What Positive Psychology Can Teach Us About Flourishing
There appears a light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, allowing a much-needed and long-awaited sigh of relief. But stress and uncertainty will remain even as life returns to “normal.” As we begin to heal and recover from a year of tumult, chaos, grief, and loss it will be important to focus on the things that promote emotional well-being and help facilitate what psychologists call “post-traumatic growth.”
If clinical psychology seeks to understand the causes of human suffering, positive psychology seeks to understand the causes of human happiness. Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes “life worth living.” It is the study of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that facilitates growth and development. It is the work of positive psychology to promote flourishing.
In a recent NYT article by organizational psychologist, Adam Grant, the human condition known as “languishing” was suggested to be “the dominant emotion of 2021.” It describes the sense of aimlessness and joylessness that many of us have been feeling coupled with the sense that there’s no clear remedy. Naming and describing this feeling is important because it’s the first step in dismantling it. Recognizing how it feels and creating a memory for it is critical for developing a more robust emotional “vocabulary.” Without languishing, we wouldn’t appreciate its positive counterpart, flourishing.
Research in the area of human flourishing has found that relationships contribute to our happiness more than almost anything else, that spirituality and work matter most when it comes to harnessing a sense of purpose, that empathy and compassion are just as important as critical thinking when it comes to decision-making.
With that in mind, knowing what matters most under “normal” circumstances can help guide our efforts both during and after a crisis. In a post-pandemic world, it can inform the steps we take to support social reintegration, protect the most vulnerable, cultivate compassion for those who have suffered immense losses, maintain a spiritual practice (of any kind), pursue activities that promote a sense of autonomy and competence, and establish (or re-establish) meaningful connection with others.
We know from studies in positive psychology that crises don’t reveal character, they create it. This was certainly put to the test this past year as we learned to tolerate tremendous uncertainty and highly unpleasant disruptions to our daily lives. We had to put faith in the healthcare and public health systems, trust our leaders, trust each other, and maintain a sense of stability and structure for our families. We found the courage and strength to endure and cope in the face of unprecedented challenge.
As we move forward with our lives now, it will be important to preserve these lessons and protect our mental health and well-being from the uncertainty and stress that is sure to remain.
The “ACE” model is a tool used in psychology to maintain a positive mood and outlook, two factors critical in preventing the onset of depression. Although we are eager to put the COVID-19 crisis in our rear-view mirror, feelings of lethargy, exhaustion, “joylessness” or apathy may linger. “ACE” provides a framework for promoting resilience and recovery and maintaining a sense of emotional well-being.
A — Achievement: Strive to accomplish something, no matter how small or routine, each day. Create a To Do List each morning so you can have items to check off. This action in and of itself can help generate a feeling of productivity, as well as reinforcement and motivation, critical for maintaining a positive outlook.
C — Connection: Humans are social creatures by nature and maintaining meaningful relationships is crucial for emotional well-being. Isolation and loneliness are risk factors for depression, so connecting with others on a daily basis is important. Connecting with ourselves can also be beneficial. This can be strengthened through daily self-reflection or journaling, gratitude practice, compassionate self-talk, and meditation.
E — Engagement: Cultivating present-mindedness in our daily activities, even those which seem boring or uninteresting, can be helpful for creating a sense of engagement or enjoyment. When we bring our full focus to an activity it automatically becomes more interesting, as we may be experiencing it fully for the first time. Practicing active engagement or mindfulness every day will strengthen the reward center of your brain and preserve your ability to experience pleasure.
As humans, we seek to flourish. The post-traumatic period can be an opportunity to do just that. We are primed for growth as we recognize the lessons learned and in our ongoing and intentional efforts to cultivate emotional well-being.
