In his new work, Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, expands the discipline of positive psychology from happiness to well being, measured by the degree of one’s flourishing. Seligman has identified four elements that lead one toward a flourishing life: positive emotions, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishment.
Positive Emotions. Barbara Fredrickson identified many positive emotions for flourishing, including joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe and love. The poetry of positive emotion recognizes and celebrates these types of emotion.
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Positive Relationships. The poetry of well being celebrates positive relationships between and among living beings. It is poetry that depicts the ways in which relationship can expand one’s world and enhance one’s quality of life. It is also poetry about the “hive” or the collective and the flourishing that happens when the whole of a population is greater than the sum of its parts.
Meaning. Seligman defines meaning in the well being context as connecting to, and contributing to, something larger than self. It is about purpose, value and contribution. It is about the ways in which people connect the dots or change the world for the better.
Accomplishment. Accomplishment is about the beauty of a job well done. It is about seeking to start and finish something for its own sake, not because someone expects you to do it, or because you feel obligated to do it. This poetry reflects the joy of a single accomplishment, of many accomplishments in one’s field, or the sum total of accomplishment in a lifetime.
