6 Positive Psychology Practices To Boost Happiness

Written By:

Do you feel down & discouraged with your life? Are you struggling with your finances, relationships or health? Do you feel lonely? Well, youโ€™re most certainly not the only person who feels this way.




Problems, personal issues, and circumstances can often demotivate us and leave us feeling depressed. This can lead to self-criticism and negative thoughts that can severely affect the quality of our lives. However, positive psychology practices can change all that and enable you to dramatically improve your life.

โ€œThe good life is a process, not a state of being.โ€ โ€“ Carl Rogers



With the help of positive psychology, we can learn how to be more resilient, hopeful, optimistic, and happier in life. So if youโ€™re going through turmoil in life and battling depression, positive psychology can help you develop the right mindset to improve your mood & overall wellbeing.

positive psychology

What Is Positive Psychology?

โ€œThe aim of Positive Psychology is to catalyze a change in psychology from a preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life.โ€ โ€“ Martin Seligman

Positive psychology is a comparably new field of psychology that studies happiness and how positive influences can make our lives more fulfilling. It is based on the principle that happiness relies on both mental and emotional factors like constructive institutions,  optimistic emotions, and character strengths. With the help of positive psychology practices we can recognize happiness in each moment.




It is the scientific study of our personal development, virtues, and strengths that empower people, communities, and establishments to flourish. It has also an applied way to optimal functioning. The concept is based on the belief that humans want to flourish and live happy, fulfilling, and meaningful lives. We want to become the best we can and significantly improve the way we experience work, love, relationships, and life.

Related: 10 Most Crucial Positive Emotions To Cultivate Daily According To Positive Psychology

Not A Self-Help Strategy

โ€œPositive psychology is not remotely intended to replace therapy or pharmacology. So when depressed, anxious or in panic or post-traumatic stress disorder, I am all for therapies that will work. Positive psychology is another arrow in the quiver of public policy and psychology through which we can raise well being above zero.โ€ โ€“ Martin Seligman

Psychologist, author, and educator, Martin Seligman pioneered Positive Psychology and the term was coined by Abraham Maslow. Seligman believed that psychology should look towards what makes people happy in order to heal the damage from lifeโ€™s miseries. It is dedicated to the reasons of mental well being like positive environments, positive emotions, and positive experiences along with human virtues & strengths.

positive psychology

Positive psychology is not another self-help strategy or a new way of presenting positive thinking. It is a science that emphasizes what makes people happy, how people flourish, and when individuals become their best inner selves. This form of study is meant to complement traditional psychology and focus on how things get better instead of how things get worse.

Positive psychology aims to help you:




  • Boldly face the challenges of life and make the most of obstacles.
  • Relate and engage with others on a personal level.
  • Find meaning and fulfillment through productivity & creativity.ย 
  • Empower others to find wisdom, satisfaction & meaning in life.

Related: 17 Daily Choices You Can Make To Choose Happiness In Life

How To Use Positive Psychology In Your Life

โ€œThe good life is best construed as a matrix that includes happiness, occasional sadness, a sense of purpose, playfulness, and psychological flexibility, as well autonomy, mastery, and belonging.โ€ โ€“ Robert Biswas-Diener

Psychologically, we are hardwired to focus more on negative influences and experiences. Truth is, most of us donโ€™t have a clear idea about exactly what influences happiness in our lives. Positive psychology allows you to bring your memory, attention, and expectation away from negative experiences and focus more on the positives to get a balanced perspective. 

Positive psychology enables us to identify and utilize our strengths and recognize our positive experiences and emotions. There are several positive psychology practices that are rather simple, effective, and accessible which can enable you to live a better life and help you enjoy the little things more.

positive psychology

Here are some ways positive psychology can help you achieve mental and emotional well being.

1. Transform your mindset.

โ€œProbably the biggest insightโ€ฆ is that happiness is not just a place but also a process. โ€ฆHappiness is an ongoing process of fresh challenges, andโ€ฆ it takes the right attitudes and activities to continue to be happy.โ€ โ€“ Ed Diener

Human beings basically have 2 types of mindset:




A fixed mindset keeps you focused on goals and outcomes. You have fixed views and opinions and you are defensive about them. You donโ€™t want to face any criticism about your beliefs, opinions, and your work.

