Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity, was one of the most dynamic speakers at the 2009 First World Congress on Positive Psychology.  Here are highlights of her presentation:

Positivity: The Path to Flourishing

80% of Americans fall short of the ideal 3-to-1 positivity ratio. (Fredrickson and Losado (2005) American Psychologist 60, 678-686)

What this means is that for one negative experience we need three positive experiences and/or emotions to keep us steady and resilient.

Feeling upbeat and positive does need to fade or diminish now and then or we won’t know the difference hearing bad and good news or the difference between receiving an insult and a compliment.

To Create a Mindset of Positivity:

§      Be open: let go of expectations

§      Be appreciative: take the good in your life

§      Be curious: seek out something different

§      Be kind: focus on others. Make someone else’s day better

§      Be real: don’t fake positivity

Take a 2 minute Positivity Self-Test at http://www.positivityratio.com