Chapter 57

IA, LET'S TALK ABOUT POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

“The Holy Spirit gives us the courage to live the Christian life. And with this courage, he changes our lives.”

Pope Francis focuses his reflection on the Gospel of the liturgy, where Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, and says that He teaches us “everything that he has heard”:

He speaks to us with words that express wonderful feelings, such as affection, gratitude, trust, mercy. Words that allow us to know a beautiful, luminous, concrete and lasting relationship such as the eternal Love of God: the words that the Father and the Son say to each other. It is precisely the transforming words of love that the Holy Spirit repeats within us, and that do us good to hear, because these words give birth and make the same feelings and the same purposes grow in our hearts: they are fruitful words.

For this reason, - the Pope points out - "it is important that we nourish ourselves every day from the Word of God, from the Word of Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit: And so many times I say that we must read a passage of the Gospel, bring a Gospel small, pocket size..."

The Pope: May the Spirit give gestures of dialogue and open doors of peace

The word of God silences gossip

Francis quotes the words of the priest and poet Clemente Rebora, speaking of his conversion, who in his diary wrote: "And the Word silenced my blabbering!" (Curriculum vitae). And he reflects:

Listening to the Word of God silences our superficial gossip and makes us say serious words, beautiful words, happy words. (...) Listening to the Word of God silences gossip. Here is how to give space in us to the voice of the Holy Spirit. And, furthermore, through adoration, let us not forget silent adoration... And also say good words within ourselves, say them to the heart so that we can say them to others, then (...) And so you can see that they come from the voice sweet of the Comforter, of the Spirit.

Continuing his address, the Holy Father says that “read and meditate on the Gospel, pray in silence, say good words; They are not difficult things, we can all do it. It's easier than insulting or getting angry..." Therefore, it invites us to ask ourselves: what place do these actions have in my life? How can I cultivate them, in order to listen better to the Holy Spirit and be his echo for others? the rest?

05/19/2024

The Pope: With the Spirit we cultivate hope for peace, fraternity and justice

And, in the conclusion of his reflection, he directs his prayer to Mary “present at Pentecost with the apostles” to “make us docile to the voice of the Holy Spirit.”

Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study and promotion of human strengths and virtues, rather than focusing on weaknesses and pathologies. Its main objective is to understand and promote the aspects that allow people and communities to thrive and achieve greater well-being. This approach was popularized by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the late 1990s.

Positive psychology does not seek to deny the existence of problems and disorders, but rather to complement them with an approach that also values and enhances the best in people. Its integration into various fields promises a more balanced and enriching approach to improving quality of life and comprehensive well-being.

It is a relatively new field that focuses on the study and promotion of human strengths and virtues. Unlike traditional psychology, which often focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, positive psychology seeks to complement these approaches by valuing and enhancing the best in people. This discipline does not deny the existence of problems and disorders, but rather proposes a more balanced and enriching approach to improve quality of life and comprehensive well-being; It is a dynamic and growing discipline that seeks to complement traditional approaches to psychology by providing tools and knowledge to improve people's lives in all its aspects.

Principles and key themes of positive psychology:

Strengths and virtues: positive psychology investigates the qualities that can be developed in individuals, such as gratitude, optimism, resilience, creativity and a sense of purpose.

Wellbeing and happiness: central theme is the exploration of what constitutes well-being and how it can be measured and increased. This includes concepts such as happiness, life satisfaction, and flourishing.

Positive experiences: The study of positive emotions and rewarding experiences, such as love, joy, inspiration and serenity, is crucial to understanding how these can influence mental and physical health.

Positive experiences: The study of positive emotions and rewarding experiences, such as love, joy, inspiration and serenity, is crucial to understanding how these can influence mental and physical health.

Positive relationships: Healthy interpersonal relationships are essential for well-being. Positive psychology investigates how social connections contribute to happiness and how they can be improved.

Meaning and purpose: Finding meaning in life and having a clear purpose is vital for long-term well-being. Positive psychology examines how people can find and maintain meaning and purpose in their lives.

Achievements and goals: Setting and achieving goals is an important part of personal development. Positive psychology is interested in how people can set goals that are meaningful and how achieving these goals contributes to overall well-being.

Applications of positive psychology: it has found applications in various fields, promising a more balanced and enriching approach in each of them:

Education: Implementing programs that teach resilience skills, gratitude, and other strengths can improve student well-being and academic outcomes.

