Positive psychology

Everyone has weaknesses and shortcomings. At the same time, everyone also has many personal strengths and positive qualities. These positive aspects are particularly central to positive psychology. The focus is not on the cause of your issues, but on your positive qualities and strengths. Instead of focusing on your issues, you pay attention to the question of how you can best give substance to a valuable life. As a result, you can develop much more freely and live a happier life..

What is positive psychology?

Positive psychology is the scientific exploration of what makes life worth living. While classical psychotherapy deals with the causes of negative emotions, what is wrong in your life, and coming to terms with the past, positive psychology focuses on strengths, meaning, and joy for life. You can think of positive thoughts, emotions, experiences and qualities.

Positive psychology does not replace traditional psychotherapy, but can act as an effective addition to improve your mental health and experience greater optimism and well-being.

What is the purpose of positive psychology?

It makes a world of difference how you look at yourself and your surroundings. Do you often wonder what is wrong with yourself, your situation, your family or what is going wrong at work? Or do you have an eye for what is going well, what you do have, what you are good at and what you are grateful for in your life?

By deliberately focusing on positive thoughts, you will also experience more positive feelings and emotions. You increase your well-being and your resilience, so that you can better deal with difficulties and disappointments.

People who feel happy generally have more stable social relationships, are healthier, live longer, work more efficiently and are also more successful at work. The essence of positive psychology is the search for a happy and fulfilling life.

Positive psychology exercises

In positive psychology, practical exercises can be used during the treatments.

Some simple exercises are:

1. Keep a positive diary

Every day write down a number of things that made you grateful, happy or proud during the day. This allows you to reflect on what you do have, you pay more attention to positive experiences and develop gratitude for the things in your life that you otherwise take for granted. By naming these positive things or experiences on a daily basis, it can have a major impact on your outlook and satisfaction with your life.

Don’t make it too big or too abstract. For example, think of a compliment you received at work, something you have achieved that you are proud of, a good characteristic, a nice dinner with friends or family, etc.

2. Think of and plan a beautiful day

This exercise has a twofold effect: on the one hand planning a beautiful day (or part of the day) and then also the actual experience of this beautiful day. Also think about what a beautiful day means to you. What do you like to do? With whom? What do you like that you haven’t been able to do lately? Do you want to try something new that you have always wanted to do?

It is advisable to break your daily routine and do something different than usual. And realize that in reality your beautiful day will not go exactly as you planned, but that it can still be a beautiful experience.

Contact Psychologen Amsterdam

Do you need help or do you just have a question about positive psychology? Then call for an appointment or send a message to Psychologen Amsterdam.