Positive Psychology for Dummies

Zusammenfassung Why do some people achieve greater success and happiness than others? The key is positive psychology. For most of its history! psychology has focused mainly on the darker side of human behaviour - depression! anxiety! psychosis and psychopathic behaviour. Informationen zum Autor Averil Leimon is a leadership psychologist and international business coach who uses positive psychology on a daily basis. She is a founder member of the Association for Coaching and is one of the top ten coaches in the UK. Gladeana McMahon is a leading transformational and personal development coach and Vice President and Life Fellow of the Association for Coaching. She was named as one of the UK's top ten coaches by the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Observer. Klappentext Why do some people achieve greater success and happinessthan others? The key is in the way they think. Explorethe science of positive psychology and discover how youcan apply its principles and theories to build a better life foryourself and those around you. This practical guide armsyou with all the skills and strategies you need to recogniseyour strengths! alter your thinking and manage difficultemotions effectively to achieve greater success! health andhappiness. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction. Part I: Getting to Grips: Introducing Positive Psychology. Chapter 1: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. Chapter 2: Why Being Healthy! Well and Happy is a Really Good Idea. Part II: Doing the Time Warp: Past! Present and Future. Chapter 3: Tackling the Past. Chapter 4: Living in the Present. Chapter 5: Planning for the Future. Part III: What Positive Psychology Can Do For You. Chapter 6: Finding Pleasure in Life. Chapter 7: Engaging in Life: Using Your Signature Strengths. Chapter 8: Developing Meaning in Life. Chapter 9: Becoming Your Best. Chapter 10: Staying Healthy with Positive Psychology. Part IV: Positive Psychology in the Real World. Chapter 11: Making Relationships Work. Chapter 12: Becoming a Positive Parent. Chapter 13: Embracing the Extended Family. Chapter 14: Understanding Why Work Matters. Chapter 15: Being Your Best in the Workplace. Part V: The Part of Tens. Chapter 16: Ten Top Activities. Chapter 17: Ten Useful Resources. Chapter 18: Ten Positive Inspirations. Index. ...

Auteur

Averil Leimon is a leadership psychologist and international business coach who uses positive psychology on a daily basis. She is a founder member of the Association for Coaching and is one of the top ten coaches in the UK. Gladeana McMahon is a leading transformational and personal development coach and Vice President and Life Fellow of the Association for Coaching. She was named as one of the UK's top ten coaches by the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Observer.

Contenu

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

How This Book Is Organised 3

Part I: Getting to Grips: Introducing Positive Psychology 3

Part II: Doing the Time Warp: Past, Present and Future 3

Part III: What Positive Psychology Can Do For You 4

Part IV: Positive Psychology in the Real World 4

Part V: The Part of Tens 4

Icons Used in This Book 4

Where to Go from Here 5

Part I: Getting to Grips: Introducing Positive Psychology 7

Chapter 1: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life 9

Putting the Positive in Psychology 9

Looking for a message 9

Being authentically happy 10

Building an evidence-based case 10

Measuring the good, the bad and the ugly 12

Living a positive life 12

Studying positive psychology 13

Having positive experiences 13

Recognising positive traits 15

Building positive relationships 16

Constructing positive institutions 16

Making It Worth Your While 19

Benefiting from positivity 19

Chapter 2: Why Being Healthy, Well and Happy is a Really Good Idea 21

Reaping the Health Benefits 21

A happy heart 22

Living the positive life 23

Building immunity 24

Assisting angry Andrew 26

Creating healthy habits 27

Living with Satisfaction 28

Becoming a well individual 28

Building societies with wellbeing 28

AIMing for Happiness 32

Attending to the good stuff 33

Interpreting for the best 34

Memorising effectively 35

Part II: Doing the Time Warp: Past, Present and Future 37

Chapter 3: Tackling the Past 39

Dealing with the Past 39

Mapping old issues 40

Letting go - forgiving if not forgetting 41

Knowing How to be Grateful 46

Giving thanks 47

Counting your blessings 48

Adopting a Childlike Approach 50

Being how you want to be 50

Choosing the best life 50

Chapter 4: Living in the Present 53

Dancing in the Moment 53

Creating your own energy 53

The Johari Window 54

Being mindful 56

Laying ghosts 59

Getting Into the Flow 62

Being in the zone 62

Boosting happiness and fulfilment 64

Chapter 5: Planning for the Future 65

Looking Forward Joyfully 66

Anticipating the best 70

Making positive thoughts happen 70

Developing Optimism 71

Taking the thinking questionnaire 71

Thinking positively 74

Perfect-world thinking 75

Behaving constructively 76

Focusing on What Matters 77

Sorting out priorities 78

Ditching the unimportant 79

Leaving a Legacy 80

Living with a purpose 80

Making your mark on the world 81

Putting it all together 82

Part III: What Positive Psychology can do for you 83

Chapter 6: Finding Pleasure in Life 85

What Is Pleasure? 85

The law of diminishing returns 87

Breaking free from the materialist trap 89

Finding Real Pleasures 91

Celebrating the ordinary 91

Indulging in simple pleasures 92

Having a beautiful day 93

Sleepwalking through Life 93

Waking up to smell the roses 94

Taking stock of experiences 97

Chapter 7: Engaging in Life: Using your Signature Strengths 99

Analysing Your Signature Strengths 99

Appreciating your strengths 100

Understanding your strengths 100

Considering your weaknesses 102

Playing To Your Strengths 103

Identifying your strengths and virtues 103

Using your signature strengths daily 110

Shoring up your weaknesses 111

Finding Strengths in Others 111

Recognising other people's virtues 111

Chapter 8: Developing Meaning in Life 113

Is This All There Is? 114

Rising above the humdrum 115

Making your mark on the world 116

Something Bigger Than Yourself 117

Connecting with others 117

Making a real difference 120

Chapter 9: Becoming your Best 123

Keeping Yourself Afloat 123

Sources of resilience 124

Getting through 126

Building your personal model of resilience 128

Having Fun 128

Looking for joy in your life 129

Living humorously 129

Living Confidently 131

Thinking Constructively 132

Listening to the voices 133

Building firm beliefs 133

Taking Gratitude Further 134

Seeing things afresh 135

Practising thankfulness 136

Experiencing Engagement 136

The big five strengths 136

Having self-respect and pride 137

Making Your Life Count 137

Choosing your destiny 138

Living up to your values 138

Chapter 10: Staying Healthy with Positive Psychology 141

Living Like It Matters 141

The healthy life checklist 142

Developing positive good health 143

Changing positively: The four-stage change model 144

Building a personal happiness programme 147

Overcoming Stress 149

Understanding stress 149

Taking a perspective on life, yourself and others 153

Building your resources 155

Learning to bounce back 156

Part IV: Positive Psychology in the Real World 157

Chapter 11: Making Relationships Work 159

Getting to Know You 159

Avoiding relationship pitfalls 161

Acknowledging and using each other's signature strengths 162

Using Positive Communication 164

Taking the emotionally smart approach 164 …