A NEW YEAR FOR MUSIC AND HAPPINESS
February 3, 2008 by Lynne
Have you noticed how many books are being published on the subject of Happiness these days? What it is. What it is not. Where to find it. How to actively create it. It is a central topic of Positive Psychology research. (See the list at the end of this post.)*
What does Positive Psychology have to do with music? One of the main researchers in Positive Psychology is Dr. Chris Peterson of the University of Michigan. Lynne has had the pleasure of taking some of his courses this past year through MentorCoach.
Speaking about the future of Positive Psychology Dr. Peterson emphasizes that the crucial contributions of the body and heart to human happiness have generally been neglected by Western psychology. He asks, What might be the Positive Psychology of such important aspects of life as music, dancing, poetry, food, sex….and so on? His delightful conclusion is that we would all benefit from getting more into our fingertips and toes, “which should be twitching and tapping….” and helping us feel more alive.
Other researchers are also looking into the value of self-expression and attention to all parts of our being to support continued healthfulness as we grow older. The term used for this is Proactive Wellness.
If you like music, you have an easy, natural way to foster wellness in your body, mind and spirit. Imagine a future for yourself where you consciously fill your life with sounds that stir you and encourage you to move your body, that stimulate your brain and improve your ability to relax or to take on challenges, that comfort you when hardship and loss occur.
Our goal this year, in addition to our in-person workshops, is to bring you programs you can use in your own home in a consistent way, with online support. We can become partners in a new venture to make you more resilient and your life happier–from the inside out.
*Here are some of the books we like, written by psychologists and philosophers who are exploring Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived today:
Martin Seligman: Authentic Happiness
Christopher Peterson: A Primer in Positive Psychology
Jonathan Haidt: The Happiness Hypothesis
Sonia Lyubomirsky: The How of Happiness
Robert Emmons: Thanks: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier
Tal Ben Shahar: Happier
Dan Gilbert: Stumbling on Happiness
Gene Cohen: The Mature Mind