In the UN’s World Happiness Report, America ranks 18th, behind Finland in 1st place, Canada in 7th and Australia in 10th. To counteract this trend, a professor at Yale developed a college course in positive psychology. This is not new, but she took the approach that her students should not only study the science of happiness, but also the PRACTICE of happiness. Sadly, 52% of college students reported feeling hopeless (American College Health Association), so a course that teaches how to achieve happiness became a necessity. Those unable to take the course at Yale have the option of taking the free online version(www.coursera.com) and assessing their own sense of happiness with a free survey from the University of Pennsylvania called the “Authentic Happiness Inventory”(www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu).
To achieve and maintain an optimal feeling of happiness, you can try the following:
1. Focus on the ordinary instead of always focusing on the extraordinary
2. Keep a daily gratitude journal – write down for a week 5 things you are grateful for – big (your children) or small (an ice cream on a hot summer day)
3. Take the time to help others who are less fortunate
4. Meditation also increases happiness! (and makes you healthier, makes you live longer etc….)
Jeremy McCarthy is Group Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and heads up their internationally recognized luxury spa division. He has over 25 years’ experience of running luxury spas in resorts and hotels worldwide and is the author of The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing. He is Chairman of the GWI Digital Wellness Initiative and runs a blog at www.psychologyofwellbeing.com.
Interview
How did you first hear about positive psychology, which you have been teaching for a long time?
About 25 years ago, I read “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, one of the founders of positive psychology. The book, which is about creating flow experiences in our lives, was the book that influenced me the most in my life.
What are the challenges in the pursuit of happiness?
Happiness is important, but paradoxically, the pursuit of happiness can make us unhappy. This is why Buddhists teach that suffering is an important part of life and that one must let go of attachments. Happiness is fleeting, and trying to hold on too tightly to happiness as a goal in life can lead to frustration.
What about flow experiences?
Flow experiences are a good approach, because flow does not mean that everything is easy. If everything is easy, we get bored. Flow experiences are characterized by a good balance between overcoming challenges and using strengths to overcome these challenges. When we use our strengths to overcome challenges, it not only feels good, but it can also give life more meaning.
What does positive psychology have to do with the wellness industry?
The wellness industry is all about making people feel good. In the past, this meant working on the physical aspects of our body, how it feels and looks. Nowadays, I think people are much more interested in how their mind works. In the age of technology, we are processing more information than ever before and we need places where we can switch off from technology, reflect in peace and reconnect with our higher values. In the modern age, the spa experience is first and foremost a psychological experience.
You have written a book about The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing, what is it about?
The book originated as my thesis on the psychology of the spa business when I was studying applied positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. It’s an overview of the various research in the field of positive psychology and how it applies to the things we do in the spa business. It’s about creating experiences in the spa that help guests find meaning, mindfulness and happiness.
Favorite spa treatment – I don’t have a favorite treatment. The best treatment is when you let a good therapist do what they want to do.
Fun fact about you – I love the beach, playing beach volleyball and surfing!
