My 10 Favorite Quotes in Positive Psychology
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been under the guidance of exceptional educators in the field of positive psychology. I have been privileged to acquaint myself with these eminent thinkers, whose contributions have wielded a profound impact. Through the exploration and application of these principles, nearly every aspect of my life has undergone significant enhancement. Their profound insights serve as both the guiding force and the stabilizing influence in navigating the path of life.
In no particular order, here are ten people I know and admire and my top ten quotes about their work. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
1. Martin Seligman, PhD, Positive Psychologist
“The good life consists in deriving happiness by using your signature strengths every day in the main realms of living. The meaningful life adds one more component: using these same strengths to forward knowledge, power or goodness.”
The thing that strikes me most about this quote is that the undisputed leader in the positive psychology field identifies the good life as clearly and simply as possible. Focusing on your signature strength is good not only for you, but also for others. If you don’t know your signature strengths, you can take this free survey to learn about them and to start using them.
2. Angela Duckworth, PhD, Psychologist and Author
“Without effort, your talent is nothing more than your unmet potential.”
Angela’s truth is also quite simple: talent is only the beginning, cultivating that talent is what allows your potential to emerge.
3. Adam Grant, PhD, Psychologist and Author
“Not long ago, it dawned upon me that impostor syndrome is a paradox:
- others believe in you
- you don’t believe in yourself
- yet you believe yourself instead of them
If you doubt yourself, shouldn’t you also doubt your low opinion of yourself?”
Adam has the rare gift of being able to hold up a mirror to our convoluted thinking. What I love about this quote is that it uses his trademark wit and logic to give us all pause for thought.
4. Adam Grant, PhD (Again)
“Argue like you’re right and listen like you’re wrong.”
Adam Grant deserves two quotes in my top 10 positive psychology quotes because when he speaks, he offers wisdom rather than knowledge or understanding.
5. Robert Vallerand, PhD, Professor, Speaker, and Author
“With harmonious passion, the activity occupies a significant, but not overpowering, space in the person’s identity and is in harmony with other aspects of the person’s life.”
Robert Vallerand is a researcher who first identified a dualistic model of passion. He contrasted harmonious with obsessive passion, and his research shows that truly passionate engagement aligns individuals with their effort, outcome, and well-being. The main characteristic is the ability to deeply engage intensely with the task they are trying to master—but then be able to disengage.
Obsessively passionate people are owned by the task. They suffer because they haven’t learned the art and skill of replenishing themselves. Bob is one of the most celebrated researchers studying Olympians and their passion and dedication to their sport. Those with harmonious passion perform better and stay healthier.
6. Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD, Scientist, Educator, and Practitioner
“Gratitude has been linked with high positive emotion, optimism, life satisfaction, vitality, religiousness and spirituality, and less depression and envy than less grateful individuals.”
Of all the positive psychologists I know, Ryan Niemiec has taken the deepest and broadest view into the study and application of character strengths. When Ryan identifies gratitude as one of the central strengths and positive emotion, his conclusion isn’t random. You know it is based on his research, understanding, and deep belief and practice that what he says is true.
7. Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, Positive Psychologist and Author
“Positivity doesn’t just change the contents of your mind … it widens the span of possibilities that you see.”
Barbara Frederickson has awakened the field of positive emotions through her tireless effort to identify, celebrate, and promote the science and mechanics of positivity. For Barbara, positive emotions are the portal to wellbeing.
8. Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, MAPP, and James Pawelski, PhD, Authors and Psychologists
“True kindness is not what drives relationships of mere utility, but it is at the core of relationships of goodness.”
The Pawelskis offer a deep, intimate, and scientifically based approach to intimate relationships. Their book, Happy Together, and workshops teach couples and professionals not only how to spot the good in each other but also how to make that the new normal.
9. Tayyab Rashid, PhD, Author and Positive Psychologist
“Happiness is not just a big bolt of joy from thrill rides and amusement parks, or getting the latest gadgets and games. It is unpacked and small doses of laughter with your siblings, wandering the park alone or with your pet, being a chatterbox with your pals, snuggling with loved ones on Sunday mornings, listening to your friends, without advising them, calling and connecting with ones feeling lonely, conserving even a tiny bit of energy to nature, trees, and flowers, which sustain life, standing up for others those who know or ones you don’t but are treated badly—only because they are different. And most importantly, being kind to others, because being kind to others is being kind to yourself.”
Tayyab Rashid is the leading figure in the field of positive psychotherapy. His research with Martin Seligman has demonstrated that the use of character, strength, positive emotion, and approaches to enhanced relationship dynamics all have an accumulated effect on wellbeing. Rather than focusing on what’s wrong, Tayyab has encouraged and demonstrated through his research and practice, that the way to mental wellbeing is focusing on what is strong.
10. Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD, Author and Positive Psychologist
“Our behavior toward others is often a reflection of our treatment of ourselves.”
—Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD
Tell Ben-Shahar was the first person to offer the largest positive psychology course at an Ivy League university, Harvard. Since that time, Tal has been a dynamic thought leader both in academics and in certification programs and workshops. Tal has devoted his life to the dissemination of information about what constitutes the good life. His emphasis on spirituality as a main state of well-being is one of the most dynamic elements of his theory and practice of positivity.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for more positivity in your life, I highly recommend that you check out the books and articles of these brilliant thinkers and writers. They offer a way out of negative thought patterns and a way into examining and embodying one’s strengths.
Embracing your strengths, feeling gratitude, and stepping into your power and natural abilities with hopeful intention and expectation of something better is simply a game changer for the mind and body.
Which of these quotes resonated the most with you?
