Gratitude journaling is a practice founded in positive psychology. Gratitude journaling is all about noting down the good things in life. It's more than just a feel-good activity; it's backed by science. Let's look at some of its benefits and its positive psychology.
Positive psychology and gratitude journaling
Gratitude journaling involves writing down things you're thankful for. It's a way to shift focus from life's stresses to its joys, big or small. Recognizing these moments can be uplifting, whether it's the sun's warmth or a friend's kind words.
The Positive Psychology Connection
Positive psychology is a scientific branch of psychology. The branch focuses on the strengths and virtues that empower individuals and their communities to thrive. Unlike many other branches of psychology that focus on pathology, deficits, and suffering, positive psychology seeks to study and promote optimal human functioning, well-being, and wellness.
Key concepts and areas of focus of positive psychology
Strengths and Virtues: Identifying and tapping into individual strengths (e.g., bravery, love, leadership) and virtues for personal growth.
Well-being and Happiness: Studying what makes life worth living and understanding the factors contributing to a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Positive Emotions: Highlighting the value and role of emotions such as joy, gratitude, hope, and love.
Flow: A concept introduced by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, flow refers to the state of being completely immersed in a task, losing track of time, and performing at one's best. To see Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's TED talk about happiness called flow-ról click here.
Resilience: Exploring how people can bounce back or experience growth from adversities.
Mindset: Mindset explores how beliefs about one's abilities can impact behaviour and achievement. This theory is described in the work of Carol Dweck. This work is commonly known as the fixed and growth mindset theory.
Positive Relationships: Positive psychology promotes the importance of healthy relationships in well-being and stress reduction.
Meaning and Purpose: Understanding how finding meaning in life can lead to greater satisfaction and well-being. This one sounds simple, but we are still trying to figure it all out for most of us.
Positive Interventions: Giving energy to develop tools, techniques, and interventions to enhance individual and community well-being.
Gratitude and Appreciation: Positive psychology investigates the benefits of expressing and recognizing gratitude. This section is where gratitude journaling fits in.
If you are interested in this topic please read some of my other posts on gratitude and journaling. Thank you for reading.
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