January 27, 2010
Let hope inspire you to keep trying for a happier world.
Some of the early work in the field of positive psychology came from a study on learned helplessness in dogs. The study did indeed prove that when dogs are repeatedly put in situations where they have no control over negative experiences they learn to act helpless. When the situation changes and the dogs regain control, they take no action to help themselves- they have learned to be helpless. The exciting part of this research is that some percentage of dogs never succumbed to learned helplessness. Researchers turned the study around and found that the opposite of helplessness- optimism- could also be learned by most dogs and people.
Hope, or optimism, is a belief that something positive can happen?. Hope is what keeps rescuers searching the rubble in Haiti more than a week after the initial earthquake even though the odds of finding someone alive are low. Those hopeful rescuers have been rewarded by finding survivors as much as 11 days out. Optimism is what keeps scientists working for a cure to Aids, Cancer, and the common cold. The scientists believe the cure is there and believe in their ability to find it eventually. As Samuel Johnson says, the belief in a better future- a possible positive outcome- is its own kind of happiness.
Scientific studies and great thinkers throughout time have all repeatedly observed that happiness comes from working towards a worthy goal. When we use our virtues and strengths to accomplish something that improves the world and serves others, we are happier. It is our belief that we can make a difference, our hope for a better future, and our optimism that a better way exists that motivate us to keep going day after day.
As a special gift to our Happy Life Tip of the Week readers, you can download this free small poster showing the 24 Universal Virtues and Strengths common to most cultures throughout history.
Let hope inspire you to keep trying for a happier world.
AffirmationI am full of hope. I look for evidence that the world is a good and abundant place. I expect to find the silver lining.
Journal or Meditation Question
What do I hope for? What inspires hope in me? Where do I see evidence of better things to come in the future? What virtues and strengths do I enjoy using and confidently rely on to build a better world?
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