Positive Psychology: Boosting Your Happiness, Optimism, Resiliency and Results, a 4 Session Telecourse

What Is Positive Psychology All About? Dr. Martin Seligman is known as the Father of Positive Psychology with his books “Learned Optimism” (1990, 1998, 2006), “Authentic Happiness” (2002), “The Optimistic Child” (1995), and others which led to his being selected as the President of the American Psychological Association, and director of the Positive Psychology Network at the University of Pennsylvania. He felt that “The time has finally arrived for a science that seeks to understand positive emotion, build strength and virtue, and provide guideposts for finding what Aristotle called the ‘good life’.”

He says:

“Life inflicts the same setbacks and tragedies on the optimist as on the pessimist, but the optimist weathers them better. As we have seen, the optimist bounces back from defeat, and, with his life somewhat poorer, he picks up and starts again. The pessimist gives up and falls into depression. Because of his resilience, the optimist achieves more at work, at school, and on the playing field. The optimist has better physical health, and may even live longer. Americans want optimists to lead them.  . . . The good news is that pessimists can learn the skills of optimism and permanently improve the quality of their lives.” (Seligman, Learned Optimism, page 207 (2006)

Happiness/Optimism/Resiliency Training Course Announcement

Session I Reminder

• Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the concepts of Mental Models and how they underpin all of these concepts and assessment tools

  • Become familiar with the Authentichappiness.com website and what it has to offer

  • Become familiar with the Authentic Happiness Index online assessment

  • Perform one exercise proven to give an immediate boost to one’s happiness

• Pre-work: Take AHI, Optional: Mental Models PDF version

• Introduction to Positive Psychology

• Mental Models

• Debrief AHI

• Homework:  take Optimist Test, write Gratitude Letter

• Additional Resources: Summary of Authentic Happiness PDF version; MP3 recording of Session; 1st Session Follow-up and Homework

• Suggested optional reading: “Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment” by Martin Seligman

Session 2 Reminder

• Learning Objectives:

  • Become familiar with the Optimist Test

  • Perform a second exercise proven to boost one’s happiness

• How do you feel?

• Assign 3 Good Things exercise

• Debrief Optimist Test

• Homework: take RFI

• Additional Resources: Summary of Learned Optimism PDF version; MP3 Recording of Session; 2nd Session Follow-up and Homework

• Suggested optional reading: “Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life” by Martin Seligman

Session 3 Reminder

• Learning Objectives:

  • Become familiar with the Resilience Factor Inventory (RFI)

  • Understand and be able to perform the ABCDE Disputation process

  • Increase your metacognition; your ability to recognize your negative thoughts

• How do you feel?

• Debrief RFI, Discuss ABC

• Homework: continue 3 Good Things, Log your negative feelings, take VIA-IS Strengths Test

• Additional Resources: Summary of The Resilience Factor (Word version); Patient Fix Thyself article; MP3 Recording of session; 3rd Session Follow-up and Homework

• Suggested optional reading: “The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles” by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte’

Session 4 Reminder

• Learning Objectives:

  • Increase skill in performing the ABCDE Disputation process

  • Become familiar with the VIA-IS Strengths Test

  • Understand the importance of building on one’s strengths, perform an exercise proven to improve performance and life satisfaction

  • Connecting the Positive Psychology to the coaching Underlying Principles

• How’s it going?

• Further discuss ABCDE Disputation Model

• Debrief Strengths Test, compare with results of RFI, any additional insights?

• Homework: pick 3 instances of ABC, build disputes for them, Using Your Strengths in a New Way

• Additional Resources: Questions About Strengths

• Suggested optional reading: “Now, Discover Your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton

Bonus Session Reminder - Agenda and Questions

• Additional Resources: Self Image

• Positive Psychology Resources