Achieving and Sustaining a Good Life

Abstract

How can we live well? To answer this question, psychology must acknowledge and integrate its descriptive and prescriptive components. One of psychology s strengths has been its willingness to embrace different purposes, perspectives, and approaches, and this recommendation is in the spirit of the field s history. At present, psychology knows more about people s problems and how to solve them than it does about what it means to live well and how to encourage and maintain such a life. Moreover, what is known is often fragmented because of psychology s specialization. Our article calls for further discussion in psychological terms of what it means to live well; the study of actual people and how they behave; multivariate, multimethod, and longitudinal research; more sophisticated interventions; interdisciplinary collaboration; and translational research.

Overview of the Dissertation Process within the Framework of Flow Theory: A Qualitative Study

“…In addition, individuals whose doctoral field fits their interests and skills, who have a clear goal and who enjoy the dissertation process experience flow more often. These obtained findings seem to support the components of flow theory and many studies in the literature (Chen, 2007;Csikszentmihalyi, 1975;Csikszenthmihalyi & Robinson, 1990;Cooper, 2009;Guan, 2013;Park & Peterson, 2009;Salanova et al, 2010;Schaufeli, Martinez, et al, 2002;Vekkailaa et al, 2013).…”

“…Similarly, Csikszenthmihalyi (1990) emphasized that during flow, individuals focus on their tasks and they do not recognize how the time has passed. Although there are few studies about the dissertation process and flow in the education field, studies featuring computer games (Chen, 2007), music and dance (Csikszenthmihalyi & Robinson, 1990), addiction to technology (Cooper, 2009), language education (Guan, 2013), alpinism, compositors, chess players, basketball players (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975) and the perception of time (Park & Peterson, 2009) emphasize that participants experience full concentration during the flow process and forget the sense of time.…”

“…By accumulating activities that are appropriate for the purpose of their life, they both achieve their personal development and reach happiness with a sense of control over the activity, which occur in their consciousness. The relevant literature shows that flow theory is used in diverse disciplines, such as positive psychology (Park & Peterson, 2009), sport psychology (Jackson & Ecklund, 2002), educational psychology (Rathunde & Csikszentmihalyi, 2005), organizational psychology (Nielsen & Cleal, 2010), organizational effectiveness (Hoefer, 2008), technology addiction (Cooper, 2009), motivation (Havitz, 2005;Schüler, 2010), job performance (Fullagar & Kelloway, 2009), distance education (Belchior, 2007) and marriage (DuPree, 2007), with various variables examined.…”

When is the Search for Meaning Related to Life Satisfaction?

“…Clients of course seek help to solve specific problems and to mitigate troubling symptoms, but these goals do not exhaust their motives for treatment (Drieschner, Lammers, & van der Staak, 2004; Zimmerman et al., 2006). Meaning in one's life is an important contributor to fulfillment and therefore is both a target and means to this end (Park & Peterson, 2009). However, given that the search for meaning may produce discomfort, it would be useful to remind clients that the process may be difficult.…”

Impact on community organisations that partnered with the Act‐Belong‐Commit mental health promotion campaign

“…[6][7][8] However, there is growing evidence that progress can be made by reinforcing common beliefs about what good mental health means, and by promoting and providing opportunities for behaviours that people can and should do to build and maintain their mental health. 9,10 Collaborative partnerships are a key strategy to achieving greater reach and depth of impact in health promotion practice. [11][12][13] Through the sharing of resources and networks partnerships are not only economically efficient, but also offer new perspectives, innovative solutions and create a shared sense of responsibility and ownership.…”