The aim of Positive Psychology is to catalyze a change in psychology from a preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life.
– Martin Seligman, ‘Father’ of the Positive Psychology movement –
Happy, healthy people with constructive, positive attitudes deliver better workplaces and better results. Want Proof?
Look at the ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ list below for the latest research findings.
While it is hardly surprising that this should be the case, how do you create these conditions? We utilise lots of tools and techniques to provide solutions. As members of CAPP (the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology) and Happier.com we keep ourselves up to date with the latest thinking, tools and techniques.
Why is this important? Our experience has been that most organisations use criticism and blame much more than reflecting on their strengths and building confidence and capability from these. Emphasising the negatives has a corrosive effect over time on self belief and culture, making change much more difficult to navigate and lowering the aspirations of people and organisations.
In our work we aim to always be positive and to encourage our clients to do likewise, because we know that huge personal benefits and business outcomes come from choosing a positive attitude.
Reasons To be Cheerful, courtesy of www.jongordon.com
- Positive People Live Longer – In a study of nuns, those that regularly expressed positive emotions lived on average 10 years longer. (The Nun Study)
- Positive work environments outperform negative work environments. (Daniel Goleman)
- Positive, optimistic sales people sell more than pessimistic sales people. (Martin Seligman)
- Positive leaders are able to make better decisions under pressure. (Heartmath.org)
- Marriages are much more likely to succeed when the couple experiences a 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interactions whereas when the ratio approaches 1 to 1, marriages are more likely to end in divorce. (John Gottman)
- Positive people who regularly express positive emotions are more resilient when facing stress, challenges and adversity. (Several Studies)
- Positive people are able to maintain a broader perspective and see the big picture which helps them identify solutions where as negative people maintain a narrower perspective and tend to focus on problems. (Barbara Fredrickson)
- Positive thoughts and emotions counter the negative effects of stress. For example, you can’t be thankful and stressed at the same time. (Several Studies)
- Positive emotions such as gratitude and appreciation help athletes perform at a higher level. (Heartmath.org)
- Positive people have more friends which is a key factor of happiness and longevity. (Robert D. Putnam)
- Positive and popular leaders are more likely to garner the support of others and receive pay raises and promotions and achieve greater success in the workplace. (Tim Sanders)