The Psychology Of Flourishing Abundantly As Investors And Entrepreneurs
The psychology of how humans thrive and flourish explores the positive aspects of human potential, well-being, and health. It examines how individuals understand authentic happiness and the various factors that influence it. Key areas include understanding the perceptions of happiness, social functioning, and physical health at an individual and socioeconomic level.
The science of positive psychology is a branch of psychology focused on understanding how humans flourish. Positive psychology explores how positive emotions and attitudes can influence overall well-being. It also looks at how external factors such as relationships, work-life balance, and environment can affect our levels of well-being. Ultimately, the research seeks to understand how these various factors influence individuals’ overall feelings of wellness to help us lead happier lives to thrive avocationally and vocationally to flourish abundantly in our personal, family, and social lives.
Neuroscientific Evidence
Neuroscientific evidence suggests that positive emotions can have neurochemical effects that benefit overall well-being. Furthermore, longitudinal studies have shown that greater happiness and life satisfaction are associated with better physical health outcomes. Additionally, genetic factors may also influence both psychological and physical well-being.
It is important to note that relevant environmental factors—such as access to medical care or exposure to negative emotional states—can also play a role in overall well-being. The exact mechanisms of how all these elements interact remain somewhat unclear. Nevertheless, it is evident from research findings that all of these elements must be considered when studying the psychology of how humans thrive and flourish.
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization defines happiness as “a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in which all individuals can realize their potential.” Factors such as positive mental attitude, optimism, and resilience are crucial elements of the psychological components of well-being. In addition, positive emotions benefit physical and mental health since they help reduce stress levels, enhance relaxation, and improve moods.
Studies have found that those who experience more positive emotions report higher levels of life satisfaction than those who have fewer or no such feelings. Positive emotions also contribute to better cognitive functioning, leading to improved performance at work or school and enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, research has suggested that when people experience frequent or prolonged periods of negative affect, it can damage physical health over time due to increases in cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone), potentially leading to reduced immune functioning, among other issues.
Thus, positive mental health has become an increasingly important topic of study in both public health and psychology. Positive mental health is broadly defined as a state of well-being that includes an individual’s ability to experience positive emotions, maintain a sense of satisfaction with life, possess positive affective evaluations, and access psychological resources necessary to function successfully in their environment. In other words, the absence of psychological distress and the presence of psychological assets or capabilities promote flourishing and allow individuals to live fulfilling lives.
Positive mental health can be evaluated using measures of life satisfaction or happiness. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of positive mental health for overall physical well-being and longevity. In addition, studies have shown that individuals who possess higher levels of positivity are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as exercising regularly or maintaining good dietary habits, than those who do not report high levels of positivity.
Research suggests that having higher levels of optimism may protect against physical illnesses such as heart disease or stroke due to its effects on immune functioning over time. As such, individuals need to foster their psychological resources for public health and personal development to achieve greater contentment through cultivating positive emotions and functioning optimally throughout one’s lifespan.
Communities and Positive Emotions
The Psychology of Well-being utilizes diverse methodological approaches to explore how psychological and social processes are related to physical health outcomes. Social relationships and interactions are potent contributors to well-being and health. Studies conducted on community samples have consistently demonstrated the beneficial effects of positive psychological functioning on physical health outcomes.
A systematic review examines existing evidence regarding the many aspects that comprise the psychology of well-being to understand the complexity of its role in influencing overall health. It has been shown that focusing on strategies such as self-compassion, mindfulness, gratitude, and optimism can help individuals buffer against stressors by improving their emotional states and physical well-being.
These strategies can be used as tools for improving essential relationships, which are also critical contributors to one’s psychological resources for well-being.
Holistic Approaches to Positive Emotions
Holistic approaches to well-being involve understanding the different factors influencing an individual’s mental and physical health. It is important to recognize that close relationships, material resources, and meaningful activities are essential components of wellness and can positively impact our psychological well-being. The psychology of well-being has been rigorously studied to develop methods for promoting better psychological health, emotional stability, and overall happiness.
