Rx A Dose of Positivity Mary Steinhardt The
- Slides: 9
Rx: A Dose of Positivity Mary Steinhardt The University of Texas at Austin
We all know negativity… Unchecked negativity breeds health-damaging negative emotions – unproductive anger, contempt, depression. What about positivity?
Stressful Situations Homeostasis (protective factors) Disruption (overwhelmed) Thriving (growth) “STEP UP” (sustainability) Resilience (recovery) “BOUNCE UP” “Flourishing” Diminished (stuck in a rut) “PUT UP” “Floundering” Succumb “GIVE UP”
Please think back to how you felt yesterday. Indicate the greatest amount that you’ve experienced each of the following feelings: Not at all 0 A little bit 1 Moderately 2 Quite a bit 3 Extremely 4 ___ What is the most grateful, appreciative, or thankful you felt? ___ What is the most angry, irritated, or annoyed you felt? ___ What is the most inspired, uplifted, or elevated you felt? ___ What is the most stressed, nervous, or overwhelmed you felt? ___ What is the most joyful, glad, or happy you felt? ___ What is the most sad, downhearted, or unhappy you felt? ___ What is the most hopeful, optimistic, or encouraged you felt? ___ What is the most ashamed, humiliated, or disgraced you felt?
Six Facts About Positivity ü Positivity feels good ü Positivity changes how your mind works ü Positivity transforms your future ü Positivity puts the brakes on negativity ü Positivity obeys a “Tipping Point” ü You can increase your positivity
The Tipping Point Resilience Positivity can tip our life from “floundering” to “Flourishing” >3 “flourishing. ” Diminished (stuck in a rut) “Floundering” <3
Thriving (growth) Stressful Situations Homeostasis (protective factors) Disruption (overwhelmed) >4 FLOURISHING (sustainability) Resilience (recovery) 3. 0 to 3. 9 FOCUSED, FLEXIBLE, FLOWING Diminished (stuck in a rut) 1 to 2. 9 FLOUNDERING Succumb <1 FAILURE
THRIVING (growth) flourishing >4 RESILIENCE (recovery) focused, flexible, flowing >3 (tipping point) Diminished (stuck in a rut) floundering Succumb Positive emotions fuel resilience and undo or down-regulate the (depressive symptoms) failure negative effects of stress. <1 <3
THRIVING (growth) flourishing Tipping Point: 3 to 1 >4 What about negativity? RESILIENCE (recovery) focused, flexible, flowing >3 (tipping point) Diminished (stuck in a rut) floundering Succumb (depressive symptoms) failure <1 <3