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Now Available: Positive Psychology Workbooks For Coaches and Enthusiasts

happier.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:21:01 +0000

A quick look at the shelves in any major bookstore will convince you that positive psychologists have no trouble getting the word out about their exciting new science. Each year literally dozens of titles are published on happiness, meaning and living a better life. Because it is rooted in empirical study Positive Psychology has given the self-help market a much needed scientific makeover. One conspicuous hole in all this new information, however, is a more engaging way of presenting material. Reading books- even best sellers—is inherently a passive activity.

With this in mind a group of top names in Positive Psychology created a series of workbooks designed to allow readers to engage more fully with the material. These workbooks, including titles such as Invitation to Positive Psychology, Positive Motivation and Positively Happy, are written by recognized authorities on the topic. Each workbook, weighing in at more than 100 pages long, is full of reflective exercises and suggested activities that allow readers to go “beyond the books” and actually use this dynamic material in their own lives. Readers gain not only background information on the science but also practical tips, opportunities to step back and take stock of their goals and experiments they can try in an effort to craft a better life.

Learn more about these workbooks.

happier.com is a personal trainer for your happiness. With more than a dozen tools and tests to help you measure, track and improve your happiness, you can trust the happier.com experts to help you reach your goals. Exclusive videos and a popular blog mean there’s something new to learn every day. Download the free iPhone application or find what you’re looking for with the Positive Psychology Practitioner Directory. happier.com is on Facebook, LinkedIn, and twitter and has meetup groups in Washington, Philadelphia, and Portland, with more planned. Click here for a social media press release from our launch.

One of Our Favorites: Ode — The Magazine for Intelligent Optimists

happier.com — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:46 +0000

One of our favorite magazines is Ode – The Magazine for Intelligent Optimists. A one-year subscription is $29.99 at Amazon.com. Ode is unlike any other publication we’ve encountered — the editors carefully curate spirited, engaging pieces about what is going well in the world. Some articles focus on science while others are profiles of compelling people. In the editors’ words:

Each issue of Ode brings stories about the people, passion and possibilities changing the world…one good idea at a time. It’s filled with hope for the future and highlights innovative, positive ideas happening all around the globe.

The issues stay relevant well after publication, and we find ourselves thinking back to pieces from months before. And, subscribing to the magazine gets you access to the community of “Intelligent Optimists” with online message boards and resources. In this month’s issue, read a story about “21 things I appreciate about you” and how large groups of people can do good when they get together.

Five Great Books on Organizational Leadership

happier.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:34:40 +0000

This list of 5 Great Books on Organizational Leadership was compiled by a member of Positive Psychology Practitioners group on LinkedIn. More than 700 practitioners share best practices, problem-solve, and network with this free group . Join today.

Building the Bridge As You Walk On It: A Guide for Leading Change (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership)
by Robert Quinn. Phenomenal. Outstanding on leadership, but, as the stories in the book suggest, perhaps even more important to being a parent, friend, spouse, community member.

Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance
by Kim Cameron. This book is short, to the point, and the best summation of how the findings of positive psychology apply to organizations. To me, this book didn’t carry the emotional wallop of Building the Bridge as You Walk on It, but it certainly can help clarify the constructs and how they fit in the world of business and organizations.

Strengths-Based Leadership
by Tom Rath. This books builds on the strengths research underlying Gallup’s other books with lots of new research specifically applicable to leadership. Like the other books, it includes an access code to take the online Strengthsfinder 2.0 instrument, but in a version that comes with a report that focuses on leadership. The book describes how the 34 strengths themes group into four domains of leadership: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. These are illustrated with stories of four significant leaders, each working out of a set of strengths in one of the four domains. Finally, the authors report on Gallup’s research into the four basic needs of followers: Trust (honesty, integrity, respect); Compassion (caring, friendship, happiness, love); Stability (security, strength, support, peace), and Hope (direction, faith, guidance). Highly useful and original.

Making the Impossible Possible: Leading Extraordinary Performance: The Rocky Flats Story
by Kim Cameron and Marc Lavine. This is the story of how the same workers who were operating the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant — with lots of union grievances — managed to close and cleanup that facility in 1/10th the estimated time, at 1/6th the estimate cost, and to standards 13 times greater than federal requirements. Plus you get a real introduction to key areas of Dr. Cameron’s work. Excellent, and inspiring!

