London, England-Over 500 people gathered at the Camden Centre last July 2014 to listen to Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, a Harvard University lecturer and author on positive psychology. Dr. Ben-Shahar's talk, which was organized by UK's Action for Happiness, focused on "the science of happiness", wherein the lecturer shared his ideas and specific tools to make life happier.
Dr. Ben-Shahar began his talk by providing a background of the movement that is positive psychology. According to him, the field of psychology has always been traditionally inclined to look at pathologies and what was wrong with an individual. This very act, Dr. Ben-Shahar added, is questionable in terms of providing answers and solutions; looking at the problems alone may not be sufficient in helping people. On the other hand, positive psychology shifts perspectives and highlights the factors that allow individuals to flourish and thrive, instead of simply looking at what was wrong with them, said Dr. Ben-Shahar. Focusing attention on the positive does not mean discounting hardships and ignoring reality, but simply empowering people to focus on their strengths, he noted, a key ingredient to being happy.
The esteemed lecturer also pointed out that the very use of language plays a crucial role in shaping one's reality. Negative language begets a negative interaction, and asking the wrong questions reflect how individuals are focusing mainly on insignificant aspects of their lives. An example Dr. Ben-Shahar gave was that of relationships- as soon as the honeymoon stage comes to an end, couples begin doubting their partners and asking what is wrong with them and the relationship as a whole, leading to negative language and interaction.
Another point made during the lecture was the relevance of being appreciative in day-to-day life. Dr. Ben-Shahar noted that appreciating things mean several things, such as "to recognize the full worth of something, to be grateful for something, and to increase value."
Lastly, the lecturer shared the importance of verbalizing positive things, making them a part of one's life narrative, thereby leading to a happier life.
