Welcome To Day #18 of 21 Days of Gratitude

A Life-Changing Gratitude Assignment.

Martin Seligman, PhD (author of “Authentic Happiness“) is credited as being the founder of the Positive Psychology movement.

Prior to his tenure as President of the American Psychological Association (in 1998), psychology, as a discipline, limited its focus to the disease model of studying dysfunctional behavior.

The message of “Authentic Happiness” is that by identifying the very best in ourselves, we can improve the world around us and achieve new and sustainable levels of authentic contentment, gratification and meaning.

This is how Martin Seligman describes teaching his classes at the University of Pennsylvania:

“I have been teaching psychology courses at the University of Pennsylvania for more than thirty years: introductory psychology, learning, motivation, clinical and abnormal psychology. I love teaching, but I have never experienced more joy than in teaching Positive Psychology for the last four years. One of the reasons is that, unlike the other courses I teach, there are real world assignments that are meaningful and even life-changing.”

Today we invite you to experience the most profound of all the exercises that Dr. Seligman assigns his students.

Today’s action steps:

1) Gratitude Notes

This is how Martin Seligman explains the process:

“Select one important person from your past who made a major positive difference in your life and to whom you have never fully expressed your thanks. (Do not confound this selection with newfound romantic love, or with the possibility of future gain.) Write a testimonial just long enough to cover one laminated page. Take your time composing this; my students and I found ourselves taking several weeks, composing on buses and as we fell asleep at night. Invite that person to your home, or travel to that person’s home. It is important you do this face to face, not just in writing or on the phone. Do not tell the person the purpose of the visit in advance; a simple “I just want to see you” will suffice. Wine and cheese do not matter, but bring a laminated version of your testimonial with you as a gift. When all settles down, read your testimonial aloud slowly, with expression, and with eye contact. Then let the other person react unhurriedly. Reminisce together about the concrete events that make this person so important to
you. (If you are so moved, please do send me a copy at seligman@psych.upenn.edu.)”

2) Dr. Seligman would also encourage you to continue your daily list of 5 things that you are grateful for in your Gratitude Journal - you can find one online at: http://www.choosingprosperity.com/game

Elyse Hope Killoran
President,  Prosperity from the Inside-Out
http://www.choosingprosperity.com