scholarly journals Strong Mindfulness: Integrating Mindfulness and Character Strengths

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Niemiec ◽  
Tayyab Rashid ◽  
Marcello Spinella
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Psychological Disorder ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Psychology Perspective

This article explores the integration of mindfulness meditation and character strengths. Beyond simply focusing attention, mindfulness involves the cultivation of attention infused by an unconditional friendliness and interest. Universally valued character strengths (Peterson & Seligman, 2004) are useful constructs for such an infusion. Most mindfulness approaches and programs deal with managing a problem or psychological disorder; far less discussion, empirical work, and scholarly papers have addressed mindfulness from a positive psychology perspective that explicitly attempts to increase what is good. We review research and practice considerations for such an integration and discuss how character strengths enhance mindfulness (i.e. Strong Mindfulness) by dealing with barriers to mindfulness practice and augmenting mindful living in walking, driving, consuming, speaking, and listening.

Enhancing Health and Emotion: Mindfulness as a Missing Link Between Cognitive Therapy and Positive Psychology

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Hamilton ◽  
Heather Kitzman ◽  
Stephanie Guyotte
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Behavioral Therapies ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies ◽  
Psychological Difficulties

Mindfulness meditation is an increasingly popular intervention for the treatment of physical illnesses and psychological difficulties. Using intervention strategies with mechanisms familiar to cognitive behavioral therapists, the principles and practice of mindfulness meditation offer promise for promoting many of the most basic elements of positive psychology. It is proposed that mindfulness meditation promotes positive adjustment by strengthening metacognitive skills and by changing schemas related to emotion, health, and illness. Additionally, the benefits of yoga as a mindfulness practice are explored. Even though much empirical work is needed to determine the parameters of mindfulness meditation’s benefits, and the mechanisms by which it may achieve these benefits, theory and data thus far clearly suggest the promise of mindfulness as a link between positive psychology and cognitive behavioral therapies.

scholarly journals Primal world beliefs correlate strongly but differentially with character strengths

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Stahlmann ◽  
Willibald Ruch
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
Place Theory ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
The World ◽  
German Speaking

Primal world beliefs–primals–are a category of beliefs about the overall character of the world (e.g., the world is a safe place). Theory suggests that such beliefs drive personality development–or at least reflect personality differences, such as character strengths. We examined the relationships of primals with character strengths among 1122 German-speaking adults. The primary primal good explained the most variance in the majority of character strengths, especially hope, spirituality, zest, gratitude, curiosity, and leadership. Including specific secondary (e.g., safe, enticing, alive) and tertiary primals (e.g., beautiful, needs me, funny) often yielded better predictions, but, with few exceptions, increments were typically smaller than that of the primary primal. We recommend including these primals in positive psychology interventions and describe three couplings of primals and character strengths that may prove especially fruitful for future research and practice.

Meditation and Positive Psychology

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shauna L. Shapiro ◽  
Hooria Jazaieri ◽  
Sarah de Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Scientific Study ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Human Potential ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Definition Of

Mental health, once defined in terms of absence of illness, has gradually become understood in a more holistic way, which includes the positive qualities that help people flourish. This evolving definition of mental health has led to an exploration of other traditions and practices, including mindfulness meditation, which for thousands of years have been devoted to developing an expanded vision of human potential. One result was the introduction of the practice of mindfulness into Western scientific study. However, the original intentions of mindfulness meditation, to catalyze our potential for healing and development, have been largely ignored by the scientific community. Yet a small number of researchers and theorists have explored and continue to explore the positive effects of mindfulness practice. The chapter focuses on this pioneering work.

scholarly journals Mindfulness Research Update: 2008

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Greeson
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mindfulness Practice ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
The Brain

Objective: To briefly review the effects of mindfulness on the mind, the brain, the body, and behavior. Methods: Selective review of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases (2003—2008) using the terms ``mindfulness,'' ``meditation,'' ``mental health,'' ``physical health,'' ``quality of life,'' and ``stress reduction.'' A total of 52 exemplars of empirical and theoretical work were selected for review. Results: Both basic and clinical research indicate that cultivating a more mindful way of being is associated with less emotional distress, more positive states of mind, and better quality of life. In addition, mindfulness practice can influence the brain, the autonomic nervous system, stress hormones, the immune system, and health behaviors, including eating, sleeping, and substance use, in salutary ways. Conclusion: The application of cutting-edge technology toward understanding mindfulness— an ``inner technology''—is elucidating new ways in which attention, awareness, acceptance, and compassion may promote optimal health—in mind, body, relationships, and spirit.

scholarly journals Promoting psychological well-being in doctoral students: a qualitative study adopting a positive psychology perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia C. Jackman ◽  
Kelly Sisson
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Doctoral Graduates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Psychology Perspective ◽  
Pathological Focus

Purpose Concerns about psychological well-being (PWB) in doctoral students have grown in recent years. The purpose of this study was to explore qualitatively doctoral students’ perceptions of factors that promoted their PWB during the doctoral journey. Design/methodology/approach Nine recent doctoral graduates at an English university participated in the study. Participants recalled their experience and PWB during the doctoral journey via a life grid and semi-structured interview. The life grids were visually inspected to identify high points in PWB whilst the interview data were analysed thematically. Findings The analysis produced the following seven themes representing factors that participants described during periods of better PWB: accomplishments; intrinsic rewards; self-efficacy; comprehension and understanding; supervisor support; wider support network; and self-care and lifestyle. Originality/value By adopting a positive psychology approach and exploring qualitatively factors that promoted PWB in doctoral students, this study offers an alternative perspective to research on doctoral student well-being, which has largely adopted a pathological focus. As such, the study demonstrates the utility of approaching research on doctoral students’ PWB from a positive psychology perspective. Findings are discussed in relation to the extant literature, and future directions for research are outlined.

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