Happiness,Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth

A recommended reading is “Happiness, Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth” by Dr. Ed Diener and his son Robert Biswas-Diener.

 

Scientific evidence of the value of genuine happiness is cited, emphasizing that happiness is a process that when filled with positive emotions for right purposes, creates life satisfaction.

 

“Psychological wealth is your true total net worth, and includes your attitudes toward life, social support, spiritual development, material resources, health and the activities in which you engage.”

 

The book offers many words of wisdom to live by, such as “Be happy for the right reasons” and pay attention to the good in others, and the beautiful things that are going right. Thinking that most people are doing their best and people with serious problems deserve compassion is a healthy attitude.

 

The model for a happy approach to life is AIM, Attention, Interpretation and Memory. This means: paying attention to the beauty and goodness around you, while aware of negatives, interpreting events as inspirational and preserving their self-esteem, and active appreciation of the past such as savoring memories.

 

The authors include some tests to measure your own satisfaction with life, emotional well-being and psychological flourishing.

 

This book helps the reader use the practical and scientific studies of psychological value for leading a life of genuine happiness.

Gratitude, A Story, A Question and Five Tips

Gratitude, A Story, A Question and Five Tips

by Rita M. Thompson

Personal and Educational Coach

Gratitude is a strength of the heart, an appreciation of another’s excellence in moral character (Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman), and a positive emotion that opens your heart and carries the urge to give back (Dr. Barbara Fredrickson).

Gratitude is one of my strongest strengths, making me enjoy life more when I use it and increasing my resilience during difficult times.

Here is one of my stories.

My neighbor during my pre-teen years was an elderly woman living alone. One time, I noticed her lawn was unusually overgrown, so I mowed it for her.

Over thirty years later, 3000 miles away, I was raising my two young daughters alone and received a call from her. She was in the area and wanted to treat the three of us to lunch. As we ate and shared experiences and memories of home, I realized what a wonderful gift she was giving my children. My own gratitude surged and I savor that time. It still has the power to elevate me, even as I write.

What’s your story?

What happened to you in 2009, or before, that made you more grateful, helped you appreciate another person, or made you love life more?  Think of that time, how you felt, what reaction it created in you, and what is it’s effect on your life now?

Here are five tips that can help your gratitude practice.

One. You can write yourself a story about a gratitude moment in your life. While you write, savor the time and what it meant to you.

Two. You can keep a diary of gratitude events that happen as you go through life.

Three. You can, on a weekly basis, have a gratitude recall of three blessings, good things that happened to you that week.

Four. You can think of something you can do for someone else, whether you know them or not, and do it graciously, without a sense of duty or expectation of return.

Five. You can take a fresh look around you with an open mind and heart, growing in appreciation for the wonders that are there for you to find, in nature, in other people, and in events that occur.

My January, 2010 free teleconference will be on “Gratitude, What’s Your Story.” You can listen, share, and grow on January 6, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

E-mail me at rthompson48@comline.com. for your free teleconference number-only long distance charges may apply.

Send me your story ahead of time if you would like to share it with others on the call.

My next Gratitude Class, “Gratitude In Action” starts January 16, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, and ends five sessions later on February 13, 2010. Cost is $125 per person, payable in advance by sending a check to Rita M. Thompson, 3185-D Via Buena Vista, Laguna Woods, Ca 92637. For future class notification, e-mail Rita your intent.

Rita M. Thompson

Personal and Educational Coach

www.coaching4positivechange.com.

What Is Important To You Teleconference

I wish all the best for my readers during the Christmas Holidays and the coming New Year and hope you will give yourself a gift.

Going one step further, I am offering a free teleconference on “What Is Important To You?” on December 28, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

If you want to learn how reach to your goals, enjoy the positive emotions and handle the negative ones, this could help you.

Should you feel blocked, unable to move forward, there will be some powerful ways presented toward accomplishment.

It’s best to make up your mind that you matter and so do others and there is help to make that happen with Coach Rita.

E-mail rthompson48@comline.com. with a few lines about what is important to you, and the conference number and info will be sent to you.

Join the conference and see the difference appreciative participation can make for you.

If you can’t attend the conference and want individual and/or group coaching e-mail me your preference at:

rthompson48@comline.com.

We can arrange for a free half/hour conference or coaching times.

Act now while you are motivated.

Teleconference on November 10, 2009

At twelve noon, Pacific time, Coach Rita M. Thompson, President of the Happy Works Club, will host a free teleconference on:

“From I Think I Can, Maybe, to I Did IT!”.

