Zone Positive at Work

These theories serve as the cornerstone of the science of a life well lived.   In the Zone Positive series, we will be delving deeper into the findings of what makes people and businesses flourish in life.  For example, in one lesson, we explore the surprising power of a practice of gratitude in life and in the workplace. In another lesson we look at the science behind self-motivation and its importance in managing others.  You will be shown the most proven psychological tools for developing the will, self-reliance, and discipline to shape the world according to your vision.  Yet another lesson discusses how to become more resilient in the face of those obstacles that inevitably will show up in your path.   And remember…this is beyond folk wisdom or time-honored common sense.   The findings in these lessons are all supported by sound, empirical research.

At Zone Positive, we ultimately aim to provide you with an interesting voyage into the mindset of the successful and happy individual and the thriving organization.  Whether you are a coach interested in adding a powerful arsenal of tools to your practice, an employer looking to create a more harmonious and productive workplace, or just someone who wants more out of life …you will gain a deep understanding of the psychological factors that most directly contribute to a flourishing individual or organization.  And you will be introduced to the most effective, groundbreaking applications that you can utilize to create more meaning, fulfillment, and joy in your life.

Drawing on Character Strengths:  One of the fundamental principles of positive psychology entails a focus on what each of us naturally does well, as opposed to a cultural bias to shore up our perceived weaknesses.  When we think of “self-improvement”, what most often comes to mind is trying to change the things that we feel we don’t do so well.  Yet positive psychology offers an alternative vision whereby life-satisfaction is arrived at through an understanding and application of our natural character strengths.  In this lesson, we will discuss the research behind the importance of a strengths-based approach.  Everyone is endowed with a unique portfolio of strengths that can be actualized in the world.  You will be introduced to powerful self-assessment tools that can help you to familiarize yourself with your own individual set of character strengths.  Finally, this lesson will discuss the best approaches to apply your strengths in your personal and professional life.

Positive Emotions:  As human beings, we experience a wide range of emotions each day,  from the positive ones, such as joy and contentment, to the negative ones, such as anger and fear.  It turns out that maintaining a high ratio of positive-to-negative emotions is one of the most important practices that you can engage in to improve your life.  Positive emotions not only feel good, but they are essential to our overall well-being.  As we will see in this lesson, the benefits of a high positivity ratio extend to physical health, intellectual growth, productivity, and success in relationships.  This lesson will help explain why some people are in a better position to ride out today’s uncertainties than others.  Drawing on research from evolutionary psychology, it will discuss the roles positive and negative emotions have come to play in our lives.   And it will offer you practical approaches to increase positive emotions and to decrease negative ones in your life.

 

Engagement:  No, this theory does not involve proposals, diamond rings, and rites of marriage.  It entails what psychologists have learned by studying moments when people are at their best and feel most alive…when they are in a state called flow.  These moments of flow usually don’t arise when people are sitting around watching television.  Instead, they occur when we are involved in activities that have just the right level of challenge to keep our interest.  Flow experiences are not only engaging and enjoyable, they help us to grow and to expand our individual capabilities.  Think of the moments when you have been so immersed in an activity that hours have flown by with little realization.  Or when you found something so gratifying, that you could hardly wait to get back to doing it.  This lesson on engagement demonstrates how you can set up the conditions that make the experiences of flow more likely and frequent in your life.

 

Meaning & Purpose:  It is no surprise that a sense of meaning matters and is crucial to a life well-lived.   A sense of meaning, however, is highly subjective.  It is incumbent upon each of us to create meaning and purpose in our lives.   Research shows how seemingly small tasks can carry tremendous personal meaning if they connect to something larger.  Yet today’s distracted, high-octane world can present a particular challenge in terms of constructing meaning in life.  Take a moment and think to yourself… what do you stand for?  What do you find meaningful in your world?  This lesson will demonstrate not only the importance of a sense of meaning in life, but will explore effective approaches you can employ to help create meaning and identify purpose in your life.

 

Positive Relationships:  This pathway involves social connectivity.  What sets apart the truly happiest people?  They aren’t more religious, they aren’t better looking, and they don’t have more money.  But they are more sociable.  One of the most consistent findings from Positive Psychology is that other people matter to our own well-being.  The happiest people have webs of positive relationships that surround and support them.  They tend to be more likely to trust others, forge meaningful connections, and succeed at work and in love.  Take a moment to reflect on the relationships in your life.  This lesson will perhaps give you a new found appreciation for those connections that constitute your social web.  It will provide dramatic research on the importance of positive relationships to your well-being.   And it will offer practical ways you can enhance your present relationships and create new meaningful ones going forward.