You've come to the correct place if you've been hearing the term "positive psychology" thrown around a lot but aren't entirely sure what it is. Positive psychology is sometimes misunderstood, both in terms of what it is and what it is not.

“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living” (Peterson, 2008).

• To elaborate on this concise explanation, positive psychology is a scientific method of researching human emotions, thoughts, and behavior that emphasizes building positive traits rather than fixing negative ones, elevating average people's lives to "great" rather than concentrating only on helping those who are struggling to become "normal" (Peterson, 2008).

How Did It Get Started?

Throughout the 20th century, the topic "what is wrong with people" has dominated innumerable scientific studies and shaped the thinking of several experts. It is difficult to ignore the fact that this raises a significant query. Yes, the solution lies at the core of positive psychology, the scientific and practical method for identifying individuals' assets and fostering good functioning.

Each of these findings gives us a concrete idea for improving our own quality of life:

• Individuals greatly overestimate the influence of wealth on their level of happiness. 
• It does matter, but not quite as much as we might assume, so you'll probably be happy if you don't put as much emphasis on becoming wealthy. 
• The happiness increase from spending money on experiences is greater than that from spending money on stuff. 
• Happiness in life is greatly influenced by thankfulness, meaning that the more thankful we are, the happier we will be. 
• Humans may be more trusting, empathetic, and moral when exposed to oxytocin, therefore hugging or expressing other physical affection can have a positive impact on happiness.
• People who have joyful friends and significant others are more likely to be happy in the future because happiness is contagious. 
• Not only do those who show kindness to others experience an increase in well-being, but they also receive greater acceptance from their peers. 
• Giving your time to a cause you support enhances your well-being and sense of fulfillment in life, and it may even lessen the symptoms of depression. 
• The giver is happier when they spend money on other people. 

There is great potential for positive psychology to improve people's lives all across the world, and much research has already been done in this area.