AbdulSalamI am writing this blog primarily for my students enrolled in the course “Foundations of Positive Psychology” on udemy. I am glad you joined this course to introduce you to a new science; a science of well-being, a science of positivity.
I have been working in this field of psychology for the past three years. Writing blogs, publishing books, learning new things, introducing myself to the latest research papers, and so much more. I have always been interested in the positive aspects of our personality, which is what positive psychology is all about strength, virtues, potential, well-being, and so much more.
Throughout this journey of exploring positive psychology, I came across 100s of books. As positive psychology is closely linked with personal development science, self-help, and motivation, most of these books were partially about positive psychology.
But few embarked me on an in-depth study of some traits that are the prime focus of this domain of psychology. Here are the three books you must read word by word, line by line, page by page & chapter by chapter. These content-rich books are so insightful that I often re-read their chapters. I gift them to my loved ones & consider them as the bible of Positive Psychology. Let me introduce you to them one by one.
1-Grit by Angella Duckworth
What is grit? Author Angella Duckworth explains it as a combination of passion and perseverance. She considers them more important than Intelligence & talent & scientifically proves he argument through her research. She explains the power of effort, consistency, resilience, and dedication as the more critical factors in success than IQ & natural talent. This book will help you understand why you should believe in constructing an upbeat personality rather than thinking that you can’t do anything without a higher IQ & natural talent.
2-Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman
Professor Martin is my Inspiration in Positive Psychology. He is the one who founded this domain in the modern world and takes the initiative of research in this field. As his fan, I dedicated one of my Books, “Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Techniques,” to him. I was introduced to the Authentic Happiness book when I was enrolled in a specialization in positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. I brought the book from a local store the next day, and here is what it taught me.
Happiness is not just about pleasure; it is about well-being; it is about a fulfilling experience. Martin introduced the PERMA model, which explains five factors of authentic happiness. These five factors are Positive emotions, engagement in meaningful activities, relationships, Meaning & Accomplishment. One who is actually looking forward to learning about the psychology of happiness should read this book. If you are not enrolled in my course on positive psychology, you can click here to join.
3-Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Though his second name is harder to pronounce, it is easier to understand his concept of flow. A state of flow is all about complete absorption and engagement in something you love to do. Mihaly emphasized that this optimal human experience leads us to authentic happiness and fulfillment. This book guides you in enriching your work with a flow state.
So, these were my favorites. My Inspirations. My Bibles in Positive Psychology. Books are closer to my heart. What about you? Which book is your favorite? Comment Below.
