Personal Skills: Positivity & Optimism

Positivity & Optimism

We understand positivity in several personality traits, like thinking in an optimistic way, looking for solutions, expecting success and results, focusing and making life happier. It is positive state of mind where you:

  • don’t take things too personally;
  • enjoy the present moment;
  • not worry much about the future;
  • focus instead of thinking about the past and difficulties rather to doing and achieving (relocation and reframing);
  • tolerant, happy and good-natured.

Emotions associated with positivity: inspiration, joy, love.

Thoughts associated with positivity: thoughts of courage, success, certainty, self-esteem,..

Positive psychology deals with the study and strengthening of the positive aspects of human life and mentality: issues of happiness, contentment, meaning, optimism, hope, perseverance, resilience, mental well-being, and other important positive aspects of human life and experience. It creates new insights into the importance of positive aspects of life for quality of life and mental and physical health; on the other hand, it develops methods and strategies to strengthen life skills and improve the quality of life. However, it should be emphasized that positive psychology is not a "happy psychology" that would strive to create constantly happy people who will always smile and always smile. Sickness, distress, pain, loss and trauma are a necessary companion of human life, as well as fear, anger, anxiety and other less pleasant emotions, as well as various mental distresses, problems and disorders. Positive psychology does not have the illusion that it can eliminate the less pleasant aspects of human life and experience: but it can do much to make us happier, more optimistic and better equipped to deal with less pleasant events and feelings when they happen. - and it's easier to beat them.

The dictionary definition of optimism is 'hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something' while positivity is 'the practice of being, or tendency to be positive or optimistic in attitude.

An optimistic view of the world is the basis for satisfaction with your life. If I judge for myself that I have enough strength, resources and support in my current life situation, then I successfully use emotional energy to achieve goals and live in accordance with my values. Optimists have a characteristic pattern of thinking where they highlight what they have an impact on, focus on the here and now, and describe their future with positive expectations.

Active coping, which is the basis of behavior to experience pleasant emotions. It is not enough to just be sure that we will succeed. The next step is very important, so that we can actively deal with the situation. In active coping, we control the situation to a greater extent and influence each subsequent outcome. Active coping is the basis for positive emotions. Positive emotions, on the other hand, are a new fuel for active coping.

The situation is represented by objective circumstances. We never evaluate only these, we add subjective perception to them. Therefore, the situation usually brings only 10 percent of the feeling of personal satisfaction. It would be different only if a very "catastrophic" thing happens to us, which is important for us subjective exchange (eg your loved one dies). In such a case, the impact is much greater, but it is true that such situations are very rare

Learned optimism is a concept that says we can change our attitude and behaviors by recognizing and challenging our negative self-talk, among other things.   it’s the opposite of learned helplessness: a phenomenon whereby individuals believe they are incapable of changing their circumstances after repeatedly experiencing a stressful event.

Despite facing more difficult trials, optimists believe that such a trial or defeat is only a temporary obstacle. The ordeal is actually a challenge for them, and in order to overcome it, they work even harder. The concept of learned optimism advocates the fact that we can learn optimism. In doing so, we recognize our basic thoughts that influence behavior, and in the process of learning optimism, we actively challenge transitional beliefs.

Can we learn optimism?

Optimism can be learned by an individual, even if he does not have such a positive view of the world. Learning optimism can be a real stimulus for us, because with the right amount of effort we can look at the world and circumstances from a much more positive side.

Cognitive-behavioral techniques and rational emotional-behavioral therapies are approaches that are optimal for learning the optimism illustrated by the ABCDE model.

A - Adversity - a circumstance that requires a response

For some people, distress due to a problem is the end point. They wonder what the benefit of effort is and tell themselves that they can’t keep going and try, and then they give up. For others, the hardships are fair, as they are just a series of interesting challenges that then often lead to success.

B - Belief - how I explain the event

Beliefs are the ones that affect how we interpret distress, and it is necessary to separate thoughts from feelings.

C - Consequence - ways of behaving, reacting and feeling

In the aftermath, we try to think about what consequences and behaviors more precisely arose because of the beliefs we had.

D - Disputing your Beliefs

When challenging our beliefs, think about your beliefs and look for examples that prove that those beliefs are wrong. Much of the skill of coping with failure involves learning how we can challenge our first thoughts in response to setbacks. Interpretive habits are so ingrained that learning to effectively challenge these beliefs requires quite a bit of practice.

E - Energization - the result of challenging our beliefs

Let’s consider how we feel now that we have challenged certain of our beliefs. At the same time, we can feel much more motivated and energetic for the next difficult trials, which we experience step by step as challenges and inspired to continue on the path to our goals.

10 PRINCIPLES OF WELL-BEING

1. Try to look at events as an optimist.

2. Try to plan your time well so that you have time for things that are important to you.

3. Focus on yourself personally important life goals.

4. Think of life as long and pleasant, not as short and tiring.

5. Spend your money on experiences, not material things.

6. Learn to be alert and use and practice a mindset pattern associated with gratitude.

7. Try to be politically open and tolerant of difference.

8. Focus your focus on holistic health, including psychological health.

9. Try to be open in interpersonal relationships and friendly to (new) people.

10. Don’t try to be happy, be active in thinking and behaving. Satisfaction and happiness will follow you alone.

*Positive Psychology Interventions: A great deal of research has been done in supporting a client in applying interventions in positive psychology into their life. Therapists with a deeper understanding of the benefits of these types of interventions can not only help clients return to health or psychosocial homeostasis.  They can also help clients lead lives that are more fulfilled.

Positive psychology interventions, or PPIs, are a set of scientific tools and strategies that focus on increasing happiness, wellbeing, and positive cognitions and emotions.

Significance in Times of Crisis (e.g. pandemic)

Humans are not adapted to the long-term and invisible danger posed by the coronavirus disease epidemic. Virus spread, measures, restrictions…, cause anxiety, stress, loneliness…

One of the core elements of positivity in client-oriented approach of help is unconditional positive regards. It (UPR) is a practice by accepting, respecting, and caring about the clients; the volunteer (therapist) should operate from the perspective that clients are doing the best they can in their circumstances and with the skills and knowledge available to them. He/she cultivates the ability to attend sessions with their clients in a non-judgmental and caring capacity.