What do we know about well-being?

What do we know about well-being? The answer is, very little, compared to what is known about illness, dysfunction and disease. Scientific study and progress on the side of positive neurological functioning is woefully inadequate compared with the negative side of assessment, treatment and research.

What good are positive emotions and why do the medical profession care about whether people are feeling good? Historically, time and energy has been given to effectively treating the symptoms generated by negative emotions whilst the benefit of using positive emotion to resolve those symptoms has been largely overlooked. But what if positive emotion could help to explain some of the problems negative emotions produce? Times are changing and perceptions are being altered.

When our positive emotions are in short supply – we become stuck in a rut and painfully predictable. But when our positive emotions are in ample supply – we feel lifted, resilient, and buoyant. They are our emotions; we do have a choice to continue doing negative or positive.

In short, we can improve our well-being both physically and neurologically by following some easy steps;

1.      Find meaning in everyday life through reflecting on experiences and finding the positive. View ordinary events with a positive value. Pursue and attain realistic goals

2.      Explore relaxation, meditation or being ‘present’ using audio, exercises or imagery.

3.      Make connections by reaching out to others, applying step 1.

4.      Engage in activities and hobbies that you enjoy and you find naturally motivating.

5.      Take care of yourself, eat a variety of food, sleep well – using step 2, and engage in regular physical activity.