7.1 Innovation
Consider each area of positive psychology we have covered.
Think about one content area a week for the next several weeks.
Ask yourself how you might use what you have learned creatively with your clients.
You may find new ideas for packaging your services, such as workshops, e-courses, or consultancy tools.
You may arrive at ideas for novel ways to use research on positivity or think of particularly useful applications for hope theory.
Ultimately, the idea is to harness the excitement and dynamism of positive psychology to move your professional life forward.
Write your answers:
7.2 Looking Back
Return to Week 1 and review the exercises and “Looking Forward” section you completed then.
Evaluate your skill level and knowledge now compared to when you first began this course.
Be realistic about what you have achieved and what you would still like to learn or accomplish.
Answer the following four questions as your final reflective exercise for the course:
This is what I have learned about positive psychology and its applications:
This is how, as a result, I have used positive psychology in my work:
These are the areas that I still need or want to learn more about:
This is what I am going to do to learn about them:
Mid-course Assessment
Congratulations!
You have arrived at the halfway point.
In the spirit of employing multiple avenues for learning, use this opportunity to apply what you have learned so far.
Write paragraph-long answers to the three questions below.
1) If a friend were to say to you, “why are you wasting your time studying positive psychology?” how might you, drawing on what you have learned thus far, defend your desire to do so?
2) With what you have learned in mind, briefly describe in your own words what you think “emotions are for.” How might we best describe their function?
3) Briefly discuss some advantages and limitations of positive psychology interventions.
Final Course Assessment
Consider a work issue from your life. It does not matter if you are a therapist, teacher, coach, or other professional.
Considering all we have covered in this course, describe how you would adapt the positive psychology theory, assessments, and interventions to your work issue.
For example, if you are a coach, describe how you might work with a particular client X, including your rationale, any local modifications that might have to be made, and why you might intentionally avoid certain techniques or concepts.
Write up your thoughts in a 600-word essay. Use this as an opportunity to synthesize and apply your learning.