Energize Your Workplace: How to Create and Sustain High-Quality Connections at Work
by Jane Dutton. Dr. Dutton gives both the research on the importance of relationships at work — she calls them “high quality connections — and specific approaches to making and sustaining such connections, and helping those you lead to do the same. We are not talking deep intimacy here, just the quick, human-to-human link that lets emotional and cognitive information flow freely.

Three Ways that Comfort and Convenience Make Us Less Happy

happier.com — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:28 +0000

Angie LeVan is a resilience coach, positive psychology consultant and an associate of Positive Psychology Services, LLC. Angie has studied the science of well-being in the Masters of Applied Positive Psychology program at University of Pennsylvania, and she is a blogger on the topic of resilience for psychologytoday.com. See her profile in our practitioner directory.

Can Comfort and Convenience Undermine Your Well-being?

Most of us will do anything to avoid challenge, discomfort or even the slightest bit of inconvenience (hence, the Clapper, remote controls and Velcro). But by doing so, are we doing more harm than good when it comes to our well-being?

I’ll be the first to admit, there are some conveniences I just can’t live without. After all, who doesn’t love the iPhone?! But let’s face it — modern-day conveniences have made it easier than ever to do less, to spend endless hours on our derrières and to just be ‘comfortable’ — perhaps too comfortable?

Think about it. We’re living during a time when everything we want is right at our fingertips (thanks to the Internet and credit cards). Yet, we’re less happy today than our ancestors were when food was sparse, career paths were non-existent and before 18 year-olds drove sports cars. According to researchers, less than 20% of people (1 in 5) are actually ‘flourishing’ – living the ‘good life’. Worse yet, about the same number of people report symptoms of depression and anxiety! Through comfort and convenience have we lost opportunities to have an engaging and meaningful life? Have we sacrificed opportunities to develop the resources that truly enable us to thrive in life?

3 Ways Comfort and Convenience May be Short-changing Your Well-being:

1) An Epidemic of Inactivity: Not surprisingly, physical inactivity has reached epidemic proportion. Heart disease, obesity, diabetes and a number of other physical and mental disorders are on the rise – a result of modern conveniences?

So, get off your rear and take an active approach to life! For great tips on boosting your brawn and energy, check out these books: Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond and Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

2) Less Opportunity for Growth: When we’re exposed to minor stressors or challenges, we have an opportunity to build the mental resources necessary to actively cope with future hardship. Less challenge equals less opportunity to build the precious, mental resources that, leveraged appropriately, can enable a person to thrive.

For more information on building resilience, see The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles. Also, see this happier.com online exercise for building resilience.

3) False Hopes for an Easy Ride: In a technology-driven world, it’s easy to fall prey to expectations for an easy ride in life. But that’s just not how it works — and perhaps that’s not how it should! Happiness takes work. It takes real effort and persistence to achieve the life you most desire.

Adopt a different mindset. Learn to love challenge and effort, and step out of your ‘comfort zone’ by finding safe ways to challenge yourself!

Stay tuned for more on how use challenge as pathway to a thriving life!

An Interview With Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project

Doug Hensch — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:01:01 +0000

You’ve probably heard of Gretchen Rubin. More than 60,000 people subscribe to her blog The Happiness Project and email newsletter, and the blog is carried on outlets including Slate, the Huffington Post and RealSimple.com. December, 2009 will bring the publication of her book, The Happiness Project, available for pre-order at a discount through the happier.com store.

In Gretchen’s words:

My happiness project has convinced me that it’s possible to be happier by taking small, concrete steps in your daily life. In my book and on this daily blog, I write about what I’ve learned as I’ve test-driven the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture. Plutarch, Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, St. Thérèse, the Dalai Lama, Oprah, Martin Seligman…I cover it all.

Doug, a member of the team at happier.com, recently asked Gretchen about her journey so far:

What initially made you interested in writing about happiness?

I was riding on a city bus on a rainy day, and I had a rare moment of reflection. “What do I want from life, anyway?” I thought. “I want to be happy.” But I realized I didn’t spend any time thinking about what it meant to be happy, or whether I was happy, or how I could be happier. At that moment I thought, “I should have a happiness project – and think about happiness, and make changes in my life, in a systematic way!” (I’m a former lawyer so that’s my way of approaching things.) I started my happiness project the next day. I didn’t immediately think about writing a book about it; that came later.

What would you say is the single easiest way for people to be happier at Work? Home? Social life?

