CATHERINE STIEGLER & MARIA MAVROIDIS
LET'S CREATE HAPPINESS
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR HAPPINESS?
LETS TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN LEAD A HAPPY LIFE
BLOGS:
POST #1: In this blog we will be discussing how happiness is defined in each person. In positive psychology we dive into this topic every class period. A point of interest that is a potential topic for a blog on happiness is how creative expression and mindfulness can be crucial to an individual’s happiness. Creative expression and happiness are both operational defined as many different things according to the perceiver. We think this is something that is extremely interesting to study since there is so much of a grey area discussing happiness in each person.
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So the ultimate question is, Can creative expression influence a person’s happiness?
We wanted to look at how creative people are at individual levels and assess and see if being creative on a daily basis would be able to relieve stress and ultimately be able to predict the happiness of those people.
An article written by Michael W Ceci and V. K. Kumar, did research on this. The article (abstract below) ran a correlational test to see if there relationship between creative expression and happiness in participants. The study done found that having creative inclinations and utilizing creativity do not have a significant correlation with happiness. This was very interesting because I feel that if you were able to express yourself in a different way than just verbal expression that your happiness would be affected by it. This scholarly article was insightful in how it gave my question a definitive answer, that creative expression cannot predict a person’s well-being and happiness.
A Correlational Study of Creativity, Happiness, Motivation, and Stress from Creative Pursuits
Michael W. Ceci • V. K. Kumar
Published online: 14 January 2015
Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
Abstract This study examined the relationship of creative capacity with happiness, affect, motivation, and stress from creative pursuits using a sample of 420 students. In addition, it tested whether a relationship existed between overall creative capacity and specific styles or approaches to creative expression. A composite creative capacity score was derived from four creative capacity measures. Creative capacity was not significantly correlated with happiness, but it correlated significantly with positive and negative affect scales and with their absolute sum. Creative capacity correlated highest with intrinsic motivation (IM) among all variables. Creative capacity and IM correlated similarly in direction and magnitude with creativity styles subscales of Belief in Unconscious Processes, Use of Techniques, and Use of Senses, and negative correlations with the Use of People and Final Product Orientation Subscales.
Recently, a new study was done in New Zealand (link below) and researchers have found out that “creative activities contributes to an “upward spiral” of positive emotions, psychological well-being and feelings of “flourishing” in life. (Huffington Post)”. This was interesting because it seems to counteract the information found in the correlational study. A clear pattern was revealed in this study of how creative expression can lead a person to a feeling of growth and “flourishment” in life. This study touches on how creative expression can lead to feeling meaning and purpose to a person’s life. This is very intriguing because this study is lining up with our ‘hypothesis’ predicting how creative expression would be beneficial to your overall well-being and happiness.
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https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/creativity-happiness-psychology_us_58419e0ce4b0c68e0480689a
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We think that more research is needed to be done in this subject to be able to fully dive into the answers. More definitive explanations and operational definitions need to be assessed according to creativity and happiness since they are very hard to pin point exactly what both of these things actually mean. These are interesting topics but are not fully supported by data which makes it harder to be able to defend a topic without significant relationships.
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We think that possibly, next blog we will dive into how happiness is defined in each person and how mindfulness might have role in happiness!
Stay tuned for more blogs!!!
XOXO, C&M
Blog Two
POST #2: In this post, we wanted to discuss the relationship between mindfulness and happiness in individuals and whether or not being more mindful through one’s daily life will cause more overall happiness. A study was conducted by Laurie Hollis-Walker and Kenneth Colosimo to analyze this relationship between mindfulness and happiness in both mediating and non-mediating individuals, as well as the examination of individual differences in mindfulness. The abstract of this study is included below. The researchers conducted this study by having participants complete an online survey, which consisted on self-report questionnaires. The survey measured individual levels of mindfulness, psychological well-being (PWB), self-compassion, and personality traits. The study found that mindfulness is measurable in both meditating and non-meditating individuals. With this being said, the findings support the idea that mindfulness is exhibited through conscious human behavior. Mindfulness is apart of human nature that is dependent on “cognitive” and “attitudinal” factors. These findings are very interesting in that it offers a explanation of how mindfulness and happiness interact with one another.
Mindfulness, self-compassion, and happiness in non-meditators: A theoretical and empirical examination.
