Table Of Content

® Positive Psychology For Dummies Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organised Part I: Getting to Grips: Introducing Positive Psychology Part II: Doing the Time Warp: Past, Present and Future Part III: What Positive Psychology Can Do For You Part IV: Positive Psychology in the Real World Part V: The Part of Tens Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here Part I: Getting to Grips: Introducing Positive Psychology Chapter 1: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life Putting the Positive in Psychology Looking for a message Being authentically happy Building an evidence-based case Measuring the good, the bad and the ugly Living a positive life Studying Positive Psychology Having positive experiences Recognising positive traits Building positive relationships Constructing positive institutions Making It Worth Your While Benefiting from positivity Chapter 2: Why Being Healthy, Well and Happy is a Really Good Idea Reaping the Health Benefits A happy heart Living the positive life Building immunity Assisting angry Andrew Creating healthy habits Living with Satisfaction Becoming a well individual Building societies with wellbeing AIMing for Happiness Attending to the good stuff Interpreting for the best Memorising effectively Part II: Doing the Time Warp: Past, Present and Future Chapter 3: Tackling the Past Dealing with the Past Mapping old issues Letting go – forgiving if not forgetting Knowing How to be Grateful Giving thanks Counting your blessings Adopting a Childlike Approach Being how you want to be Choosing the best life Chapter 4: Living in the Present Dancing in the Moment Creating your own energy The Johari Window Being mindful Laying ghosts Getting Into the Flow Being in the zone Boosting happiness and fulfilment Chapter 5: Planning for the Future Looking Forward Joyfully Anticipating the best Making positive thoughts happen Developing Optimism Taking the thinking questionnaire Thinking positively Perfect-world thinking Behaving constructively Focusing on What Matters Sorting out priorities Ditching the unimportant Leaving a Legacy Living with a purpose Making your mark on the world Putting it all together Part III: What Positive Psychology Can Do Chapter 6: Finding Pleasure in Life What Is Pleasure? The law of diminishing returns Breaking free from the materialist trap Finding Real Pleasures Celebrating the ordinary Indulging in simple pleasures Having a beautiful day Sleepwalking Through Life Waking up to smell the roses Taking stock of experiences Chapter 7: Engaging in Life: Using Your Signature Strengths Analysing Your Signature Strengths Appreciating your strengths Understanding your strengths Considering your weaknesses Playing To Your Strengths Identifying your strengths and virtues Using your signature strengths daily Shoring up your weaknesses Finding Strengths in Others Recognising other people’s virtues Chapter 8: Developing Meaning in Life Is This All There Is? Rising above the humdrum Making your mark on the world Something Bigger Than Yourself Connecting with others Making a real difference Chapter 9: Becoming Your Best Keeping Yourself Afloat Sources of resilience Getting through Building your personal model of resilience Having Fun Looking for joy in your life Living humorously Living Confidently Thinking Constructively Listening to the voices Building firm beliefs Taking Gratitude Further Seeing things afresh Practising thankfulness Experiencing Engagement The big five strengths Having self-respect and pride Making Your Life Count Choosing your destiny Living up to your values Chapter 10: Staying Healthy with Positive Psychology Living Like It Matters The healthy life checklist Developing positive good health Changing positively: The four-stage change model Building a personal happiness programme Overcoming Stress Understanding stress Taking a perspective on life, yourself and others Building your resources Learning to bounce back Part IV: Positive Psychology in the Real World Chapter 11: Making Relationships Work Getting to Know You Avoiding relationship pitfalls Acknowledging and using each other’s signature strengths Using Positive Communication