Positive psychology is used to improve the well-being of students and teachers with programs based on this discipline that teach social-emotional skills, foster a positive learning environment, and promote resilience. Research has shown that happier and more engaged students tend to perform better academically.

Positive psychology is based on several fundamental pillars:

Positive emotions: encourage emotions such as happiness, gratitude and hope.

Engagement: getting fully involved in activities that absorb and motivate us.

Positive Relationships: Building and maintaining healthy, satisfying relationships.

Purpose and meaning: finding a purpose in life that goes beyond oneself.

Achievements: seek and achieve personal and professional goals.

In health, positive psychology is used to complement traditional treatments; It has been shown that positive emotions and a sense of purpose can improve physical and mental health. For example, techniques such as gratitude and meditation are used to reduce stress and anxiety, thereby improving patients' quality of life.

  Work: in the work environment, positive psychology is applied to increase employee satisfaction and productivity. Corporate wellness programs that include mindfulness, gratitude, and recognition help create a more positive and collaborative work environment. This not only improves employee well-being, but can also lead to better business results.

Therapy and counseling; Although positive psychology does not replace traditional therapy, it does complement it. Therapies based on this discipline, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Solution Focused Therapy, focus on the individual's strengths and how they can be used to overcome challenges, providing a more holistic approach to the treatment of disorders. mental. Criticisms and Challenges

Positive psychology has received praise for its innovative approach, but it has also faced criticism. Some argue that it may seem superficial or simplistic, ignoring the complexity of negative human experiences. However, proponents maintain that positive psychology does not seek to eliminate the study of suffering, but rather to complement it by providing additional tools to improve well-being.

Work and Organizations: Fostering a positive work environment can increase productivity, job satisfaction, and team cohesion. Positive leadership practices are key in this area.

Mental health: Complementing traditional therapies with positive interventions can help prevent and treat mental disorders, promoting a more holistic approach to well-being.

Everyday life: Practicing daily interventions, such as keeping a gratitude journal or performing acts of kindness, can improve individual well-being and facilitate work in holacracy.

Methods and techniques:

Positive interventions: exercises designed to increase positive emotions and attitudes, such as gratitude meditation, expressive writing about positive experiences, and visualizing an ideal future.

Assessments and measures: tools and questionnaires to assess aspects of well-being, such as the "Personal Strengths Questionnaire" and the "Life Satisfaction Index."

Relevant Models and Theories:

Seligman's Theory of Well-being (PERMA): Martin Seligman proposed the PERMA model, which identifies five essential elements for well-being:

Emotional positivity (positive emotion): experiencing positive emotions such as joy, gratitude and hope.

Engagement: being completely immersed in activities that allow you to flow, where you lose track of time and fully enjoy the activity.

Relationships: maintaining positive and meaningful interpersonal relationships.

• Meaning: having a clear purpose and finding meaning in life.

• Accomplishment: feeling that goals are achieved and success is achieved in various areas of life.

Flow: concept developed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, which describes the state in which a person is completely absorbed and concentrated in an activity, experiencing a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.

Research and Evidence

Resilience: Studies have shown that fostering resilience can help people better manage stress and recover more quickly from adversity.

Optimism and physical health: Research has found correlations between optimism and better physical health, lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, and greater longevity.

Gratitude: Regular gratitude practices, such as keeping a gratitude journal, have been associated with greater life satisfaction, better mood, and lower levels of stress and depression.

Criticisms and Challenges:

Superficiality: Some critics argue that positive psychology can be superficial if it is not addressed along with the negative aspects and complex problems that people face.

Culturality: It has been noted that much of the research in positive psychology is based on Western cultures, and may not be fully applicable or relevant to other cultures with different values and conceptions of well-being.

Empirical evidence: Although there is much evidence in favor of positive psychology interventions, more longitudinal research is required in diverse populations to validate their long-term effects and in different contexts.

Practices and Interventions

Gratitude exercises: Include writing gratitude letters, keeping a gratitude journal, or simply reflecting daily on the things one is grateful for.

Mindfulness and meditation: These practices help increase awareness of the present moment and can reduce stress and improve mental health.

Personal Strengths: Identifying and using personal strengths in daily life can increase well-being and personal satisfaction.

Acts of kindness: Performing acts of kindness toward others has been shown to increase the well-being of both the person performing the act and the recipient.

