January

What does it mean to live well? While philosophers have debated this for centuries, modern positive psychology has offered its own answers for helping individuals build fulfilling lives. In this two-week forum, associate professors of psychology Sam Brown and Ellen Lee will introduce audiences to the field of positive psychology and the science of happiness, purpose and fulfillment. The series begins by introducing Martin Seligman’s influential “PERMA+” framework for flourishing, which stands for Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment “plus” practices like sleep, nutrition and physical activity. We will discuss how well-being is more than the absence of distress; draw connections to humanistic traditions like Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs and growth; and see how PERMA+ offers a blueprint for the simple but powerful habits that create a foundation for lifelong emotional and mental health. Session two will delve more deeply into PERMA components like engagement, fulfillment, relationships and accomplishment. We will explore concepts like pleasure-focused happiness (hedonism), purpose-driven fulfillment (eudaimonia), “flow,” character strengths, meaning, purpose and vocation and discuss how they appear and evolve across the lifespan. We will also encounter tools and theories like the “Mood Meter,” SMART goals framework, career developmental theory and Vivek Murthy’s surgeon general’s report describing loneliness as a public health concern, which all allow further examination of fulfillment, engagement and accomplishment. The series will conclude with a case study that illustrates how all elements of PERMA+ interact to support lifelong well- being. Whether you are curious about the science of happiness, interested in lifelong learning or looking for new ways to reflect on purpose and fulfillment, this series offers a thoughtful, engaging introduction to positive psychology and what it means to flourish in our own lives.