Most Satisfying Moment Of Seligman's Life
ServiceSpace
--Paul VanSlambrouck
1 minute read
Dec 19, 2011

 

Father of positive psychology, Martin Seligman often says: "I actually detest the word happiness, which is so overused that it has become almost meaningless."  Instead he prefers using "well being", which is pillared by five autonomous elements, fashioned into the mnemonic PERMA: positive emotion, engagement, meaning, accomplishment, and positive relationships.   He also notes that scientists have found that kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being.  In "Flourish", Martin Seligman relates a kindness incident that changed his life.  He was in a long line of customers at the post office waiting to buy a sheet of 1-cent stamps.  He needed them because of the increase in postage that had taken effect, as did most of the other people in the line.  When he finally got to the counter, he bought 10 sheets of 100 stamps each - 10 dollars worth.  Then he turned to the long line of waiting people and announced:  "Who needs one-penny stamps?  They're free!"  And he said, "People burst into applause and clustered around me as I gave away this treasure.  Within two minutes, everyone was gone, along with most of my stamps.  It was one of the most satisfying moments of my life."

 

Posted by Paul VanSlambrouck on Dec 19, 2011


5 Past Reflections