Practical applications

Positive education: integrating positive psychology into the school curriculum to help students develop emotional, social and academic skills.

Positive leadership: At the organizational level, leaders can apply positive psychology principles to create a more motivating and productive work environment.

Therapies based on positive psychology: therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) integrate elements of positive psychology to treat mental disorders.

Superficiality: Some critics argue that positive psychology can be superficial if it is not addressed along with the negative aspects and complex problems that people face.

Culturality: It has been noted that much of the research in positive psychology is based on Western cultures, and may not be fully applicable or relevant to other cultures with different values and conceptions of well-being.

Empirical evidence: Although there is much evidence in favor of positive psychology interventions, more longitudinal research is required and in diverse populations to validate their long-term effects and in different contexts.

Practices and Interventions

Gratitude exercises: Include writing gratitude letters, keeping a gratitude journal, or simply reflecting daily on the things one is grateful for.

Mindfulness and meditation: These practices help increase awareness of the present moment and can reduce stress and improve mental health.

Personal Strengths: Identifying and using personal strengths in daily life can increase well-being and personal satisfaction.

Acts of kindness: Performing acts of kindness toward others have been shown to increase the well-being of both the person performing the act and the recipient.

practical applications

Positive education: integrating positive psychology into the school curriculum to help students develop emotional, social and academic skills.

Positive leadership: At the organizational level, leaders can apply positive psychology principles to create a more motivating and productive work environment.

Therapies based on positive psychology: therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) integrate elements of positive psychology to treat mental disorders.

AI Opinion: José Saúl Velásquez Restrepo's reflection on the Holy Spirit and positive psychology offers an interesting connection between Christian spirituality and the principles of positive psychology. By focusing on the influence of the Holy Spirit, Velasquez highlights how this divine force can transform our lives by infusing positive values and feelings such as love, gratitude, and trust. This transformation is similar to the objectives of positive psychology, which seeks to promote well-being and enhance human strengths.

Positive psychology, promoted by figures such as Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, focuses on understanding and cultivating the best in people, such as their strengths, virtues, and positive emotions. Through this approach, it seeks to complement traditional treatments for mental disorders, providing a more balanced and holistic framework for well-being.

Main Points of Convergence

1. Strengths and Virtues:

• Pope Francis talks about nourishing yourself daily with the Word of God, which inspires positive feelings and valuable purposes.

• Positive psychology investigates how to develop qualities such as gratitude, optimism and resilience, which are essential for well-being.

2. Wellbeing and Happiness:

• The Pope mentions that listening to the Word of God silences gossip and promotes serious, beautiful and joyful words.

• Positive psychology studies how positive emotions and experiences, such as joy and serenity, contribute to mental and physical health.

3. Meaning and Purpose:

• Francis invites reflection on how to cultivate actions that connect us with the Holy Spirit and echo his voice.

• Finding meaning in life is crucial in positive psychology, which examines how people can find and maintain purpose and meaning.

4. Positive Relationships:

• The Pope's teachings on the Holy Spirit highlight the importance of love and mercy, fundamental for lasting and healthy relationships.

• Positive psychology emphasizes the importance of healthy interpersonal relationships for overall well-being.

Practical applications

1. Education:

• Integrating principles of gratitude and resilience into educational programs can improve the well-being of students and teachers.

• Positive psychology in education promotes social-emotional skills that improve academic performance and happiness.

2. Health:

• Positive emotions and a sense of purpose can complement traditional treatments, reducing stress and anxiety.

• Practices such as gratitude and meditation are tools of positive psychology that improve the quality of life of patients.

3. Work Environment:

• Fostering a positive work environment through corporate wellness programs can increase satisfaction and productivity.

• Positive leadership, based on positive psychology principles, creates more collaborative and motivating work environments.

Criticisms and Challenges

Positive psychology, although innovative and enriching, has faced criticism for being perceived as superficial if it is not addressed alongside the negative aspects of the human experience. A balanced approach that recognizes the complexity of human emotions and experiences is essential.

Conclusion

The reflection of José Saúl Velásquez Restrepo and the principles of positive psychology coincide in many aspects, especially in the promotion of a full and meaningful life. Both approaches invite introspection, the development of virtues and the construction of healthy relationships, offering a path to a more complete and balanced well-being. The integration of spirituality and positive psychology can provide a solid foundation for improving individual and community well-being.