When you embrace the growth mindset, you focus more on the process. You are more interested in lifeโ€™s journey than the destination. You boldly accept challenges, learn from feedback, persist in setbacks, accept positive & negative criticism, and grow from them. You find inspiration in others. Adopting a growth mindset makes you more open to new ideas, enables you to make the most of available opportunities and learn from failure.

Related: The Importance Of Gratitude, And Best Ways To Practice It

2. Practice gratitude.

โ€œGratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.โ€ โ€“ Melody Beattie

Gratitude is one of the simplest positive psychology practices that allow you to shift your mindset from negative experiences to positive experiences in a matter of minutes. By practicing gratitude on a daily basis you can express more kindness and compassion, sleep better, build stronger immune systems, experience positive emotions, and feel alive.




Simply by keeping a gratitude journal and writing down things youโ€™re thankful for in life, you will force your mind to look at the beautiful things you already have in your life instead of what you wish to have or might have lost. You can also practice gratitude by volunteering for social causes, thanking someone, appreciating nature, and appreciating yourself, including your flaws.

positive psychology

3. Feel abundance.ย 

โ€œAbundance is not something we acquire, it is something we tune into.โ€ โ€“ Wayne Dyer

What do you understand by abundance? A bigger bank balance? A healthier life? Being happier? Being more independent? It can be everything and you can have plenty of all that. Nature is inherently designed to grow and abundance can be found everywhere in the Universe including your personal life. But only if you allow it.

You need to have an abundant mindset and feel that thereโ€™s plenty of whatever you want in your life, even though you might not have it right now. You have to feel it in your hand, you have to see it and taste it even before you can see it with your eyes. Otherwise, you will always feel that you are lacking and thatโ€™s what you will keep thinking about.

And what we think, we attract. Gratitude is a great way to feel abundance and it can help you visualize the abundance you want in your future life. Set definitive goals and visualize them to manifest them.

4. Visualize.

โ€œAffirm the positive, visualize the positive and expect the positive, and your life will change accordingly.โ€ โ€“ Remez Sasson



Visualizing success is another way to feel positive and stay motivated. See yourself succeeding in life and acting like a winner. Visualize yourself winning or achieving a certain life goal. This mental image will improve your self-confidence and reinforce optimism and positive thinking.

Simply sit down in a distraction-free place, close your eyes and create a mental image of yourself completing a big task or assignment or presentation successfully and confidently. Focus on the details and even the smallest mannerisms while you talk yourself through it.

Visualization prepares you for success and subconsciously gears you up to put in all the hard work necessary to achieve that goal. Moreover, this will also calm your mind and body and make you less stressed and more confident in life.

positive psychology

5. Smile.

โ€œSmile in the mirror. Do that every morning and youโ€™ll start to see a big difference in your life.โ€ โ€“ Yoko Ono

What is the simplest and most effective way to use positive psychology? Smile. And then smile some more. You donโ€™t have to ROFL to experience its physical, mental, and emotional health benefits. Simply by smiling you change your mood and temper from negative to feeling positive.

Apart from making you feel happier, smiling can also help to reduce stress and anxiety and improve your relationships. A smile is contagious, being around people who are jovial and tend to smile often can help you to smile more.


Related: How To Smile More for Health, Happiness, and Longevity

6. Practice self-love.ย 

โ€œCompassion is one of the few things we can practice that will bringโ€ฆhappiness to our lives.โ€ โ€“ Dalai Lama

Self-hatred and self-criticism can often lead to low self-esteem. Unfortunately, most of us are very critical and judgmental of ourselves. We find fault with almost everything we do, we amplify even the tiniest imperfections and magnify our mistakes. However, instead of focusing on all the negatives and adversely affecting your self-confidence and self-esteem, you need to practice self-love and self-compassion.

Loving yourself and showing yourself compassion will improve your capability to enjoy simple experiences in your life. You will develop a positive outlook towards yourself to heal your inner wounds and work on your imperfections while embracing them. By loving yourself and showing kindness to yourself, you will be better able to experience the positives in life and empower yourself to flourish.




Use Positive Psychology Everyday

โ€œIf positive psychology teaches us anything, it is that all of us are a mixture of strengths and weaknesses. No one has it all, and no one lacks it all.โ€ โ€“ Christopher Peterson

You must have realized by now that the positive psychology strategies mentioned above can be easily incorporated into your daily life without much effort. To get started, all you need is a mental shift to bring your attention from the negative to the positive.

