Course Overview
Positive psychology courses offered by Zone Positive
Free Introduction to Positive Psychology This complimentary lesson will give you a sense of how our courses are structured and presented. This short video provides you with important background information to enhance your understanding of the basics of positive psychology: what this science is all about, why it’s important to you and those in your life—how can we all achieve positive outcomes. It is the perfect starting point for taking the courses offered by Zone Positive.
Character Strengths This is one of the foundation theories of positive psychology. Learn why strengths matter—and how they operate as one of the basic drivers of well-being. You will come to understand your own strengths and how to apply these gifts towards a more flourishing and fulfilling life.
Positive Emotion This course will help deepen your understanding of positive emotion and its connection to human flourishing. What are emotions and what role do they play in our lives? How do both positive and negative emotions help us function effectively? Why do positive emotions help us thrive—what is the research theory that supports this? Can it be measured? Can it be raised? And most importantly, how will I benefit?
Engagement and Flow Have you ever been so engaged in an activity that you lose track of time…. so immersed in the challenge and enjoyment of the task that you don’t want to stop? In positive psychology terms, you are experiencing the state of flow. This course will introduce you to the theory and benefits of flow as well as practical ways to experience it more often.
Meaning and Purpose What is the meaning of this thing we call life? What is transcendence? Do we all have higher callings? How do we find fulfillment? This course will address the benefits of meaning and purpose and the positive exercises you can use to add more dimension to your life.
Positive Relationships Our ability to trust others drives our ability to forge meaningful relationships and succeed on teams, in love—and in life. How trusting are you of others? What techniques and habits are holding you back? Our course in Positive Relationships probe these questions and more
Positive Change Who doesn’t have a habit they’d like to kick! Ever feel as if you’ve tried everything and still no luck? Maybe its time for a scientifically proven approach. Gain a deeper understanding of the change process and how it can be used to enrich your life, to move you closer to a state of enduring happiness and well being. Embracing change is one of the most important pathways to getting there.
Resilience How do people deal with difficult situations that change their lives? The death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, terrorist attacks and other traumatic events: these are all examples of very challenging life experiences. Many people react with strong emotions and a sense of uncertainty. Yet other people generally adapt well over time to life-changing situations and stressful conditions. This course will help you understand the power of resilience and how it can help you cope with the ups and downs of life.
Gratitude and Forgiveness (coming soon) Don’t we all want to be happy – and live a fulfilled and contented life? But why then do many of us spend much of our time being unhappy and discontented? Why do we complain about what we don’t have more often than giving thanks for what we do have? Do you find yourself holding on to grudges? Do we really believe that happiness and contentment are just around the corner if only we could get there? If only we could get even? Try a dose of gratitude and forgiveness—you will be amazed at how powerful a medicine these can be especially when you practice offering them every day. This course will introduce you to the simple yet complex theories behind gratitude and forgiveness.
Also Coming Soon:
Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a movement started in the mid 1980s by Professor David Cooperrider and colleagues from Case Western Reserve University. Since then, the subject has been extensively researched and applied worldwide by thousands of organizations and communities. Dr. Cooperrider’s theory maintains that a change of perspective, such as focusing on and asking questions about the positive characteristics of an organization rather than focusing on negative aspects such as problems, needs, and deficits, can inspire an image of what the future could be, mobilize positive creative energy and initiate a process of discovery and change within an organization. The goal of Appreciative Inquiry remains as it has been from the start of the movement: AI seeks to help organizations build upon what they do best in a positive manner. In the words of Thomas H. White, head of GTE, “Appreciative Inquiry focuses us on the positive aspects of our lives and leverages them to correct the negative. It’s the opposite of ‘problem-solving.”
Motivation (and Self Determination Theory) Our lesson in motivation covers the spectrum of self determination, praise, rewards, feedback, goal setting and other tools and instrumentalities that may (or may not) prompt people to take action. The research of psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan provides much of our present day insight into the science of motivation. There are no techniques that will motivate people or make them autonomous—free of outside control. Intrinsic motivation must come from within, not from techniques. It comes from people deciding they are ready to take responsibility for managing themselves. Once people are motivated and ready to change for their own personal reasons, then various techniques may be useful for them (like goal setting)—but without true resolve, without personal importance, techniques will not help. Compliance produces change that is not likely to be maintained, and defiance blocks change to begin with. Meaningful change occurs when people accept themselves, take interest in why they do what they do, and then decide that they are ready to do differently.