Philosophers and scientists agree: probably THE key to happiness is having strong relationships with other people. Make time for the people in your life. Make some fun plans. Join or start a group. Help someone else. Call someone. Remember birthdays. Celebrate holidays. Get to know someone new. The more strong relationships you have, the more likely you are to describe yourself as very happy.

What is the most surprising thing that you have learned about happiness over your year with the happiness project?

I was surprised to discover the truth of the theory that “novelty and challenge bring happiness.” I thought that in my case, familiarity and mastery would bring more happiness. But to test that theory, I started a blog – a challenge that made me feel intimidated and insecure. And my blog has turned into a GIGANTIC source of happiness for me. So now I look for other ways to bring novelty and challenge into my life. It’s a taxing way to get happiness, but it’s worth it, because it yields such great bang for the buck.

Who are the happiest people that you have encountered?

What qualities did they have? Do you have any stories about people that immediately come to mind? That’s a great question. It’s really worth studying the people who seem very happy, because they have qualities that we can all emulate. They seem very kind. Kindness is a much-overlooked virtue, to my mind. They seem light-hearted – even if they aren’t playful (which they sometimes are, but not always), they can laugh at themselves and at tough situations. They are loving: they really listen, they go out of their way to help even when it’s not convenient, they think about other people’s needs.

But happy people come in different flavors. Some are goofy, some are serene, some are intense. It’s interesting, though, how attractive they are. When you’re around a really happy person, you want to be around that person MORE.

What often disguises itself as happiness, or a road to happiness, but is actually not?

I think people often give themselves a “treat” when they want a happiness boost – but all too often, the things we do to treat ourselves don’t make us happy in the long run. Having an extra glass of wine, eating ice cream out of the carton, having a cigarette, splurging on a new pair of shoes, leaving a big mess…these are things that feel like a treat but in the end, often make us feel worse. If you feel the urge to give yourself a treat, ask yourself, “Will this really make me happy, in the long run?” Try to find ways to treat yourself that don’t leave a bad taste in your mouth.

If you are feeling down, what can you do to give yourself a boost?

One of the quickest ways to give yourself a boost is to do something nice for someone else. Here’s a suggestion: become an organ donor! Sign the online registry and/or tell your family you want to be a donor. With that single quick act, you may save the life of five people one day! It’s huge! If you’re already an organ donor, try taking a ten-minute walk outside. It will boost your energy, heighten your alertness, and break up your day. Even better, take a friend with you.

Do you have a favorite happiness quote or metaphor?

Ah, I have so manyI I love quotations and have so many wonderful quotations. Here’s one: “There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.” Robert Louis Stevenson

30 of the Best Books on the Science of Happiness – Written by the Experts

happier.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:00:36 +0000

Looking for a new book? We’ve selected 30 of the best books about the science of happiness. Written by the happier.com experts and other thought-leaders, these books are the best place to go to learn about the research and practice of positive psychology and ways to start getting happier.

When we come across a new book or one of our experts recommends one, we’ll add it to the bookstore as soon as it’s available. And since the bookstore is actually run by amazon.com, you can use your existing account with the site.

Have suggestions for books to add or questions about what’s included? Just let us know!

Books include:

Curious? by Todd Kashdan

Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson

Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman

Tuesday’s Tip – Get Curious

Doug Hensch — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:41:43 +0000

Todd Kashdan’s latest book, Curious?, is a must read for anyone serious about improving their own happiness and well being. He mixes science, story-telling, and some very practical advice to help us all reap the rewards of heightened levels of curiosity in our lives.

While I found the entire book (from it’s sparse, bright yellow cover to its in-depth use of research) useful and fun, there were several elements that really caught my attention and that I put into practice almost immediately.

First, Todd displaces the notion that happiness is the ultimate goal in life. He writes that we should consider meaning, maturity, wisdom, and compassion in addition to being happier. His definition of curiosity (”recognizing novelty and seizing the pleasures and meaning that they offer us”) sets the stage for a much deeper understanding of this word and the enormous impact that practicing curiosity can have on us. So, much like a business that writes a mission statement, having a purpose in life helps you make decisions regarding your career, family, friends, where to live, etc. Meaning and purpose provide us with a foundation that helps us stay in sync with our interests and values.

Besides helping create this strong foundation, curiosity has some very tangible benefits, as well.

