BELINDABERRY
Positive Psychologist

Seligman tells us in this talk that the current state of psychology (the ‘disease model’) isn’t good enough.

He explains why we should move away from the damage repair approach that’s been standard practice in psychology for almost a century. He gives a compelling introduction to the three cornerstones of positive psychology—a must-watch for anyone seeking an introduction to the field.

That serenity, absorption, and complete engagement we feel when we’re entirely wrapped up in something we love? It’s got a name in positive psychology – flow.

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Several decades ago, Csikszentmihalyi coined the term “flow” in his 1975 book Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: Experiencing Flow in Work and Play, and in this talk, he explains the roots of happiness and teaches how to find a meaningful life.

Have you worked hard on becoming happier only to see your happiness level becoming stagnant? Dan Gilbert, the author of Stumbling on Happiness, explains his scientific research about predicting happiness.  In this hilarious talk, Gilbert questions the all-too-common assumption that most of us are guilty of making. That is – the idea that we’re searching for the thing that is happiness. He argues – and provides plenty of scientific evidence in support of this argument – that instead, we “synthesize” happiness. For humans, Gilbert explains, happiness is a creation. That there’s no distinction between what we’ve mistakenly come to see as “natural” and “synthetic” happiness and gives examples to illustrate.

If you want to hear about how unicorns, fake graphs, and weirdos related to happiness—this funny and very personal TED Talk is for you. In it, author Shawn Achor tells us how to increase happiness levels in organizations and ourselves, starting with a story about his little sister falling off a bunk bed.

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We often believe that we have to be successful to be happier, that is, but Achor gives plenty of reasons why we can ‘reverse the formula,’ in his words.  In this video, he tells us about activities that help us do precisely that, summing it all up nicely in a thought-provoking sentence: “If happiness is on the opposite side of success, your brain never gets there.”

What happens when we push ourselves outside of our comfort zones? When we challenge ourselves to learn something tricky or completely novel?

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n this talk, Dweck covers how we can move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, with a little help from scientific findings. She talks about her work with struggling students, University of Washington game scientists, and even provides some parenting questions that provide excellent food for thought. If you’ve been looking for an introduction to “The Power of Yet,” you’ll love this video.

UPenn Professor Angela Duckworth was a 7th-grade math teacher when she put her finger on grit. This TED is an excellent introduction to the concept and how it’s been shown to relate to success.

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In this talk, she discusses what “doing well in school” really requires besides an ability to learn quickly and easily. She talks about how it relates to Dweck’s Growth Mindset, talent, and highlights what needs to be done to bring the field forward.

There is a reason why we are called “humankind,” argues Lea Waters, director of the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Melbourne. This talk starts with a look at desensitization as Waters describes the moment she realized she wanted to be part of something bigger and better.

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Waters invites us to consider some of these positive qualities with her. Citing ‘moral excellence,’ optimism, and inspiration as brilliant examples, she underscores why kids need to grow up realizing they’re part of something good. She invites us to be part of that.

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you today? The language we use to ask questions can have a significant impact on the answers we get.

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Inquiring about what works in the world, and the positive things that give us life are one way to create a whole new story, according to Robyn Stratton-Berkessel in this talk. In her career as a positivity strategist, her focus is on facilitating strength-based change to develop high-impact, positive change organizations, and people.

Why are so many of us disappointed and depressed? Psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that living in a world with too many choices is a significant factor in our unhappiness. In fact, it’s the topic of his 2004 book of the same name.

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In it, and in this video, Schwartz makes a pivotal argument, suggesting that the secret to happiness is living with lower expectations.

You’ve heard of negativity bias, but what about an optimism bias? Tali Sharot is a firm believer in the latter, and here’s where you can learn about some of her research on this apparently global phenomenon.

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Most of us are likely overestimating our chances of winning the lottery, as an example, while at the same time underestimating our likelihood of being in a car crash. For a positive psychology lecture, it sounds quite sobering.  However, it’s precisely this optimism that can make us happy, Sharot posits. Imagine the thrill of waiting for the weekend or a kiss from a loved one, and that’s the anticipation that enhances our wellbeing.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman poses a great question in this TED Talk on compassion – Why aren’t we more compassionate, more often?

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In this inspiring talk, Goleman triggers the viewer to think about empathy and society, as well as how we can show more humanity to others.

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This brief but inspiring talk from one of positive psychology’s best-known names combines personal anecdotes and business-world observations to craft a compelling argument for more kindness and empathy.

Born in 1926 in Vienna, Brother David Steindl-Rast is a Benedictine monk and interfaith scholar. And he’s had a fascinating life – at the age of 93, his writing and speaking career has included talks in 5 continents on topics like transformation, spirituality, and meaning.

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Gratitude is one of Steindl-Rast’s key topics, as you’ll see in this now-famous TED talk on slowing down and happiness.

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We all want happiness, Brother David begins. And happiness, he argues, comes from gratitude. In this concise lecture, he covers the difference between grateful experiences and grateful living, reminding us of so many things we often take for granted.

“For too long, we have peddled a nightmarish vision of what’s going to happen,” Marks opens in this speech. And here’s what he’s talking about:

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Have you ever wondered why most science fiction films tend to portray humanity under threat or take place in dystopian settings? Happiness researcher Nic Marks believes it’s because we are too focused as a species on the worst-case scenario.

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Marks explains talks in this TED about how we can overcome this myopia and focus on progress instead. One method, he suggests, is using the Happy Planet Index rather than GDP as a measure of national success, before providing a great overview of the Index itself.

Have you heard of the notorious Zimbardo prison experiments? Here’s the Stanford professor behind the much-criticized studies, but with a talk on success rather than roles and identity. After the infamous experiment, Zimbardo’s focus became how psychology could be used to benefit humanity, and he’s won numerous rewards for his high-profile work.

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In this TED, Zimbardo poses an interesting question: Are you oriented in the past, present, or future when making a decision? Illustrating with stories of pledged virginity and Mischel’s marshmallow experiment, he explains how many of the conundrums we face in life can be solved by answering this question.

Chip Conley is the entrepreneur behind the Joie de Vivre hotels, French for “Zest for Life.” The Bay Area Most Innovative CEO award winner also has several widely popular books about performance and work, including Wisdom @ Work and Peak.

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The latter is the topic of this TED, in which he explains why we need a business model based on Abraham Maslow‘s Needs Hierarchy – with company self-actualization as the ultimate goal.

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In this talk, Conley shows us how to begin valuing the intangible over the tangible, which helps us better strive for a life worth living.