Why We Need Positive Psychology

I'll never forget the "aha!" moment I had when I was first introduced to the field of Positive Psychology (PP). Reflecting on my early studies, I remember being so surprised to learn that it originated specifically to address a major gap in psychological research—a field that had historically focused almost exclusively on human suffering, not human flourishing.

This realization made me look back on my own master's program in social work. The curriculum had been centered on human suffering and the negative aspects of mental health and well-being. We were exposed to lots of research on pathology, but almost no research on what makes life fulfilling or what helps people thrive.

I recalled having one amazing professor, Dr. Murali Nair, who studied centenarians—people who live to be 100 years or older. I thought it was such a "cool and unique" topic at the time, but reflecting on it now, I see how rare that focus was. He was one of the few people I encountered who was researching the positive side of the human experience.

This is why Positive Psychology is so vital. It's about dedicating real study to the other side of the coin so we can start to foster the positive behaviors and attitudes we want to see more of.

The approach is a lot like solution-focused therapy. Instead of dwelling only on the "negatives" or "what not to do," the focus shifts to the things we should be doing more of.

Of course, research in all areas of psychology is needed; we need to look at things from every angle. But ever since that course, I've been excited to see fields like Positive Psychology and Transpersonal Psychology bringing a much-needed balance to our understanding of what it means to be human. It's why I believe so strongly in creating a more complete picture of human life for the next generation of healers and helpers.