Don’t Worry Be Happy!
Don’t worry, be happy are words from a song by Bobby Mcferrin with over 348 million views, a fun encouraging tune guaranteed to make you smile. The first verse goes:
“Here’s a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry be happy
Don’t worry be happy now”.
Who doesn’t want to be happy and worry less, I can hear you say, yes please. But how do we focus on being and feeling happier when the pressure of life keeps squeezing the joy out of you. Well if you knew you could do something about it would you? Because you can.
The scientific theory of Happiness.
Dr Martin Seligman presented the concept of Positive Psychology, rather than focusing just on people’s deficits, the need to focus on developing people’s strengths to not just survive but flourish. This led to the development of the Perma framework for wellbeing focusing on:
- Positive emotions
- Engagement
- Relationships
- Meaning
- Accomplishment
Later, Vitality has been added focusing on the physical aspects that support wellbeing.
Focusing on developing each area or pillar of the framework has been proven to increase happiness and reduce negative mental health Symptoms. To do this Psychologists have introduced us to Positive Psychology interventions, basically activities that have been scientifically proven through research and gaining of evidence to prove they can be effective. Such activities which you may have already heard of such as gratitude, the use of Character strengths or what we have presented already in our initial blogs, spending time in nature and journalling.
Over approximately the next 6 weeks we will be introducing you to the Perma-v framework and interventions to explore to help improve your overall Mental health & wellbeing and ultimately to help and encourage you on the road to flourishing in life.
The concept of flourishing:
There is no doubt that none of us just want to survive in life, although many of us probably feel that is what we are doing from time to time. But if we think of flourishing, being at our best, what does that look like? a definition from Professor Dr Lyn Soots gives us a good insight into the concept.
“Flourishing is the product of the pursuit and engagement of an authentic life that brings inner joy and happiness through meeting goals, being connected with life passions, and relishing in accomplishments through the peaks and valleys of life.”
I believe it is important to note that she does not mention the absence of challenges but flourishing despite of these challenges. As you can imagine flourishing sounds good, right? And for good reason, the benefits of flourishing are important such as fewer sick days, less helplessness, greater resilience, and less health issues including fewer depressive symptoms to name a few.
So, join us on a journey to flourishing with the Perma-v framework which Dr Seligman believes that paying careful attention and maintaining the key areas of wellbeing can lead to greater happiness, personal growth a more purposeful life and the feeling of mastery and acceptance of all aspects of ourselves.
