Dr. Acacia Parks-Sheiner is an instructor in positive psychology, a researcher and a member of the Positive Psychology Practitioner Directory. Dr. Parks has taught a variety of classes on how to use positive psychology interventions, and she often gets questions from students and clients about what will work best for them.
The happiness-health relationship isn’t magic – although some parts of it may be biological, a big part of why happy people are healthier stems from behaviors that come more easily to happy people. A study by Bob Emmons and colleagues found that people who experience gratitude on a regular basis are more likely to spontaneously exercise, and they also get better sleep. These short-term health behaviors lead to long-term benefits like longer life span. So if getting happier doesn’t seem worth the effort by itself, think abut the health benefits!
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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.
By invited author Robert Biswas-Diener
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.
It’s a unique opportunity to meet people who share similar interests and get excited about positive psychology. I hope to be turning on more friends in the area to happier.com. 
- Patty Ferssizidis from happierDC
Upcoming Meetups
happierPhilly.com
Philadelphia, PA: Thursday, November 19, 6:00pm. A focus on practitioners: The best books, tests, and tools for coaches, consultants and happiness trainers. With special guest, Coach Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, MAPP. Open to everyone, with a focus on practitioners. Register now.
happierPortland.com
Portland, OR: Sunday, November 22, 2:00pm. Inaugural Meetup: Surprising Findings from the Science of Happiness. At the inaugural meeting of happierPortland, we’ll have a special guest: noted author and educator Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, author of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. 40+ registered; limited space still available. Register now.
Online Webinar
Everywhere. Wednesday, December 16, 3:00pm EST. Using happier.com with your Clients: A special Webinar for Positive Psychology Practitioners. This special webinar is designed for positive psychology coaches, consultants, trainers and other practitioners. Join us from your home or office for this one-hour networking and learning opportunity. Hear “what works” from expert positive psychology practitioners. Free. Register online or email with questions.
happierLA.com
Long Beach, CA: Wednesday, January 6, 6:15pm. Ten Tips To Improve Your Happiness NOW! Hosted by UniqueScan, with happier.com co-founder Andrew. Registration is now open.
happierSanFrancisco.com
San Francisco, CA: Thursday, January 7, 6:15pm. Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Happiness: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What You Can Do About It. With happier.com co-founder Andrew. This meetup is a direct result of user interest and organization! Sign up now to reserve your spot.
More meetups are in the works for Boston, DC, New York, Chicago and Seattle. Interested in getting involved in your neck of the woods? Email us.
Recent Meetups:
happierPhilly.com October 14th, 2009. Philadelphia, PA. Over 75 people RSVP’d for Staying Resilient in Tough Times: Why Happiness is Important in Business. Panelists included Dr. Karen Reivich, author of The Optimistic Child (co-author) and The Resilience Factor and Scott Asalone, Fortune 500 consultant. View pictures.
happierDC.com October 15, 2009. Washington, DC. Dr. Todd Kashdan hosted an intimate conversation: New Findings in Happiness & Personality: Looking Within People, Not Just Between. Attendees were in for a special treat when a crew from CNN came to learn more about the meetup and talk with attendees. View pictures.
happierNYC.com November 12, 2009. New York, NY. Co-founder Andrew introduced the science-backed tools and tests of happier.com and host Emiliya Zhivotovskaya led the group in positive psychology exercises.
Here’s the presentation from the NYC meetup
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.
The last ten years of research have lead to a host of surprising findings about the science of happiness. Meet Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, a researcher and instructor known as “The Indiana Jones of Positive Psychology” for his work on happiness in far-flung locations. Robert will share some of his most surprising findings in the science of happiness, and he’ll share the best ways to scientifically-improve happiness. Robert is being hosted by happierPortland.com, a meetup group for people interested in positive psychology and the science of happiness. This is the first meeting of happierPortland, which is being held after similar get-togethers in Philadelphia (happierPhilly.com), New York (happierNYC.com) and Washington, DC (happierDC.com).
Robert Biswas-Diener, D. Phil., is Program Director for the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology and a part-time instructor at Portland State University. He is widely known as the “Indiana Jones of Positive Psychology” because his research has taken him to such far-flung destinations as Greenland, Kenya and India where he has studied the happiness of often-overlooked groups such as Amish farmers, tribal people and sex workers. Robert’s research focuses on the intricate interplay between money, culture and happiness. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Positive Psychology, the Journal of Happiness Studies, and is the associate editor of Journal of Personality. Robert is co-author of Happiness: Unlocking the mysteries of psychological wealth (2008), which won the 2008 PROSE Award.
In addition to his research on well-being Robert is also a thought leader in the application of positive psychological science. Robert is a Certified Mentor Coach and has conducted positive psychology trainings for therapists, coaches, managers and consultants in Iceland, Denmark, England, Scotland, Turkey, South Africa, Israel, India, Canada and the United States. He is author of the book Positive Psychology Coaching (2007) and the forthcoming Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching (2010)
Positive Psychology practitioners will particularly enjoy this opportunity to network, share best-practices, and learn from one of the leaders in the field. And your clients are welcome to attend this free event — in other cities, coaches and consultants have suggested clients attend these meetups, to great success.
Multnomah County Central Library
U.S. Bank Room (Ground Floor)
801 SW 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97205
Sunday, 11/22, 3-4:30pm
No charge.
View happierPortland.com November Meetup in a larger map
RSVP required, at http://happierPortland.com
Questions? Contact the happierPortland host, Andrew Rosenthal: andrew.rosenthal@happier.com; 215.629.9210 x 3.
Happier JoinMe | Create Your Badge
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 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.
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.
