Sonja Lyubomirsky is a professor of Psychology at the University of California - Riverside. Her research on the science of happiness has been the recipient of many honors.  She is a best-selling author of the books The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want and The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, but Does.

In this conversation, you will hear Sonja share her thoughts and findings on happiness.  Sonja shares some of her findings that prove that positive activity interactions work.  Sonja also talks about some of the myths of happiness, which is the topic of her latest book.  She talks about the identification process to determine which interactions may work for individuals.  She also talks about happiness in group dynamics, specifically the workplace.  Sonja must present these interventions in various ways, depending on the environment and situation and she explains how she does that.  

Connect with Sonja Lyubomirsky:

Website: http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/

You’ll Learn:

• [01:57] - Sonja shares what she hopes attendees gain from her presentations on happiness. Sonja says that it is possible to become happier.
• [03:06] - Happiness is a broad term and Sonja describes how she defines the term.  
• [04:07] - Sonja’s talks about the short-term and long-term improvements people can make with happiness.  She explains that short-term happiness is easier to achieve than long-term happiness.
• [05:10] - Sonja describes the benefits of people being happy in the workplace.  She also explains why it’s not a good thing to be “too happy” in the workplace.
• [06:46] - Sonja lists a few interventions that people can use in the workplace to become happier at work.
• [08:38]- Sonja shares some of her findings that prove that positive activity interventions work.  She talks about gratitude and the role that factors like culture and dosage play a role.
• [10:37] - In her book, The How of Happiness, Sonja provides a survey to help determine which interventions might work for individuals.  She talks about this identification process.
• [13:04] - Sonja shares some of the myths of happiness.
• [15:32] - Sonja talks about the idea of happiness and well-being in social environments and with each other in various relationships.
• [16:50] - Happiness shouldn’t be forced on anyone. Sonja talks about situations where happiness interventions aren’t the right strategy.
• [19:11] - Sonja explains how she presents these interventions in different types of workplaces.
• [20:00] - The Lightning Round with Sonja Lyubomirsky

Your Resources:

• The International Positive Psychology Association’s 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology
• Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life - Dacher Keltner
• The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence - Dacher Keltner
• The Art of Happiness - Dalai Lama
• The Undoing Process: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds - Michael Lewis

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Sonja for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Russ Harris is the author of the international best-selling self help book, The Happiness Trap.  He is a therapist and coach, as well as a world renowned trainer of acceptance and commitment therapy, otherwise known as ACT.  He has provided ACT training to over 20,000 people all around the world.

In this conversation, you will hear Russ talk about the ACT approach. He explains how individuals and organizations can use the ACT approach to work through negativity and be comfortable with accepting rather than solving.

Connect with Russ Harris:

Website: ActMindfully.com.au

You’ll Learn:

• [01:28] - Russ talks about finding healthy ways to accept things that seem completely unacceptable.  
• [04:07] - Russ shares how those of us that are used to a CBT approach to our challenges can get comfortable with accepting rather than solving.  
• [07:55] - Self-compassion is an important skill to normalize being able to get comfortably uncomfortable.  Russ explains how the ACT approach works through negativity.  
• [09:54] - Russ talks about the ideas of expansion, anchoring, pursuing the value of kindness, and connectedness with others.
• [12:22] - Russ describes how to introduce these ideas into workplaces.  He describes his experiences with different types of work environments.
• [17:24] - When asked about work situations where ACT approach may not be a good fit, Russ shares the range of situations where these strategies have been implemented.
• [19:50] - The Lightning Round with Russ Harris

Your Resources:

The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT - Russ Harris and Steven Hayes

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration - Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Russ for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!

Robert Biswas-Diener, is a leading researcher on culture, wellbeing, positive psychology coaching and author of several wonderful books including the The Upside of Your Dark Side. 

With recent political changes in the United States and the UK leaving many feeling fearful and apprehensive about the future, Robert shares his insights on how to become comfortable with these uncomfortable feelings.  He suggests rather than trying to whitewash them, by accepting them, and seeing them as signals that something isn’t right, you can then decide on a constructive response to what’s unfolding.  You can also apply this in workplaces when looming mergers or restructures stir up similar feelings of uncertainty and fear.

Connect with Robert Biswas-Diener

Robert’s Website - RobertDiener.com
PositiveAcorn.com
IntentionalHappiness.com

You’ll Learn:

• [01:37] - Robert talks about how emotions are like signals giving us a mental thumbs-up or thumbs-down about the quality of our life.  
• [05:35] - If you are fearful, it’s telling you that something you care about may be under threat, and you may need to protect it.   
• [07:54] - Robert explains when you can be comfortably uncomfortable with your negative emotions, instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can act constructively.
• [11:05] - Robert explains one important step in tolerating these emotions, is to specifically label the emotion to help understand what message it may be telling you.
• [13:54] – When people are experiencing incredible change in workplaces and feeling very negative, Robert talks about how leaders can build capacity in their employees.
• [16:20] - Robert says sometimes leaders need to challenge apprehension and other times it’s ok to validate concerns.
• [17:49] - Robert believes happiness and wellbeing doesn’t have to be a mandate at work.  
• [20:30] –To be a whole person you need to experience and draw on the full range of positive and negative emotions.
• [21:35] - Robert explains why “you never want cheerful optimists in the control tower, directing flight traffic.”
• [22:18] - The Lightning Round with Robert Biswas-Diener

Your Resources:

The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self--Not Just Your “Good” Self--Drives Success and Fulfillment - Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan
View all of Robert Biswas-Diener’s books on Amazon
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant
Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection - Deborah Blum

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Also, please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

Special thanks to Robert for joining me this week. Until next time, take care!