Researchers suggest that by developing close relationships with family and friends, individuals can increase their sense of support, improving their psychological well-being over time. Other strategies include engaging in meaningful activities such as volunteering or participating in physical activities, which can help reduce physical health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Six Key Types of Psychological Well-being
Psychologist Carol Ryff developed a transparent model describing six critical psychological well-being types. These include autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. This model is known as the Ryff Psychological Well-being Factor Model. According to Ryff’s model, psychological distress can lead to over-adjustment or under-adjustment of these factors, which can negatively affect one’s functional health or psychological well-being.
Positive Emotions Across the Life Span
Positive psychology has shown promise in improving positive mental health across the lifespan, as evidenced by the German Aging Survey (DEAS), which examined life satisfaction and psychological distress in older adults.
This study showed that higher levels of positive affect were associated with better medical status, lower psychological distress, and increased life satisfaction. An exhaustive review has also demonstrated a fertile interface between positive psychology interventions and additional controlling factors such as social well-being, negative affectivity, resilience, and self-efficacy for enhancing well-being outcomes. Thus, positive psychology interventions may be beneficial for improving positive mental health amongst older adults. In addition, such interventions can help reduce psychological distress, improving overall well-being in later years.
Develop Positive Emotions To Flourish
The psychology of how humans develop positive emotions to flourish suggests that a ratio of positive to negative emotions is necessary for flourishing mental health.
The concept, known as the broaden-and-build theory, posits that broadening people’s experiences and awareness enables them to play positive emotions more often, leading to better-built flourishing.
Barbara Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory suggests that as positivity accumulates, it helps to fuel other functions such as growth and development. The broaden-and-build theory has been confirmed early on by research suggesting that building people’s resources, such as emotional intelligence, is essential for their overall well-being.
More recently, researchers have developed a theory of nonlinear dynamics to model the affected ratio between positive and negative emotions and how this ratio can predict how individuals are likely to flourish. This theory was further developed by authors such as Barbara Fredrickson and Marcial Losada and their colleagues, who conducted research into team performance.
The researchers found that when teams had higher ratios of positive affect, they were more likely to experience beneficial outcomes, including improved performance. This research has helped build a broader theory of how positive emotions can broaden our capabilities and increase our connections’ ability to promote flourishing mental health.
Positive Emotions Improve Workplace Environments and Increase Productivity
Increasing positive emotions can transform people and their lives to improve their mental health. But unfortunately, too many negative emotions can create a cycle of stress and discontentment, while positive emotions accumulate effects that promote human flourishing.
The research is helpful to employers and workers because it shows that psychological well-being can be improved by promoting positive emotions instead of just focusing on the negative emotion. Integrating people into an environment where they can express themselves positively will have a transformative effect on their psychological well-being.
The ability to promote the flourishing mental health of employees and workers should be something that employers focus on, as it will have a lasting effect on their well-being and productivity.
Positive Emotions Improve Social Functioning
Experiencing positive emotions is essential for positive social functioning, as it helps us create social connections with others, develop adaptive coping strategies and acquire a more excellent knowledge of the world around us.
Positive emotions broaden individuals’ perspectives. Positive psychological functioning is vital in the development of individuals, and it can provide many benefits when experienced within an optimal range. Too much or too little negative emotion can affect human functioning, so developing strategies to promote flourishing should be a priority. Finding ways to use social resources will help individuals reach their fullest potential.
Research has been conducted on common everyday elements that increase well-being, such as pleasant activities, social interactions, and goals. Positive emotions can generate a difference in magnitude compared to negative emotions, which is why people need to engage in tasks that bring them joy and happiness.
Do You want to Find More Joy and Happiness?
Dr. Allen has been helping individuals and businesses to thrive and flourish for decades. Are you striving to attain more joy and happiness to thrive and flourish more fully? Schedule a FREE – NO OBLIGATION – NO STRINGS ATTACHED call. Or email me with your questions and thoughts at allen@SteedTalker.com.
About the Author __ Dr. Allen Lomax
With careers in Organizational and Systems Psychology, podcasting, and real estate investing, Dr. 
Allen Lomax inspires us to break open the secrets of our mind to discover individual and universal well-being. Through personal coaching, he helps enlightened investors thrive in creating environments for themselves and others to flourish abundantly in all life’s areas.
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