Sure, we’ve always known that anger and rage isn’t healthy. But what we’re learning more and more is just how closely connected mental health is to physical health.
In today’s New York Times, Robert Allen recounts how “a recent meta-analysis of 44 prospective studies in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology confirms a strong relationship between anger and both the onset and outcome from coronary heart disease; moreover, approximately 1.5 percent of heart attacks are “triggered” by intense anger.” And that’s the most basic type of relationship. Most of us are perfectly comfortable with the idea that anger can be bad for you.
But did you know that optimistic people are less likely to get sick from the cold? Dr. Sheldon Cohen, at Carnegie Melon, has become recognized for his work linking psychological factors like stress, social support network and optimism to susceptibility from disease. His highest-profile research involves exposing people to the cold virus — a controlled amount of virus in a controlled setting — and predicting who will become sick based on factors like their optimism and psychological resources. Dr. Cohen’s work is starting to get more and more recognition. Just last week he delivered the 2009 Contributions in Positive Health Award Lecture at the First World Congress on Positive Psychology.
The connection between physical health and psychological factors is just the beginning. This study of positive psychical health represents one of the primary focuses of positive psychology, moving forward. At the recent World Congress on Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman and other thought-leaders argue that positive psychology ought to be about more than the study of happiness: we should study positive health, positive education and the science of flourishing.
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.
At the World Congress on Positive Psychology, thought-leaders in the field of positive psychology presented their visions for the future. Notably, most argued that studying happiness is a start, but not sufficient. These three areas will be the future focus for the field of positive psychology:
Positive Health
Already, leading psychologists, physicians and other influencers have begun gathering to develop the field of positive health. Last week, millions of dollars of grants were announced for the study of positive neuroscience. A lecture series at the University of Pennsylvania is focused on the area. Recently, Martin Seligman outlined his proposal (PDF) for the new field:
Positive health describes a state beyond the mere absence of disease and is definable and measurable. Positive health can be operationalised by a combination of excellent status on biological, subjective, and functional measures.
Positive Education
Yesterday’s U.S. News and World Report includes a niece piece on positive education, which Marty Seligman last year defined in an Australian op-ed :
The schooling of children has, for more than a century, been about accomplishment, the avenue into the world of adult work. I am all for accomplishment, success, literacy and discipline, but imagine if schools could, without compromising either, teach both the skills of well being and the skills of achievement. Imagine positive education. – Martin Seligman
The Science of Flourishing
At the World Congress on Positive Psychology, attendees were challenged to ensure that 51% of the world is flourishing by 2051. The focus on flourishing will become more prominentas global researchers argue that human flourishing is the ultimate goal of studying and increasing happiness. In 2002, positive psychology saw its first book focused on flourishing. In the coming months, we will see more articles, lectures and studies incorporating the idea of human flourishing. Keep watching Chris Peterson, from the University of Michigan. For years, he has been reminding his colleagues in positive psychology that “Other people matter.” This mantra becomes even more important as the field focuses on studying the science of human flourishing.
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.
We just came back from the First World Congress on Positive Psychology in Philadelphia. At the Congress, many practitioners expressed frustration at the lack of ways to market their practice and attract new clients. Existing directories are not focused enough on positive psychology, and practitioners get lost among the legions of traditional therapists and life-coaches without an underlying scientific approach. And, let’s face it, the best practitioners often don’t have time to build up their own web presences, let-alone market themselves. That’s where the happier.com practitioner directory comes in.
Are you a Positive Psychology Practitioner?
Do you want more clients?
Do you want more online visibility?
The happier.com Practitioner Directory connects therapists, coaches and other practitioners with potential clients.
- Personalized directory listing
- Publicize your practice to the largest and most-current group of people interested in using positive psychology in their lives
- Get paying clients
- Let us take care of the technical
- Hosted at directory.happier.com
- Link to your blog or personal web page
- Benefit from fast-growing traffic to happier.com
- Rank high in Google and other directories
- We will publicize your listing via Twitter, Facebook, LInkedIn, and in our own email newsletters and blog posts
- Unlimited leads for one cost
- Google ad words, search engine optimization, email campaigns and link building
- Build an identity within the happier.com community
In the last week, the directory has doubled in size! More than 40 practitioners have already joined (many listings are still awaiting editing). Think you should join too? Check out our special pricing and site features.
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.
Tonight starting at 5:30pm, join the happier.com team for a happy[r] hour during the IPPA World Congress in Positive Psychology, in Philadelphia.
Heading to the First World Congress on Positive Psychology in Philadelphia this June?
Are you a practitioner searching for new clients?
Are you a researcher studying the science of happiness?
Want to learn more about happier.com?
Join staff and friends of happier.com for an informal reception.
Drinks (beer and wine) are complimentary, along with light food.
Feel free to bring friends/colleagues.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
5:30-8:00pm
Public House, 1801 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
More information available on our facebook page.
RSVP by leaving a comment on this blog post. Your email address won’t be displayed, but we’ll have a record of it and email you to confirm. If you already RSVPd on this page, we’ve got you on the list!
The reception is just two blocks away from the World Congress. Leave the Sheraton and walk up Race Street. Take a left on 18th Street and walk against traffic, 1/2 block past the Four Seasons hotel. Public House is on your right.
View IPPA reception information in a larger map
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.
Follow @happier on twitter for the latest updates on the IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology.
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.