Health: There is some promising research showing that higher levels of curiosity may reduce your risk for some neurological diseases and even reverse the degenerative effects.
Intelligence: The evidence supports the case that increasing one’s curiosity can lead to higher IQ tests scores in both adults and kids.
Meaning & Purpose: Curiosity is the driving force that allows us to try new things, learn from our experiences, and contemplate our futures.
Social Relationships: Closed-minded people are much more likely to rely on stereotypes and they fail to see people in a greater context.
Happiness: In several well-documented studies, curiosity is at or near the top of the list in terms of predicting a person’s level of happiness.

On the other hand, curiosity taken to an extreme can be harmful. It is not meant to be the relentless search for the “truth.” In fact, the need for certainty dampens the positive effects of curiosity and limits our ability to learn and adjust, as needed.

In short, Todd has done a masterful job of explaining that curiosity probably did not kill the cat and that the intentional practice of curiosity will actually help you lead a life of positive emotions, engagement, and meaning.

Thank God It’s Monday – Putting the Best-Seller to Work Through Positive Psychology

Andrew Rosenthal — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:52:02 +0000

Wouldn’t it be great to create a workplace employees, customers and management all loved? This is the question that frames the new book by Roxanne Emmerich, Thank God It’s Monday!: How to Create a Workplace You and Your Customers Love. Emmerich’s book has reached the best-seller list recently, ranking in the top-10 on lists from Amazon.com, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. In her book, Emmerich chronicles real companies where motivational “kick-butt kick-offs” led to transformational changes in attitude, productivity and earnings.

While the language and the stories in the book are uniquely hers, Emmerich’s strategies draw on key tools from within positive psychology. She directly refers to Martin Seligman’s “profound research” documented in Learned Optimism as having a significant role in changing the tenor of a workplace. In fact, there are a number of positive psychology tools, some available on happier.com, to help put the “TGIM” strategy to work.

Enthusiasm: Light That Fire in Your Belly

Enthusiasm is a “moment-by-moment choices” explains Emmerich. And for plenty of workers, it can be a hard choice to make. How do you get out of a rut and become contagiously enthusiastic? Here’s an easy way to start:

Discover, and use, your strengths. Getting started is easy — every single person has a set of top strengths. There’s no heavy-lifting here. Just take the free VIA Strengths Survey and get instant results on your top strengths. Then, put them to work. Focus, each day, on using one of your top strengths in a new way during work. Doing this is fun — these are things you’re already good at — and it can be pretty easy. And if, at first blush, the strength doesn’t seem like it’s relevant to work, then find a way to make it so. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence doesn’t have to be a walk in the park — take a moment to recognize a colleague’s achievements. And Self Regulation can mean checking your email every 2 hours instead of every 2 minutes. Find a way to use one of your strengths in a new way during work. Within no time, you will be more enthusiastic. It’s fun, lasting and authentic.

Want more guidance? The Discover Your Strengths plan on happier.com provides tests, tools and assistance to make it easier.

Giving: Ignited Spirits Through Profound Service

Emmerich points out that “customer satisfaction” isn’t good enough, especially if they are weighing “satisfaction” against a lower price elsewhere, when deciding where to do business. “Customer success is what matters: making a lasting difference, transforming your interactions from a simple business transaction to a profound exchange between two human beings that creates a transformation of more success for the customer.”

As you begin giving, put a number to your progress. Track and measure your results. In addition to asking “Have I made a difference?” try taking the free Positivity Test, developed by Barbara Fredrickson, at the University of North Carolina. Better yet, take the test before you start giving. Try and establish a baseline. Then, once you start giving, take the test every day, for a week. Then take it every few days. Surely, your results will bounce up and down a bit. But if you’re really giving, and if you’re achieving customer success, your positivity ratio will increase. And you’ll be increasing the positivity of others.

Ask the expert: what would you ask the author of “Positivity”?

happier.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:07:15 +0000

happier.com is pleased to be working with Barbara Fredrickson, author of the new book Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive.

Do you have any questions you’d like to ask Dr. Fredrickson? Use this brief online form to suggest a question.

New book: Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive

happier.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:21:18 +0000

Barbara Fredrickson’s much-anticipated book, Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive, has just been released.

Available now on Amazon.com

The Washington Post published a review and more information about the book is available on her website.

Dr. Martin Seligman writes: “The first time I heard Barb Fredrickson speak, the famous psychologist sitting next to me said, “That’s the real thing!” This book, like Barb, is the “Real Thing:” It’s the perfect blend of sound science and wise advice on how to become happier. Barbara Fredrickson is the genius of the positive psychology movement.”