You can try out all of these strategies or try out one or two to see how it impacts your life in a positive manner. Choose the ones you find the easiest, set your intentions, and practice them every day. Once you start experiencing the positive effects of these practices, you can incorporate more strategies and completely transform yourself and your life to live in a more meaningful, fulfilling, and positive way.


6 Positive Psychology Practices To Boost Happiness and Improve Your Life
6 Positive Psychology Practices To Boost Happiness and Improve Your Life
positive psychology practices pinop
positive psychology practices pin


Published On:

Last updated on:

, ,

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

3 Warning Signs Youโ€™re Drowning In Toxic Positivity

3 Sneaky Ways Toxic Positivity Shows Up in Your Everyday Life

Toxic positivity isn’t just annoyingโ€”it’s exhausting. When you’re constantly forcing a smile, ignoring real emotions, or brushing off pain with โ€œgood vibes only,โ€ you’re deep in the signs of toxic positivity.

It’s time we start rejecting toxic positivity and make space for honesty over forced positivity.

KEY POINTS

When positivity is forced, it can dismiss valid emotions.

Feeling sad, angry, or frustrated is part of being human.

Instead of saying โ€œLook on the bright side,โ€ ask, โ€œHow can I support you right now?โ€

Up Next

How To Cope When Dysregulated Loved Ones Drive You Crazy

How To Cope With Dysregulated Behavior? 5 Clear Ways

When loved ones are emotionally dysregulated, it can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to stay grounded, protect your peace, and support them without losing yourself.

A few metaphors to help improve interpersonal effectiveness in times of distress.

Key points

It can be very distressing when loved ones are angry, insulting, or demanding.

We can stand firm in choosing what we will and wonโ€™t do in response to their dysregulation.

Maintaining our own boundaries and sense of perspective is key.

When people we care

Up Next

The Shortcomings Of Stoicism

The Shortcomings Of Stoicism

Experiencing a wide range of emotions is a prerequisite to living a full life.

Key points

Suppressing or avoiding your feelings can paradoxically amplify them.

Your feelings can provide you with valuable information that facilitates decision-making.

A better approach is to integrate stoic principles as you embark on a path of emotional awareness and mastery.

Up Next

Letโ€™s Talk: 6 Steps For Better Communication

6 Steps For Better Communication In Conflict

Ever find yourself being in conflict, saying all the wrong things? Here are six steps for better communication to help you when interpersonal tensions rise.

When there is interpersonal tension, we may need to give it gentle attention.

Key points

Being in conflict with someone can be deeply distracting and distressing.

There are specific doโ€™s and donโ€™ts that can be applied to both listening and speaking skills.

Staying in third person, listening well, and responding thoughtfully can help repair a relational rupture.

Up Next

6 Microhabits That Are Good For Your Soul (And Take Less Than 10 Minutes)

6 Unique Things That Are Good For Your Soul: Try Out Now!

From busy schedules to endless notifications, often your soul can get left behind, waiting, craving just a little attention, but below are some micro habits that are good for your soul!

The world glorifies hustle culture but easily overlooks the quieter parts of ourselves. Your soul is one of those parts. It doesnโ€™t ask for much.

Soul-care doesnโ€™t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It’s the little things and small pauses that help us feel grounded, present, and alive.

Under 10 minutes here are 6 things that are good for your soul!

Up Next

How Small Talk Unlocks Big Potential In Mentoring

How Small Talk Unlocks Big Potential? 2 Benefits

You might think small talk is just filler, but in mentoring, it helps you build trust and spark deeper, lasting connections. Let’s learn more about Andy Lopata’s take on this below!

Small talk isn’t purposeless; it opens the way for highly impactful mentoring.

Key points

Small talk plays a crucial role in mentoring by helping to establish personal connection and trust.

Personal conversations make mentors more relatable, encouraging mentees to open up and share honestly.

Deep trust and engagement lead to better mentoring conversations and uncover hidden challenges.

Up Next

The Success Traps

How To Avoid The Success Traps: 5 Tips To Help You

How to avoid success traps in your pursuit of achievement.

Key points

Achievers tend to idealize success and forget that it comes with its fair share of challenges.

We often pursue goals without fully comprehending how they may impact us in the future.

Practicing gratitude and humility can protect you from the negative effects of personal success.