Bradley Singleton

Overview: Wellbeing, Creating Happiness, Responding to the Negative

1-3)

(Chapters

Why should we care about this research? We should care about this research
because, when searching for a job or a career it is important to use positive
psychology. Identifying your highest strengths and learning to use them to create
flow when it comes to searching for a career. Similarly it teaches us how to respond
to negative situations, which will occur a lot when looking/applying for jobs in the
near future.
How does this research impact the way you think about approaching the career
exploration and search process? This research really has an impact on the way I
think about career aspirations and the search process, because it puts me in the
correct positive mindset that I need to be in when I apply for my jobs. Which is
positive of course. I really believe that the five measurable elements of PERMA
really have an effect on how I search for jobs. Every element flows into one another.
Overview of the original Happiness Formula; explain the formula itself (H=S+C+V).
The formula itself stands for what things equate to happiness. The first is your
biological condition, the second is your conditions of living, and the third is your
voluntary actions or leisurely choices that you make daily.
Explain elements of well-being. Why is this concept important for our course? The
elements of well-being are (PERMA), positive emotion, engagement, relationships,
meaning, and achievement. This concept is important to the course because if you
have positive emotions and vibes you will be more willing to engage in career
relationships with meaning then resulting in achievement.
Explain Active and Constructive Responding and how it may apply to work we will
do in class. Active and Constructive responding can either help build the
relationship or undermine it based on your verbal and non-verbal response. This is
especially important in career searching, when you are constantly networking trying
to establish relationships with people that want to hire you. (primarily Wake Forest
graduates willing to help you)
Select two exercises discussed in these chapters to increase positive emotion or
sense of wellbeing (e.g. Three Blessings, Signature Strengths Exercise, homework
from any of the 14 PPT sessions). Practice them and share what the experience was
like for you. How is this helpful related to your career planning or our course?
Learning and Applying Well-Being Principles (Chapters 4 and 5)
What is the importance of the Losada Ratio? How might this impact career
exploration practices? The importance of the Losada Ratio is that it helps to
distinguish how a company is doing financially. Whether it is financially doing well
(flourishing) or failing.
How might the principles of exploring strengths and Appreciative Inquiry be
important to undergraduates exploring opportunities? Explain. I think the principles

of exploring strengths and appreciative inquiry are important to undergraduates

exploring opportunities because in a way it makes us change when we discover
what is best about ourselves and when we see specific ways to use our strengths
more. Which translates almost perfectly to what weve been talking about in class.
How might the PFA be a helpful tool in understanding career options that are
meaningful? How could this be applied? The PFA tool could be helpful when
understanding career options because it can help you remember which company
sparked your happiness arousal levels. That makes it easier to choose a career that
naturally fits you.
Seligman discusses prosperity. What is different about his view? What is different
about Seligmans view of prosperity is that he puts the focus on education and
parenting and equates that to flourishing as oppose to wealth.
Grit, Principles to Flourish and Mental Strength (Chapters 6 and 7)
Explain the old/early explanation of character. How does Seligmans view differ? In
the old/early days a good explanation of character would be the emblematic way of
how Americans explained good and bad behavior. However, Seligman view differs in
that he says it is not character that dictates someones actions, it is more so the
environment that surrounds them.
What are the elements of intelligence described in Chapter 6? The elements of
intelligence are speed, slowness, and rate of learning.
What is GRIT? Explain the role of GRIT and self-discipline and how these relate to
your work as a student exploring career options? How can this information be
applied? Grit is a combination of very high persistence and high passion for an
objective (modicum of self-discipline). GRIT and self-discipline relate to the work we
have as students exploring career options because the more GRIT you have the
more time you spend on the task, and all those hours not only add to whatever
innate skill you have; but they multiply your progress to the goal.
Describe the five fitness dimensions included in the GAT. Practice one of the
exercise under Positive Emotions in Emotional Fitness. Describe your experience.
The five fitness dimensions included in the GAT are financial fitness, emotional
fitness, social fitness, spiritual fitness, and family fitness. In my opinion I believe
spiritual fitness is the best for me, because I find the motivation I need to keep
pushing toward my goal.
Relate the research in this chapter to your own goals for growth and how this
research may be helpful personally and professionally. Basically, the research in this
chapter just tells me to keep pushing. Find your GRIT. If you are truly passionate
about something you will have that grittiness mentality to keep pushing, looking or
searching until you find that ideal career. Then you can flourish!

Resolving Past Events and Research on Optimism for Future (Chapters 8 and 9)
What are the five elements that contribute to post-traumatic growth? Explain.
Relating patients, personal strength, appreciation of family, spiritual change, and
priorities.

Discuss the elements of Mental Toughness. How does Ellis model contribute to
development of resilience? Use an example from your own thinking/experience and
walk through the steps.

What are the skill building dimensions (e.g. Hunt the Good Stuff) and what is the
value in them for undergraduates now?

Explain the physical/biological elements of Optimism. What is the role of well-being

and overall positive health?

Wellbeing and Economic Realities (Chapter 10)

Explain the relationship between wealth and happiness.

How might people can increase their satisfaction in any type of work; give examples
from either personal experience or current experience?

What implications might this have for undergraduates?

What is important in this reading for an undergraduate now and in the future?