Are You Flourishing?

Issue No. 28

April 2011

Are You Flourishing?

What's "happiness"? Each of us has a different definition, and bookstore shelves are lined with self-help books that claim to steer us toward that elusive shiny state.

This month, though, seekers received some research-based insights into the subject with the release of Flourish. In it, the man who brought us the landmark work Authentic Happiness hands us a five-pillar foundation for a state larger than happiness alone: well-being.

Speaking of happiness, I found plenty at the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Conference in Orlando this month. I'm sharing a few below, as well as my own insights on the value of humor in the aging process.

And finally, speaking of aging, do you know how old that spaghetti sauce in your refrigerator is? Do you care? Check out this month's column to figure out where you stand on the subject of expiration toleration.

Pat

Are You Flourishing?....

There's more to well-being than happiness, according to Martin E.P. Seligman's new book

Flourish.

In addition to positive emotion (happiness), well-being requires engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment - aka PERMA.

The founding director of the Positive Psychology Center at U Penn, Seligman makes it clear that the goal of the increasingly popular positive psychology movement is not simply to increase positive mood but to increase human flourishing in all its aspects.

The book offers several proven exercises for increasing well-being. One simple one, the "What-Went-Well Exercise," involves taking ten minutes at bedtime to write down three things that went well that day, then answering the question "What did this happen?" He predicts that doing the exercise faithfully for a week will result in a more positive mood ...and addiction to the exercise!

My personal take on how Flourish affirms the positive aging movement appears in this month's online column for The Transition Network.

Humor Nuggets from AATH

There was humor and laughter aplenty at the annual conference of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor this month in Orlando.

Here are a few tips to put more humor in your life at home and at work.

From stress management humorist Kay Frances: Put some "humor nooners" in your life by intentionally scheduling fun breaks in the day. One possibility: go outside, hold up your cell phone and laugh uproariously. No matter that the phone is turned off.
From humor researcher Paul McGhee, Ph.D.: Try punning. Never mind that your friends may roll your eyes at your puns. They help create a positive frame of mind, and you'll perform better at work.
From researcher Stephen Sultanoff, Ph.D.: We actually DO laugh on the inside sometimes, and it's a good thing. "Inside laughter" lifts our spirits and readjusts our perspective and counteracts negative thinking. So laugh on the inside all you want - it counts!

Humor Can Boost Positive Aging

No matter what the nature of the loss, humor can play an important part in changing our perspective and in taking a break from the grieving that goes with it.

That includes not only the loss of loved ones and of jobs but also the losses that come with aging.

It makes sense to build your humor muscle, so it's ready when we need it. I've passed along some thoughts on how to do this in a column for The Transition Network.

Aging couple