Because research currently being conducted by positive psychologists is unveiling the secrets of how people can live well.

The central question posed by positive psychology is:

What makes life worth living? 1

People have been trying to figure out the answer to that question since the beginning of time. Often, the answer has suggested fixing human weaknesses as opposed to amplifying human strengths; it’s been merely about surviving in life as opposed to thriving in life.

Significantly, positive psychology recognizes that the absence of suffering does not automatically lead to a fulfilling life. Thus, positive psychology research is about the factors and processes that lead to human flourishing 1.

Furthermore, I feel the emergence of positive psychology is an exciting development because it’s the scientific study of human flourishing. The importance of this cannot be overstated; it’s what distinguishes positive psychology from 99.99% of the bullcrap you’ll find in the “self-help” section at your local bookstore.

In creating this blog, my purpose was not to arrogantly tell people how they should live their life. Instead, I created this blog because I’m certain there are other people out there, who, like me, share an interest in answering the question: what makes life worth living?

I think learning how to apply the principles of positive psychology is a step toward answering that question.

References

  1. Seligman, M., Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5-14. ←