The new, burgeoning field of Positive Psychology offers an optimistic, hopeful approach to life. Groundbreaking research indicates that positive emotions have countless benefits beyond just feeling good. When people are in a positive mood, they are more likely to experience love, friendship, physical health, and have a win-win approach to life and family. With this sense of well-being, they are less self-centered, more social, and want to help others.
Well-being is made up of:
• meaning,
• fulfillment,
• self-esteem, and
• the feeling of happiness.
Here are five proven strategies from Positive Psychology that can develop and strengthen these qualities and help your family thrive:
1. Positive thinking: Encouraging children to find the positive in their experiences helps train them to be positive and optimistic throughout life. Try this game: At dinnertime or at the end of the day, ask children if they had a good day. If they did, ask: “What was it that made it a good day?” Playing the “Good Day Game” will result in a list of good activities. Children will realize that by doing those activities, they can create more good days for themselves.
2. Signature strengths: Discover and foster, by speaking about and creating opportunities to build, your child’s signature strengths. What are they? Artistic or athletic talent? Good listening? Problem solving? Making people laugh? Noticing these strengths will build their self-esteem and help you value their individuality and uniqueness. Identify your child’s strengths, and also your own.
3. Control over space: Having autonomy over one’s surroundings inspires confidence and self esteem. Give your children the ability to control their own space, whether it’s a play area, a corner, or their room. This helps them learn responsibility and gives them confidence.
4. Empathy: Teach your children to understand and empathize with others. Encourage them to be kind to others, to give to and help others. Generosity increases happiness and self-esteem.
5. Exercise: One of the most powerful ways to increase happiness is to exercise. When this daily habit is instilled at an early age, it provides mental and physical health benefits throughout life.
When parents actively build a solid, loving, trusting connection with children’s hearts, minds and souls, and guide them toward the good stuff, life keeps getting better.
The “buffers against all the problems of society” are:
• increasing gratitude and positive social connectedness, and
• decreasing negative emotion.
Making this shift will boost well-being and happiness in your family, and in your personal life.
