Investigating Happiness: Positive Philosophy and Counselling Methods

This essay delves into the history and philosophy of happiness, examining the role of positive psychology in promoting well-being through counselling and coaching. It explores the concept of happiness, its measurement, and the application of positive philosophy techniques. The essay discusses relevant literature and theories, including the work of Dunn, Uswatte & Elliott (2017), Zhang (2016), and Seligman & Adler (2018), highlighting the importance of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA model). It emphasizes the impact of positive philosophy on changing mindsets, promoting positive perceptions, and minimizing negative thoughts, ultimately contributing to a happier and more fulfilling life. The essay references key authors and journals to support its arguments and provides a comprehensive overview of the subject matter.

ACADEMIC ESSAY

Table of Contents
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................7

TOPIC
"To investigating the history and philosophy of happiness and the role of positive
philosophy in promoting happiness through counselling or coaching."
Usually counselling is needed when the person are facing many issues in their life which
are difficult for them to overcome in such circumstances which they proposed to psychology
specialist who can treat them in productive way and also by this coaching they are promoting
happiness in their life (Vella-Brodrick, 2016). Thus, psychology is mainly conducted to study the
mind of the people and also examines their feeling and thought which they are committing to
achieve some objectives. Thus, the positive psychology is mainly committed to adapt the
individual and group to do such activity to determined their strength and the positive behaviour
which they carry to commit such work in better way.
Overview of concept of happiness
Happiness is mainly depends upon the stability of mind which reflect from the moods of
the people if everything is moving on the right direction they are happy with the good life which
they are getting similarly as with the mentality of the people is determined by facing right and
wrong things in their life. Thus, in simple words happiness means when person is mentally and
physically happy, proud and satisfied with the work, life and other things which they are recently
facing for being a better human being in their own life (Slemp & et.al., 2017). If the person is
happy with their life they are not facing the health problems as mainly problems arises through
the stress and over burden of work which they compromise with their routine life. Many authors
define the term happiness in their own words but in every definition one thing is common which
is related to person life. If person are successful, smile and safe with the condition which they are
doing in their life they are happy with their current status.
Discussion is conducted in respect of happiness can be measured
The happiness of the person can be measured by keeping in mind the following points
which is happened in their daily routine and such matters are relating to less depression level at
the time of committing such work or by having the anxiety of having some goods things in their
life or the other one is related to having the less stress to commit such work in better way. Thus,
there are various ways which is usually happened in the person life and they are the main reason
which the person approaches to psychology to treat them with positive aspects. minly the

happiness can also be judged by person behaviours of taking the thing in productive way. If they
are negative with their thoughts and ideas, they are facing more consequences in their activity
which they are committing (Joseph, 2015). Usually such situation arise in professional level.
Person had to face many things in their work but if they are clear with their thoughts and ideas
and also the work which they had to commit. It results in bringing more happiness which can
solve their issues and also bring many way's to completes such task in more appropriate way.
Analysing the role of positive philosophy in promoting happiness through counselling
The role of positive philosophy in promoting happiness to people are mainly based on
setting the mind set of the people in positive way and by setting their perception in right way to
think positive in every situation. Thus, this positive psychology is mainly based on setting the
right perception of people to take every aspect as positive or to change of behaviour of the
people by viewing their thinking regarding handling such matters (Filep, Laing, &
Csikszentmihalyi, 2016). Happiness can also be promoted by changing the person mindset and
mentality to take everything situation as positive and by adapting these methods they spread
happiness around that places. All people had their own perception of feeling happy and also had
their own reason to get sad thus it depends upon the behaviours of the people and also every
psychology treatment are different form different people. As every person nature are not same
and if the situation of facing the issue are also not similar thus it results with various role which
is used in promoting happinesses to person life.
Application of positive philosophy techniques
Positive philosophies techniques are mainly indicating in respect of acts of kindness
which indicates that kindnesses mainly results in boosting the people to carry a smile on their
face and also motivate them to achieve more goal in their personal life (Positive philosophy
techniques, 2019). There are many ways to which such techniques as spending time with some
strangers, helping a friend to develop new ideas in their work or spend some time with family
and friend to plan a vacation which makes them feel happy and also it distracts their mind from
their regular issues.
Relevant literature and theory
(Dunn, Uswatte & Elliott, (2017)) sought to analyse the fact that, happiness helps in
improvising the mental and emotional aspects in order to improve the positivity and well being
of the individual. Positive psychology helps in promoting various factors which in turn helps in

