The Happiness Institute discuss positive psychology coaching

Many people ask ‘What is Positive Psychology?’ Answering this question is one of The Happiness Institute ’s major goals. Labelling themselves as an Australian leader in positive psychology, The Happiness Institute aims to bring this relatively young school of psychological theory to the forefront of the Australian public eye.

The positive psychology movement is relatively young when compared to well known psychological theories. It was first mentioned over 50 years ago by Abraham Maslow, one of the major humanist psychology theorists. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that Martin Seligman, who is considered the father of positive psychology, gave it strength.

Traditionally, psychology has focused on disorders of the brain, negative emotions and how maladaptive behaviour and socially undesirable consequences develop as well as how they may be dealt with.

Positive psychology does not ignore the need for traditional clinical psychological practice but looks at how positive emotions can be fostered and utilised in order to boost an individual’s quality of life. Perfectly healthy people can take the teachings of this theoretical premise on board to optimise their levels of positive thinking and meaningful engagement.

Professor Tim Sharp, founder of The Happiness Institute, has taken the idea of using happiness to boost one’s experience and connectedness with the world and introduced his theory of the primacy of positivity. This theory is based on the idea that instead of experiencing happiness after a certain goal is attained, positivity should be fostered in the beginning. It is thought that by having initial positivity, the process of reaching for goals will be a much more enjoyable and rewarding one.

Professor Sharp argues that if personal happiness is dependent on reaching a certain goal, then negative emotions such as frustration will result. Additionally, an individual could also fall into the trap of constantly setting new goals after attaining the present one thus never quite achieving satisfaction and fulfilment.

The Happiness Institute use a broad array of methods to teach people, communities and corporations about the benefits of positive psychology. The Happiness Institute website includes a blog and useful information on products, programs, coaches and happiness clubs. Professor Sharp also writes a weekly eNewsletter disseminating articles and happiness tips to subscribers. Twitter and Facebook are other popular ways fans and newcomers can learn about positive psychology and The Happiness Institute

In a professional training capacity, Professor Sharp also facilitates a positive psychology coaching course through the University of Technology Sydney in Sydney and Melbourne, with the aim of educating coaching professionals on how to use the theory and positive psychology exercises in their coaching.

With a growing presence in Australia through marketing and the expansion of The Happiness Institute’s coaching network, it will not be long until positive psychology and The Happiness Institute are well known forces in this country.