Does being positive mean I have to be happy all the time?

Written on the 6th of February 2012 by Sue Langley

The focus on positive psychology in the media and society sometimes gives the impression that people are now expected to be happy all the time. This can lead people to feel under pressure to achieve the impossible or wronged for feeling negative emotions and moods. This of course decreases their levels of positive emotion and increases stress.

Positive psychology doesn’t proscribe specific levels of happiness. It provides meaningful insight, analysis and strategies to help people benefit from positive emotions and raise their level of happiness and effectiveness over all.

Positive psychology is an area of psychology that emphasises what is right with people rather than what is wrong. It suggests that positive emotion + engagement + meaning + relationships = life / job satisfaction and effectiveness. Research in the field incorporates study of wide ranging areas of wellbeing—subjective (levels of happiness and in-the-moment positive emotion), psychological (overall flourishing in life) and physical (health).

Simply put, to give ourselves the best chance of success we need tools at our disposal to increase the duration and intensity of our positive emotions and decrease the intensity and duration of our negative emotions. We also need tactics to build overall wellbeing into our lives through relationships, community, strengths, engagement and meaning.

These bolster our resilience and psychological resources, making us feel more fulfilled and more able to perform at our best—in the moment and overall.

The wonderful thing positive psychology research provides is clear indications about the most effective methods both personally and professionally to create more flourishing in individuals, teams and organisations. 

Emotional intelligence worldwide converts the best positive psychology practices, along with new insights in emotional intelligence and neuroscience, into practical tools people can use right away.

Read more about our positive psychology based tools, open programmes and programmes for leaders and teams.

Sue Langley is a sought-after speaker, facilitator and master trainer in emotional intelligence, positive psychology and the neuroscience of leadership. Considered one of the leaders in Australia in the practical workplace application of these fields, Sue is CEO of Emotional Intelligence Worldwide and the author of Positive Relationships at Work, in Positive Relationships (Springer, 2012).