Pillars of Health 5: Positive Psychology and Connectedness

The fifth pillar of Lifestyle Medicine centers around the ideas of positive psychology and social connectedness.  Positive psychology is defined in Lifestyle Medicine as the study of those things that allow individuals and communities to thrive and flourish, and focuses on amplifying well-being through positive mood, engagement, and meaning.  Simply put, it means actively doing the things in life that give us a sense of meaning, and focusing on the joy and satisfaction that comes from that pursuit.  Social connectedness refers to the relationships we form with the people around us - family, friends, coworkers, etc.  In the coming days, we’ll talk more about these ideas.