“We always practice positive psychology. We talk about the things that people should be doing in order to make them feel good. Those are the things that make a difference in people’s lives,” says Roland Lascari, M.D., Erickson Health medical director at Cedar Crest, a community built and managed by Erickson.
Mental health tips and tricks
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., professor at the University of California, Riverside, and the associate editor for The Journal of Positive Psychology, is writing a book about strategies for happiness. The various strategies have been tested and, if used correctly, can be helpful for people of all ages.
In her upcoming book on optimal health and happiness she shares some approaches from positive psychology:
• Count your blessings. Express gratitude for what you have (privately through journaling or contemplation, or publicly to someone close to you) or convey your appreciation to individuals whom you have never properly thanked.
• Nurture relationships. Pick a relationship in need of strengthening, and invest time and energy in healing, cultivating, affirming, and enjoying it.
• Do more activities that truly engage you. Increase the number of experiences at home or work in which you “lose” yourself, which are challenging and absorbing.
• Replay and savor life’s joys. Pay close attention, take delight, and go over life’s momentary pleasures and wonders through thinking, writing, drawing, or sharing with another.
• Practice religion and spirituality. Become more involved in your church, temple, or mosque, or reading and pondering spiritually- themed books.
• Take care of your body. Engage in physical activity, meditation, and smiling and laughing.
Exercise, yoga, and social activity contribute to overall health. “It’s important to tailor happiness strategies or activities to particular ages and to particular individuals. I call this ‘person-activity fit.’ How the person engages in the strategy also depends on their resources, skills, needs, and personality,” says Lyubomirsky.