Positive Emotions
Pleasant emotional states like joy, gratitude, and contentment that enhance wellbeing and capability.
Also known as: Pleasant emotions, Positive affect, Good feelings
Category: Concepts
Tags: happiness, emotions, well-being, positive-psychology, resilience
Explanation
Positive emotions are pleasant feeling states that include: joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe, and love. Barbara Fredrickson's research shows these emotions aren't just pleasant - they build lasting resources. Her broaden-and-build theory demonstrates that positive emotions: broaden momentary thought-action repertoires (we see more options), build lasting personal resources (skills, relationships, resilience), and undo the narrowing effects of negative emotions. Positive emotions improve: creativity, problem-solving, social connection, health, and resilience. Importantly, positive emotions aren't about suppressing negative ones - both have value. The goal is cultivating genuine positive experiences rather than forced positivity. For knowledge workers, intentionally cultivating positive emotions improves: creative problem-solving, collaboration, resilience to setbacks, and overall wellbeing. Practices include: gratitude, savoring, connecting with others, and pursuing engaging activities.
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