills to emulate what happy people do and how happy people think negativity decreases and everything else improves. There is less stress. The workplace is better. Family life is better. The world around you is better.
My life is miserable 
Many people think there is no way this is possible. They don’t want to hear you tell them you can be happy. Their life is miserable – it sucks. They have all these bad things going on and they have the right to be unhappy. It’s almost as if they have become comfortable living this way and can’t imagine living life any other way.
According to Dr. Taubman, if you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them. If you fight and defend your miserable life, it becomes so ingrained in you, this is your reality. There is no other way. That is what you tell yourself, but there truly is another way. It starts with deciding to be happy.
Opportunity opens the door to new possibilities
This doesn’t mean you have to pretend everything is perfect and wonderful. You now must have a constant smile on your face and never shed a tear. That would be impossible to do. It means making a commitment to no longer be miserable. You start to look at situations from different lenses. Challenges become opportunities. Opportunity opens the door to new possibilities.
Many people associate success with happiness. If you become successful, you will be happy. In my next post, will talk more about happiness and success by answering the questions, “Which Comes First Success or Happiness”. What do you think?
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Executive and Leadership Coach. She is the President of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where she can help you up-level your skills, so you can up-level your income, career, business or life. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments, and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. You can find out more he about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
