Positive psychology came into the spotlight when Martin Seligman became president of the American Psychological Association in 1998. Seligman assumed that we should focus on strengthening people’s ‘strengths’ rather than on eliminating a person’s complaints. The evolution in positive psychology is not only noticeable in the new training options. But also in everyday life we see more and more positive psychology in magazines and on the TV screen. Some initiatives from the period 2010 – 2015 are mentioned here.
Reap your luck
‘Reap your happiness’ is an initiative of the Christian Mutuality based on positive psychology. In the summer of 2010, CM conducted a large happiness survey in which almost 2,000 Flemish people participated. This survey became the basis of Seize your happiness.
Results of the CM – happiness survey
The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into the average happiness level. For this purpose, an individual happiness average was calculated on a scale from 1 (least happy) to 7 (most happy).
The findings were striking:
- 56% of Flemish people consider themselves happy (score 5.6 or 7), 17% consider themselves not happy (score 1.2 or 3). The average Flemish person scores 4.8 on a scale of 7.
- Men and women are found equally happy
- People over 60 appear to be happier than people younger. This may be possible because people learn to deal better with negativity and gain more self-confidence as they get older. Freedom after retirement can also play a role.
- People living together are happier than single people
- Children have no effect on happiness levels
- Occupation can influence happiness. For example, retirees and housewives were found to be the happiest. People who are disabled are considered least happy.
Origin of the ‘happiness coach’
Based on the results, the Christian Mutuality developed the Seize your happiness campaign, which uses a happiness coach. The objectives of Seize your happiness are the following:
- Emphasize that happiness can be learned.
- Provide an impetus to actively work on mental resilience and happiness.
- Focusing heavily on prevention to reduce the risk of serious mental complaints.
- Increase feelings of happiness and mental fitness with the CM happiness plan as a guide.
- Sustainable behavioral change through a long-term campaign.
Scientific research has shown that some strategies help promote happiness. The scientific strategies form the basis of the seven happiness lines on which the happiness coach and the happiness plan are based. The happiness coach works as a kind of course. By completing a questionnaire, several strategies are selected individually. By going through your own individual happiness plan, you can work on the strategies indicated on the basis of the questionnaire. The happiness plan is available online on the Pluck your happiness website, but can also be requested in paper format.
Horsepower
Horsepower is an initiative that mainly focuses on young people aged 12 to 18 with mild to moderate depressive complaints. Because young people are an important target group when it comes to later health problems (especially depression), horsepower sets the following goals:
- Improving the reach and image of depression prevention among young people;
- Increasing psychological resilience and preventing depression;
- Early detection of any other problems present.
To achieve these goals, Horsepower works in a positive and solution-oriented manner. This mainly uses the main vision of positive psychology, namely: happiness is not about improving things you are bad at, but rather emphasizing the things you are already good at. Paardkrachtig has a range of training courses and individual programs available. Paardkrachtig mainly focuses on exercises with horses. Based on these exercises, they try to apply the main core of positive psychology and strengthen the existing strengths of the young people. The training at horsepower is given by two trainers together, namely a human trainer and a horse trainer. All exercises with horses are done on the ground, so the young people do not need any experience with horses to participate.
The lucky one
There are various themes in store to work on. The theme of being happy is also part of those themes. In order to work on this theme, a study was conducted into the average happiness level of young people between 14 and 18 years old. To this end, a questionnaire was completed by 874 young people in the spring of 2007. The information resulting from this formed the basis for the training package De Luckyzak and the magazine Hip Hip Happy.
The lucky bag is a training game that was developed by in petto, the youth service information and prevention. The lucky bag is a game for young people from 14 to 18 years old. The Gelukzak is inspired by positive psychology and emphasizes the feasibility of life. While talking and discussing, the players solve situations they encounter in real life. But The Happiness Bag is also a fun game in which players are challenged to complete hilarious assignments (together). In addition to the lucky bag, the magazine
hip hip happy also developed in store . This magazine is written by and for young people. The magazine contains stories, photos, facts, tips and suggestions. Young people express what happiness means to them and gain insight into what happiness means to other young people.