Want to study applied positive psychology with the most amazing cohort of like-minded professionals who are also out for personal development? Then our Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology is for you. Early bird discount in Philadelphia--which I'm directing (cohort starts 3/7/15) and San Francisco (cohort starts 3/28) ends on Saturday, 1/31/15. ...
I encourage you to up your emotional intelligence and find a word better than "good" or "bad" (sad, angry) to describe how you feel from moment to moment. Notice how it changes. And be mindful to think, "Part of my feels XYZ" as a way to create more space between feeling and being. ...
When I graduated with my MAPP degree in 2008, I didn't know what to call myself. We are practitioner of positive psychology, but that always seemed so wordy. Technically, I am not a positive psychologist because in academic hierarchy, you need a doctoral degree to be called a psychologist. Blah, blah I am a psychologist, just without a phd...
This piece was first published on Positive Psychology News Daily. The alarm goes off in the morning. You may think: I didn't get enough sleep last night. I am super excited to start the day. Most people, whether they are conscious of it or not, think (a) “I didn’t get enough sleep last night” as they hit the snooze button for eight more minutes of sleep. In fact, it’s a thought like this that causes an action of inaction which keeps you staying in bed, missing your workout, and being late to work. Further, this thought of “not enough” is the first in a slew of...
Two years ago, my best friend and business partner, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya (we joke that we are positive psychology from A(lloro) to Z(hivotovskaya) and I co-founded the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology program, one of the first in the world of its kind. It's a 6-month personal and professional journey into the science of wellbeing, success and flourishing for change-agents of all kinds. We are so proud of our over 100 graduates who are out in the world spreading positive psychology in their very diverse domains: schools, health care organizations, businesses, politics (one of our grads is running for NY State Senate), community development, and...
Look what I just found - (somewhat randomly) - an email I wrote to Martin Seligman in 2007, right after I read the article in The New York Times (featuring Todd B. Kashdan) that first exposed me to Positive Psychology. I knew right then and there that Sunday afternoon standing in my apartment in Montclair, NJ that pos psych would be a big part of my life's journey and work. I wrote this email to Marty Seligman just days later. The synchronicities continue -- that article from the NYT was published 8 years ago TODAY. And I am now affiliated with Todd and others at theCenter...
(This was first published as a guest blog on Impact Hub Philadelphia.) I spent New Years Eve this year in Times Square, where I stood for 10 hours with a million other folks wanting to see the ball drop and experience the energy of New York at midnight. Despite below freezing temperatures and no access to bathrooms, cocktails, or other more civilized ways of celebrating, it was one of the best New Year’s Eves I’ve had for many reasons (and not just because Taylor Swift sang her top ranking hit Welcome to New York). Being in Times Square has been on...
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Flourishing Center (TFC) launches its Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) program, a 6-month journey into the science of wellbeing and flourishing in Philadelphia, PA with its first cohort to begin in March. The program combines cutting-edge research in cognitive neuroscience, mindfulness, contemplative studies, and mind-body medicine with practical application tools for personal and professional contexts. Scientific research shows happiness is a predictor of success whereas most people may think, “When I’m successful then I’ll be happy.” Is it no wonder stress is at an all time high in the world? Stress is the number one predictor of...
Ryder coming into my life—when he did—and how he did—is a miracle that has sparked many other miracles for me. ‘Tis the season, after all. A church sign by my house reads, “It’s Advent season: expect a miracle.” I love that. Marianne Williamson says, “Miracles flow in the expressions of love” which is what I’m experiencing more and more and more of now that Ryder is home. He’s so easy to love. A miracle is merely a desire manifested and is often a spiritual experience of aligned synchronicity. When I am aligned, I have a reserve of positive emotion that evokes greater...
A month ago, when I took Ryder to the dog park for the first time ever, he was at first so shy and timid. (You would be too with all those big dogs.) Then, he would get a burst of courage to sprint around the dog park before always finding his way back right between my legs, clinging on as if to be back at “home base.” As he grows, he has more and more confidence and even I have to be mindful at reframing his sometimes “stubbornness” to his being “strong-willed.” (Gotta keep positive!) One of my teachers David Cooperrider taught...