This document discusses psychological well-being and positive psychology. It summarizes that traditional psychology focused on curing mental illness and weaknesses, while positive psychology focuses on increasing well-being by nurturing strengths and what is right. The document advocates using signature strengths in new ways and developing a sense of control, as these can increase happiness and life satisfaction for up to 6 months. Overall, it promotes focusing on increasing well-being through positive psychology principles.

1. VanessaKing-
Psychological
Well-being
SustenanceForLife
!

2. “Weliveinworldsour
questionscreate”
DavidCooperrider
!
Weseewhatweare
lookingfor…

3. !!
1. What are you focusing on?!
2. What choice do you have?!
3. What choices are you making? !
“Youcan’t
dependonyour
eyeswhenyour
imaginationis
outoffocus”
MarkTwain
3Questions

4. AimsofPsychology
1. Curing Mental Illness!
2. Making people’s lives more
productive and fulfilling!
3. Identifying and nurturing talent!
!

5. Re-balancingpsychology
Psychologyaswas! Positivepsychology
What’s broken?! What working?!
Cure! Prevention!
Decrease
suffering!
Increase !
well-being!
Correct
weaknesses!
(what’s wrong?)!
Nurture
strengths!
(what’s right?)!
!©Vanessa King!

6. !!
“+5is
different
from0”
MartinSeligman
-5 0 +5
©Vanessa King!

7. !!
Wehave
evolvedto
havea
naturalbias
towards
what’swrong

8. Positiveemotionshaveapurposetoo…
!
©Vanessa King!
(Illustrated by Mozarella Ltd) !

9. 7 in
11 out!
Experiment1
!

10. !
Experiment2

11. !
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!
3x1=6
“Happiness
isaskillyou
canlearn”
MatthieuRicard

12. !!
Asenseofcontrolisa
vitalpsychological
nutrient
“Happinessis
notsomething
readymade.It
comesfrom
yourown
actions”
DalaiLama

13. Howmuchcontroldowehave?
!

14. Squeezingmoreoutoflife
!

15. !
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Themosthappy
25%ofnunsin
1930livedon
average10
yearslonger
thantheleast
happy 25%
Thismatters
Danneretal,2001

16. !

17. !
“Psychologyhas
revealedmuch
aboutman’s
shortcomingsbut
littleabouthis
potentialities”
Abraham
Maslow
!
Whatareyoursignature
strengths?
Using one or more of signature strengths in new
ways for 1 week had a positive impact in well-
being for up to 6 months!
• Natural, can’t help using it!
• Feels like the real you!
• Rapid learning curve when
practiced!
• Energising!

18. Usingyourstrengthsinnew
ways..
!

19. !

20. !
“Feeling good and
functioning well”!
FeliciaHuppert
!
Whatmakesupourwell-being?
Huppert & So, 2011!

21. Whatcanyoudo?
Developed by Vanessa King for Action for Happiness!
www.actionforhappiness.org!
10 Keys to Happier Living!