To join the call, e-mail Rita at: rthompson48@comline.com.

 

Ending Announcement

Announcement of My New Website “Coaching 4PositiveChange”.

This is the ending of this website.

I hope you have enjoyed reading and trying some of the coaching articles and suggestions.

Positive change is good and I invite you to follow me as I move forward too.

www.coaching4positive change will be my main website and all my coaching will be part of The Happy Works Club LLC.

Rita M. Thompson

President: Happy Works Club LLC

Top Ten Reccommended Books To Help You Move Forward

Top Ten Recommended Books to Help You Move Forward

One important time before you are ready for change, is when you take an action of preparation toward change.

There are many self-help books on the market. I love best those based on researched studies by author/scientists who have done 10 or more years of research on their topic.

With this in mind, I have written my top ten recommendations at this time, for when you need inspiration, guidelines and learning.

All you need to do to receive my free list, is send me your e-mail, and request it.

I will be happy to send it to you.

Happy reading.

Rita M. Thompson

rita@lifeliftcoach.com.

Thoughts on “Curious”

Some Thoughts on Dr. Todd Kashdon’s “Curious” Book

 

     The strength of curiosity/love of learning is one of the routes to Wisdom and Knowledge, according to Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman and Dr. Chris Peterson, leading Positive Psychologists.

 

     Dr. Kashdon’s book details scientific research he has found that supports his theme, that curiosity is the central ingredient to leading a fulfilling life. To him, “Curiosity is about how we pay attention to what is happening in the present.”  Seligman and Peterson’s definition is “Curiosity involves the active recognition, pursuit, and regulation of one’s experience in response to challenging opportunities.”

 

     Dr. Kashdon writes that with curiosity you can build knowledge, skills, strengths and meaning. Intentionally focusing your most valuable assets of time and energy can change and enhance life’s moments.

 

     Hands on strategies and the science about how they work can help you gain insight. Using the results in daily life can deepen passion and excitement helping to create long-lasting satisfying relationships. Research even shows that becoming a curious explorer can provide relief to problematic anxiety.

 

     The dark side of curiosity is not overlooked.  Those too intense interests some people have in sex, death, etc. run counter to healthy useful contributions to society.

 

     Guidelines are presented for increasing opportunities to create meaning and purpose. He gives scientific support for curiosity as one of the paths to a healthy, satisfying and long-lasting life. Exercises and tools are in the appendix to use to increase curiosity in your life.

 

     I only write on this blog about books I can recommend. My interest in the 24 strengths as routes to the six culturally recognized virtues loves this one for the approach taken toward increasing the use of curiosity in daily life.

 

Rita M. Thompson

www.ritathompsoncoaching.com

“Healing Spaces, The Science of Place and Well-Being” by Esther Sternberg, M.D.

 

I learned of Dr Sternberg’s writing in Supervision Class taught by Anne Durand, Director of Training at my favorite coach training school, Mentor Coach LLC. I read the assigned book “The Balance Within” by the same author and have since reread it. Good books make me want to do that.

 

This one is another thought provoking good read. As a Life and Business Coach with educational and positive psychological interests,  places and spaces intrigue me for their benefits toward a flourishing life. This is filled with the latest neuroscience, medical, and psychological studies and activities that increase balance and healing spaces and places in the mind and body.

 

Beautiful scenes, colors of various wavelengths, different sounds and silence, touch and smell- all have an effect on our moods, emotions and responses to our environment.

 

Place cells are nerve cells that register location in space and pull together the sensory inputs we receive. This is a process necessary for the creation of an integral sense of place, an internal map with harmony integrating landmark images from experiences that form our internal compass.

 

There are also healing thoughts, healing prayers and visions that inspire others, such as the well-known healing place Lourdes, giving hope that a place will heal.

 

The author cites the new field of “evidence-based design” that evaluates the health benefits of architectural features in hospitals. A study found that patients healed faster when their room had a vista window.  Less noise, vista windows, access to nature, green spaces and visiting space decreased stress and increased healing.

 

Building urban spaces like bike trails, parks, and wide sidewalks can have an effect on activity and exercise, both beneficial to healing and staying healthy.

 

I particularly liked the term “walkability” in building design for its value for exercise, social needs, beauty in nature and thus health and healing.