encouraging individuals to impose greater emphasis on building positive qualities. Positive
psychology helps in defining happy persons who experience positive emotions such as joy,
interest, pride, etc. there are various negative emotions which mainly includes anger, anxiety and
sadness. Positive psychology is beneficial as it helps in discovering and promoting those factors
that helps individuals to thrive and flourish by effectively building positive qualities. (Zhang,
(2016)) established that, happiness is an effective feeling of positivity and pleasure which in turn
helps in living happy and positive life. This helps in cultivating best and positive attitude among
individual which in turn leads to happy and meaningful life. It also helps ion cultivating best
within each individual in order to experience love, play and work. Positive psychology has
spurred to various areas which mainly includes optimism, self- esteem, motivation, strength,
mindfulness, hope, resilience, virtues, positive thinking, optimism, well- being, etc.
(Calvo, Vella-Brodrick, Desmet & Ryan, (2016)) said that, positive psychology helps in
minimizing pathological thoughts which may arise due to hopeless mindset and negative
thoughts. This leads top depression and impose various negative impact on the health and life of
the individual. Positive psychology helps in changing the life in a positive way. Negative affect
leads to experiencing the world in the negative way which adversely affect the life and the
people surrounded around them. Positive psychology helps in gaining deeper understanding of
the positive emotions and traits which helps in living happily. It also helps in analysing various
psychological effects, mental disorders which adversely affect the mental health of the
individual. (Seligman & Adler, (2018)) sought to analyse the fact that, authentic happiness
theory states that people feel happiness from various types of experiences such as pleasant life,
meaningful life, engaged life where individual is completely loosing oneself in some sort off
activity. (Boniwell, Osin & Martinez, (2016)) argued that, well-being theory states that
individual should focus on measuring the well being of the individual which mainly consists of
five elements. PERMA model includes positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships,
meaning and achievement. This model helps individual to live a healthy and happy life. This
model helps in reaching various elements to the maximum which in turn helps in maintaining
positive and a healthy lifestyle. (Cabanas, (2018)) sought to analyse the fact that, PERMA model
helps people to work towards a life which is full of happiness, fulfilment and meaning. Positive
emotions helps individual to remain optimistic in various life situations. Engagement helps
oneself in synthesizing the activities where one feel calm, compose, joyful and focused.

Relationship and social relation is very crucial to live a meaningful life. Positive and healthy
relationship with family, friends, partner, siblings, co- workers, peers, etc. helps in sharing
various emotions and also provide support in hard time. Meaningful is another key ingredients
which drives individual to fulfilment of life. It manly includes, spirituality, freedom, religion,
volunteering, etc. helps in adding meaningful aspect in one's life. Accomplishment is said to
have certain desired goal and ambition in life in order to achieve the sense of accomplishment.
Attainment of certain goals and objectives in life adds to sense of pride in the life of individual.
Positive well-being helps individual in living happy life.
Happiness is mainly depends upon the stability of mind which largely reflect the mood
and attitude of the individual (Teschers, (2017)). Happiness is a sense contentment, well- being
and joy which in turn helps individual in living happy life. Positive psychology helps individual
in discovering and promoting those factors that helps individuals to thrive and flourish by
effectively building positive qualities.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Boniwell, I., Osin, E. N., & Martinez, C. (2016). Teaching happiness at school: Non-randomised
controlled mixed-methods feasibility study on the effectiveness of Personal Well-Being
Lessons. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 11(1). 85-98.
Cabanas, E. (2018). Positive Psychology and the legitimation of individualism. Theory &
Psychology. 28(1). 3-19.
Calvo, R. A., Vella-Brodrick, D., Desmet, P., & Ryan, R. M. (2016). Editorial for “Positive
computing: A new partnership between psychology, social sciences and technologists”.
Dunn, D. S., Uswatte, G., & Elliott, T. R. (2017). Happiness and resilience following physical
disability. In The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 3rd Edition.
Filep, S., Laing, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2016). What is positive tourism? Why do we need
it?. In Positive Tourism. (pp. 17-30). Routledge.
Joseph, S. (2015). Positive Psychology in Practice.: Promoting Human Flourishing in Work,
Health, Education, and Everyday Life. John Wiley & Sons.
Seligman, M. E. P., & Adler, A. (2018). Positive education. The Global Happiness Council
(Ed.), Global Happiness Policy Report. 53-73.
Slemp, G. R. & et.al., (2017). Positive education in Australia: Practice, measurement, and future
directions. In Social and emotional learning in Australia and the Asia-Pacific. (pp. 101-
122). Springer, Singapore.
Teschers, C. (2017). Education and Schmid's Art of Living: Philosophical, psychological and
educational perspectives on living a good life. Routledge.
Vella-Brodrick, D. A. (2016). Positive interventions that erode the hedonic and eudaimonic
divide to promote lasting happiness. In Handbook of eudaimonic well-being.(pp. 395-406).
Springer, Cham.
Zhang, D. (2016). Courtyard housing for health and happiness: architectural multiculturalism in
North America. Routledge.
Online
Positive philosophy techniques. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-guide/positive-psychology-techniques>.