Spring Break
Psychology Students Promote Happiness
By Mwansa M. Changwe - JournalistIssue date: 11/5/08 Section: News
Are you happy? Is your glass half full or half empty? These were some questions pondered by those who attended the Finding Your Happiness Quotient (HQ) program. The Sixth Annual Fall Symposium was held on October 28th, 2008 at 2pm by the Psychology Students for Social Responsibility (PsySSR) here at the University of the District of Columbia. A beautiful welcome and introduction of speaker were presented by PsySSR President Nelisa Ballosingh and Vice President Krystal Odom. The speaker and faculty advisor was Dr. Kathleen Dockett, ED.D, a remarkable professor of psychology at the University. Dockett spoke about the pursuit of happiness and posed various questions of what made people happy. Dockett asked, "What is happiness? Is it a feeling of ecstasy or joy? Is it in the activities we do? In the way we think? In what we have, where we live, how we look? Would having a little more money make you happy? More education? Changing your looks or race?" As these questions were being asked, you could see students meditating on their responses by their facial expressions and tense body language. However, when it came to the question of changing one's race to make one happy, a unanimous "No!" filled the room.
Positive Psychology, the new science of happiness, explores three pillars: 1. Positive Emotions (subjective well-being) 2. Positive Character 3. Positive Institutions (See Seligman, 2002, Authentic Happiness). All three pillars were important but there was one that stood out: Positive Emotions, which deals with satisfaction about the past, happiness with the present, and optimism about the future. There is sometimes a barrier of un-satisfaction with the past that limits our happiness with the present and future. When the issue with the past was addressed, you could see life more positively. To figure out your Happiness Quotient or enduring level of happiness, you must consider S + E + I. (S) Set point-50% of our life satisfaction is genetically programmed by our biologically inherited temperament and personality traits. (E) External circumstances in your life, such as having rich, supportive interpersonal relationships, being apart of a faith community, having a mentor, and avoiding negative events and emotions, contribute about 10% to our happiness. (I) Internal cognitive processes (ways of thinking) under your voluntary control, such as gratitude for the past, satisfaction with the present, and optimism for the future, as well as identifying and using your character strengths to contribute about 40% to our life satisfaction. Thus, 90% of our happiness is related to how we think and act. The Positive Psychology Formula for happiness is LS = PE + E + M. LS= Satisfaction with one's life, PE= Positive emotions, E= Engagement (deep involvement in family, work, romance, hobbies), M= Meaning (using personal character strengths to serve purposes beyond one's self).
Positive Psychology, the new science of happiness, explores three pillars: 1. Positive Emotions (subjective well-being) 2. Positive Character 3. Positive Institutions (See Seligman, 2002, Authentic Happiness). All three pillars were important but there was one that stood out: Positive Emotions, which deals with satisfaction about the past, happiness with the present, and optimism about the future. There is sometimes a barrier of un-satisfaction with the past that limits our happiness with the present and future. When the issue with the past was addressed, you could see life more positively. To figure out your Happiness Quotient or enduring level of happiness, you must consider S + E + I. (S) Set point-50% of our life satisfaction is genetically programmed by our biologically inherited temperament and personality traits. (E) External circumstances in your life, such as having rich, supportive interpersonal relationships, being apart of a faith community, having a mentor, and avoiding negative events and emotions, contribute about 10% to our happiness. (I) Internal cognitive processes (ways of thinking) under your voluntary control, such as gratitude for the past, satisfaction with the present, and optimism for the future, as well as identifying and using your character strengths to contribute about 40% to our life satisfaction. Thus, 90% of our happiness is related to how we think and act. The Positive Psychology Formula for happiness is LS = PE + E + M. LS= Satisfaction with one's life, PE= Positive emotions, E= Engagement (deep involvement in family, work, romance, hobbies), M= Meaning (using personal character strengths to serve purposes beyond one's self).
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Euphoria: Self Improvement
posted 12/09/08 @ 3:27 AM EST
According to the Dalai Lama and Aristotle, happiness is the most important thing. Life is not very worthwhile if someone is miserable. We cannot take other things too seriously since none of us are going to escape this with our lives. (Continued…)
Post a Comment