Welcome to the fifth installment in my yearlong series on Joy Intelligence™ (JQ)!
Positive Psychology in Action
An exploration of Martin Seligman’s PERMA model, 7 Habits of happy people, and their alignment with JQ™ principles.
Last month, I offered up the many “flavors of JOY, playing with the multitude of ways we can experience JOY in our lives. This month, we’ll be exploring Martin Seligman’s model of Positive Psychology and how it aligns with JQ™ principles, as presented by JOYELY®, the cutting-edge organization that is re-defining JOY as a core life skill to enhance resilience, clarity, and success in all areas of life and work.
Seligman is one of the founders of Positive Psychology, and he expanded his vision of human well-being in his book Flourish, where he introduces the PERMA model, which consists of five essential components: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. While each element contributes to human flourishing, it is joy lies at the heart of Positive Emotion and spreads through all aspects of well-being.
Positive Psychology has traditionally focused on the study of positive emotions, “signature strengths,” and more recently, meaningful relationships and self-discovery. Joy, as a positive emotion, is more than just fleeting happiness; it is an ongoing state that fuels engagement, strengthens relationships, and gives life purpose and meaning.
The 7 Habits of Happy People and Joy
Seligman’s work on happiness suggests seven habits that promote joy and well-being:
- Relationships – Connections with others allow us to give and receive positive energy which in term promotes strong relationships, providing the foundation for joy.
- Acts of Kindness – Giving to others triggers joy within us, reinforcing the reciprocal nature of emotional generosity.
- Physical Wellbeing – Joy is tied to physical health, with movement and vitality boosting our overall sense of happiness.
- Flow – When we engage deeply in meaningful activities that match our skills, time seems to disappear as we enter a joyful state of flow.
- Spiritual Engagement and Meaning – Connecting with something greater than ourselves fosters long-term joy and fulfillment.
- Signature Strengths and Virtues – When we use our strengths in daily life, we can truly flourish, enhancing our joy and creating a sense of purpose.
- Positive Mindset – Even in challenging times, we can nurture our innate joy by cultivating optimism, mindfulness, and gratitude.
These habits reflect the multifaceted nature of joy, showing that it isn’t just an emotional experience but an integral part of a flourishing life.
You can watch the video below to deepen your understanding of Positive Psychology then join me next month when we’ll dive into the many other types of intelligence.
And finally, in the spirit of encouraging you to really engage with the JOY theme of the month, I invite you to start a Chair of Joy® journal if you haven’t already and record the memory that came up for you in the CoJ I guided you through in the video. I’d love to hear about it, too!
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Life & Relationship Coach, Deborah Roth, MA is also a Counseling Astrologer, and Interfaith Minister. She leads women’s New Moon Circles and Full Moon TeleMeditations every month and loves designing creative, meaningful rituals for individuals and couples to energize their lives and relationships.
This is such a great post; thank you, Deborah. I love how JOYELY® is showing that joy isn’t just something we stumble upon—it’s a life skill we can grow and strengthen. The way it connects with Positive Psychology and the habits of happy people is so inspiring. Joy really does touch every part of our well-being!