Laurie Hollis-Walker & Kenneth Colosimo
Personality and Individual Differences
January 2011
Abstract: This study examined relationships between mindfulness and indices of happiness and explored a five-factor model of mindfulness. Previous research using this mindfulness model has shown that several facets predicted psychological well-being (PWB) in meditating and non-meditating individuals. The current study tested the hypothesis that the prediction of PWB by mindfulness would be augmented and partially mediated by self-compassion. Participants were 27 men and 96 women (mean age = 20.9 years). All completed self-report measures of mindfulness, PWB, personality traits (NEO-PI-R), and self-compassion. Results show that mindfulness is related to psychologically adaptive variables and that self-compassion is a crucial attitudinal factor in the mindfulness–happiness relationship. Findings are interpreted from the humanistic perspective of a healthy personality.
There was an article written by Tom Wootton that stands by the idea that mindfulness does not lead to happiness. Instead, mindfulness allows for greater realization. Taking this into account, having greater awareness does not necessarily mean being happier. This article examines and describes mindfulness as a sense of greater experience in which individuals must perceive bliss and happiness differently. This is very interesting and makes sense for this is present in our own lives sometimes. The common quote goes like this: “Ignorance is bliss”. Without awareness of something, there is nothing to worry about. This article goes along the same lines of this quote and further dives into the idea that mindfulness may not directly lead to happiness. The link to this article is provided below:
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https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bipolar-advantage/201309/mindfulness-does-not-lead-happiness
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We think is it important to view all opposing viewpoints concerning the relation between mindfulness and happiness in daily life. With this, all considerations and information are being taken into account. But with this being said, we find it increasingly crucial for further research to be conducted on this topic, as it would provide an expansion of knowledge regarding mindfulness and happiness. Both the articles provided have very important points that need to be considered when discussing mindfulness, while keeping creative expression in mind.
In the next blog, we are excited to explain the incorporate both mindfulness and creative expression play an important role in overall happiness. Feel free to leave a comment! We would love to know what you think! Don’t forget to read up on our next blog!
XOXO, C&M
Are there ways to be able to create a more mindful and aware self?
What can I use to help implement positive psychology into my life?
This blog post is going to discuss helpful ways to create a more mindful and positive reality for yourself.
Our blog has discussed creativity and happiness and has also discussed how we can create our happiness through mindfulness.
In this blog we will be discussing possible interventions for helping to be more conscious and aware of your actions and thoughts.
Interventions are something that we discussed in our Positive Psychology class often. An intervention is something that is structured and designed to improve an individual’s well-being.
One Article that we found discusses and creates a study about how meditation interventions can help to improve your daily mindfulness and continues to dive into and explain why mindfulness is an important aspect of life. This study discusses how the intervention that was found to be most successful with helping to improve one’s mindfulness and mood was the action of brief meditation.
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http://www.thepositivepsychologypeople.com/mindfulness-research/
Another article written researches the effects of self-help applications and studies them to see if they are truly having an impact on mood and happiness. This article found that there were no significant findings through their ANOVA and t-test, but they closed the article by stating that the smartphone apps might be a vital part of studying the mission of positive psychology to enhance flourishing globally.
One everyday example of a simple and easy intervention for improving your daily mindfulness and positive psychology concepts would be this book and application, called Eternal Sunshine.
The book is written by Londrelle and it is written as a self-help book. In this book there are many poems written for boosting your well-being, happiness and mindfulness throughout your day. The book includes chapters discussing, self-love, spirituality, love, relationships and philosophy. It is very inspiring and motivating and is a helpful way to improve daily well-being.
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The application on the I-phone and the Android has many different components to it. The most amazing component of the application is the portion that sends you daily motivation, inspiration and wisdom to help create a better thought process for yourself throughout the day. These notifications are very helpful to keep you aware, motivated, inspired and grateful throughout your day. An example of one notification that was sent from the app the other day was “Never in the history of eternity will this moment ever occur again, by giving it gratitude you can create vibrations for a joy-filled future.” Messages like this pop up on your phone through each day and help with creating an intervention to improve your mindfulness, gratitude and many other things throughout the day.
The app lay out has 8 tabs where you can go and look at many different things to help you get through your day more aware of yourself and others.
The first four tabs contain “Essential Wisdom”, “Meditation Exercises”, “Morning Mindfulness” & “Inspirational Talks” for your everyday reading, meditating and listening. These tabs have parts of poems, meditation exercises, and motivating talks from the author himself and from the book, Eternal Sunshine. Theses tabs are used to help motivate and inspire you to be the person you are destined to be, chase after your dreams and shows you how to be the best version of yourself. In addition to this it helps with boosting your confidence and helping you cope with things throughout your day. This application is an easy way to try and boost your mindfulness and help to improve your mood and your gratitude throughout your daily activities.
Thank you so much for reading this last and final blog by Catherine & Maria.
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HAPPY MINDFULNESS EVERYBODY!