 

It is important to each of us to find our own place of peace and healing for our own physical and mental health. It may be in a garden, hearing music in church, the calming movement in a labyrinth, a breathtaking vista, a favorite viewing place, flowing river water, sounds of a fountain or birds chirping, a familiar prayer and pleasant memory for examples.

 

The inner peace then helps us create beneficial environments for others. That is why I

recommend this book for a good understanding of Healing Spaces and the Science of Well-Being.

 Rita M. Thompson

www.ritathompsoncoaching.com.

INSPIRATION IN NEED

INSPIRATION IN NEED

 

Here are three outstanding examples of the positive emotion of INSPIRATION, and how valuable it is to help overcome negativity and flourish.

 

The first is the Susan Boyle rendition of “Les Miserables’s I Dreamed a Dream”.

 

At 48 years old this unemployed volunteer charity worker sang this song before a critical and cynical panel and audience, stunning them with an extraordinary performance. She has leaped to stardom and this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXPZh4anwyk) has been watched over 100 million times in less than one month.

 

What a voice and what a choice to capture so many with such a beautiful song!

 

The second is my coach’s response to Susan’s inspiring example-“So needed at this time”.

 

In the current recession for so many people facing savings and job losses, swine flu, home ownership endangerment, and people who would like to be able to help others, it is so apt-an inspiring song about a dream sung from such a surprising source. Watching it gives that warm feeling followed by uplift in positivity, and an elevation to the good in a person that helps us all.

 

The third comes from the example of my family. When the great depression hit in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, my parents had just started their family. My mother’s parents, three brothers, my parents and their three children moved together and then learned new skills and enjoyed life in a new community.

 

A song, a coach, a family-three moving examples of inspiring use of skills to  draw on inner strength, rise and reach higher satisfaction and beauty of life.

 

INSPIRATION is a positive emotion that helps us thrive, warms our heart, brings out our desire to do good, and urges us to do our best, according to Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, renowned positive psychology researcher of positive emotions and professor at Univ. of North Carolina.  Read more about her work at www.positivityratio.com.

 

What do you need in your life?  Who can help you achieve that satisfaction? When will you be willing to change to get there? Where are you in the possibility of that necessary change?

 

Dr. James Prochaska, Univ. of Rhode Island, is noted for his extensive research on change. Here is a brief recap of his model of five stages of change:

1. Precontemplation – haven’t really thought about it, tried and failed, stopped.

2. Contemplation – cons are stronger than the pros, procrastination

3. Preparation – intent to take action; have a possible plan, most successful time to recruit for action in change programs- e.g.  coaching.

4. Action – observable behavior change in life-style within the past six months. Vigilance against relapse is most critical.

5. Maintenance – Less tempted to relapse and increasingly more confidant that the change will continue.

 

INSPIRATION is a good, healthful, moving positive emotion and change is possible to flourish into life satisfaction. I’ve lived it and recommend it.

 

Rita M. Thompson

Life Coach

www.ritathompsoncoaching.com.

rita@lifeliftcoach.com.

 

 

 

 

Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson

“Positivity” by Barbara Fredrickson

 

With a testimonial: “Barbara Fredrickson is the genius of Positive Psychology” by Dr Martin E.P. Seligman, its founding father, this had better be good, and it is.

 

She defines positivity as a broad term consisting of the whole range of positive emotions, the positive meanings and optimistic attitudes that trigger them, as well as open minds, tender hearts and relaxed faces they usher in. Included also is the long term impact positive emotions have on your character, relationships, communities and environments.

 

Scientifically proven facts about positivity are the basis for the author’s theory of Broaden and Build. Positivity opens hearts and minds making us more receptive and creative and it transforms us for the better. We can then discover and build new skills, ties, knowledge and ways of being. At our best we can live longer.

 

This well respected scientist has done much research on positive emotions. She selects her top ten for us: Joy, Gratitude, Serenity, Interest, Hope, Pride, Amusement, Inspiration, Awe and Love and describes them in easy terms of understanding.

 

She gives some guidelines and specific actions to increase your positivity including a Positivity Self Test you can take at suggested times to note your progress.

 

We can control certain forms of thought and action to increase positivity. Seeing what’s good and right in various situations, going from thinking me to thinking you, accepting challenges, and reframing to a positive attitude are some of them.

 

The book is a good read from an accomplished researcher/positive psychologist. She describes some of her scientific studies on positive emotions and how they affect your life style, even pointing the way from languishing to flourishing.

 

The writing reaches to many, and is a must read for Positive Psychology practitioners and coaches.

 

Review by Rita M. Thompson 2-17-09