“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.” — Matt Haig
This quote, while not from a psychologist, hints at concepts from positive psychology and its strengths-based approach. You may wonder, what are these fancy terms? Well, let’s backtrack a little to World War II.
Before WWII, most of psychology was focused on curing mental illness, making the lives of people more productive and identifying and nurturing the talents of people. This three-pronged approach sounds like the correct way of practising psychotherapy, right? However, in the aftermath of WWII, there was large-scale destruction, leading to intense physical, mental and economic problems. This event made it imperative for psychologists to restructure the concept of mental health into one that focused solely on repairing damage, leaving little to no space for personal and community growth or nurturance of one’s lives. Enter Martin Seligman: the father of Positive Psychology who deconstructed this disease model, dethroning psychology as just a study of disease, weakness and damage and reclaimed it as the study of strength and virtue.
The positive psychology movement reminds us that psychology is more than just illness or health; it is about work, education, insight, love, growth and play. The essence of the movement is captured beautifully through the quote by Matt Haig. Though we may experience mental health problems, they do not define us. Although positive psychology did not come into practice until the late 1900’s; World Health Organisation (WHO) quickly recognised its importance. According to WHO, ‘Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. It exists on a complex continuum, which is experienced differently from one person to the next, with varying degrees of difficulty and distress and potentially very different social and clinical outcomes.’ (WHO, 2022)
In fact, WHO defines mental health as ‘a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.’ (WHO, 2022)
The definition above gives us a better understanding of what positive psychology is and adopting a strengths-based approach is what helps us cultivate these abilities. With the concept of mental well-being clear in our minds, we begin to focus on our own journey of mental wellness and identify the strengths within and around us that ensure an enriching life experience - be it in creating stronger relationships, work satisfaction or personal growth. More often than not, we may realise that we’ve had certain strengths and virtues all our lives but little did we know that we were using them so well!
For instance, let’s take the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were struck, some affected by the disease itself making them feel physically ill while others were living alone and burdened by social isolation. Being under significant duress, Hope for them was the only answer. This strength allowed them to think positively about the future and ride out the wave a lot better than those who felt hopeless and pessimistic. With all of us being confined to our homes, some felt complacent, passing the days in a monotonous haze whereas others channelled another strength, the Love of Learning and explored new passions they wanted to always try but never found the time to, in an otherwise hectic 9-5 work day.
I, for myself, found my love of baking during the lockdown and cooked delicious treats everyday; not only for myself but also for my family whenever they expressed a longing for their favourite dessert, thus simultaneously cultivating the strength of love and kindness for others. The sweet smile on their faces was incomparable to any of the sweet treats I whipped up in the kitchen.
In the above example, I channelled a personal strength to cope through the pandemic.
Positive psychology has outlined 24 character strengths which can be leveraged to build on our positive traits and nurture our lives. Here is a comprehensive checklist with all the 24 character strengths. Discover the amazing strengths you already possess and explore the ones you would like to cultivate in your life. Bear in mind that the same strength can look different for different people. Creativity, for instance, exists in many forms. For one, it may be painting and the other, dance.
As humans, we are capable of change and our potential is limitless. All it requires is a little effort on our side and sometimes a little help from others. So, grab a friend, identify your goals and think - Which strength would you like to cultivate today?
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