Positive Psychology: Living Better by Focusing on What Works

Elodie Abadie • 30 juin 2025

Positive Psychology: Living Better by Focusing on What Works

What if, instead of constantly trying to fix what’s wrong, we started nurturing what’s already working well within us?


That’s the essence of positive psychology, a modern scientific discipline based on decades of research. It seeks to understand how to make life more satisfying, more meaningful, and more aligned with our values.

What Is Positive Psychology?

Conceptualized by American psychologist Martin Seligman in the late 1990s, positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths, resources, and mechanisms that allow individuals and communities to thrive.


Unlike traditional psychology, which focuses primarily on pathology, suffering, and dysfunction, positive psychology explores mental health at its best, sustainable happiness, quality of life, and the development of human potential.

It’s not about “thinking positively” or denying problems, but about exploring and strengthening the positive aspects of human experience using evidence-based methods.


A Science Based on Evidence

Over the past two decades, thousands of studies around the world have investigated the factors that promote:

  • life satisfaction
  • resilience
  • optimism
  • fulfilling relationships
  • personal achievement


Positive psychology relies on validated assessment tools, psychometric tests, and reproducible scientific protocols.
It is a discipline grounded in observable results — not vague concepts or wishful thinking.


The 5 Pillars of Well-Being: The PERMA Model

Seligman’s PERMA model identifies five essential pillars that, when combined, form the foundation for sustainable well-being:


1. Positive Emotions (P)

Cultivating emotions such as joy, gratitude, serenity, curiosity, and pride.
These emotions don’t erase negative ones, but they expand our mental and emotional resources.

Example: Keep a gratitude journal where you write down three positive things each evening.


2. Engagement (E)

This refers to being fully absorbed in an activity — the state of “flow” where time disappears and we feel completely aligned with what we’re doing.

Example: Playing music, painting, dancing, gardening, writing, or coding — any activity that makes you lose track of time.


3. Positive Relationships (R)

Human connection is one of the strongest predictors of long-term happiness.
Having sincere, deep, and reciprocal relationships is vital for emotional well-being.

Example: Taking time to nurture a friendship, offering genuine thanks, forgiving, or actively listening.


4. Meaning (M)

Having a sense of purpose — acting for something larger than yourself: a cause, belief, mission, or value.

Example: Volunteering, pursuing a meaningful career, mentoring others, or engaging in spiritual practice.


5. Accomplishment (A)

The feeling of progressing, achieving, or overcoming challenges.
This builds confidence and fuels motivation.

Example: Finishing a book, reaching a fitness goal, learning a new skill, or completing a creative project.


How Positive Psychology Complements Traditional Psychology

Traditional psychology aims to relieve suffering: treating mental disorders, addressing trauma, guiding emotional healing.


Positive psychology, on the other hand, aims to strengthen what is healthy, joyful, and alive.


These approaches are not opposites — they are complementary. One focuses on healing, the other on flourishing.

As Seligman puts it:

“There are two complementary strategies for improving the human condition. One is to relieve what’s wrong; the other is to strengthen what’s right.”


Why Practice Positive Psychology?

Here are some evidence-based benefits of positive psychology:

  • increased self-esteem
  • reduced stress and overthinking
  • improved physical health
  • greater resilience
  • deeper satisfaction in relationships
  • enhanced intrinsic motivation


In other words: what you train, you strengthen.
By cultivating positive thoughts, emotions, and actions, you activate brain pathways that improve your capacity to feel well.


Practical Exercises to Develop Your Well-Being

Here are 5 simple and powerful exercises to get started with positive psychology:


1. The Inner Travel Journal

Take a notebook and make it your personal space for self-expression.
Write, draw, collage, reflect. Let this journal become a mirror of your inner world.


2. Present-Moment Awareness

On a blank page, describe exactly how you feel right now — physically, emotionally, mentally.
No judgment. Just awareness.


3. The Happiness Triangle

  • What recent moment gave you deep satisfaction?
  • How do you feel in this present moment?
  • What upcoming event or activity brings you joy just thinking about it?


4. Flow-Based Activities

  • What activity brings you pure enjoyment?
  • When do you feel completely focused and engaged?
  • In which actions do you feel useful and fulfilled?


5. Daily Gratitude Ritual

Each evening, write down 3 positive things that happened during your day — a conversation, a walk, a meal, a smile.
Over time, this simple ritual trains your brain to notice and remember the good, even during tough times.


Conclusion: An Invitation to Live More Fully

Positive psychology is not about forcing happiness.
It’s a method, a mindset, a way of living that invites us to see what’s good, what’s working, and what’s worth expanding.

It helps you recognize your strengths, cultivate joy, create meaning, and build a life that reflects who you truly are.


Ready to begin today?


Take a few minutes. A notebook. A pen. A breath of presence.
And ask yourself this simple but powerful question:

What is going well in my life right now?


Namaste 🪷

Yoga Alignment: Beyond the Postures

par Elodie Abadie • 17 novembre 2025
You might think that alignment in yoga means placing your knee perfectly above your ankle, keeping your hips square, and your spine long and straight.
But what if it was so much more than that? In our culture of “doing things right,” alignment is often reduced to a technical cue — a matter of perfect lines and precision.
Yet in yoga, true alignment goes far beyond the body .
It extends into the breath, the energy, the emotions — and the way you connect to yourself. This article invites you to revisit this word we hear everywhere and rediscover its deeper meaning — on your mat and in your life.

Simple Yoga: Returning to What Really Matters

par Elodie Abadie • 3 novembre 2025
What if we practiced yoga to return to simplicity? 
Not to perform.
Not to master a thousand postures.
Not to impress.
But to come back to what truly matters: one breath, one presence, one body we truly listen to. Today, yoga is often seen as a performance discipline — associated with the image of the perfect body or the most advanced pose. 
Yet, in its essence, yoga is a practice of awareness and unity .
It’s not about doing more, but about being more present. This article invites you to drop the masks, let go of the “shoulds,” and rediscover yoga as a path back to yourself — to slowness, to simplicity, and to truth.

Emotional Release Through Movement

par Elodie Abadie • 20 octobre 2025
What if your body had messages that your mind can’t put into words?
What if free movement was a doorway to everything you feel deeply but don’t dare to express? The body remembers.
The body speaks.
And sometimes, all it takes is letting it move differently so it can finally set itself free. In this article, let’s explore the emotional intelligence of the body, the blocks that manifest through physical tension, and the power of spontaneous movement to bring back breath, clarity, and inner peace.

Dancing Your Yoga: Freedom and Expression

par Elodie Abadie • 6 octobre 2025
What if your yoga mat became more than just a space for postures?
Imagine it as an inner playground, a sacred space where you can move differently, breathe deeply, and express yourself freely. Dancing your yoga is a unique practice that blends free movement, breath awareness, and spontaneous creativity.
It’s a yoga that both grounds and liberates.
A yoga that isn’t limited to “doing it right,” but one that invites you to feel, create, and vibrate. In this article, discover what it means to dance your yoga, the benefits of this practice, and how to integrate it into your daily life.

How to Overcome the Fear of Failure?

par Elodie Abadie • 29 septembre 2025
The fear of failure affects everyone, regardless of age, background, or life path. It often prevents us from taking action , seizing opportunities, or truly believing in ourselves. Combined with the fear of judgment from others, it can become paralyzing if we don’t learn how to understand and transform it. In this article, let’s explore why the fear of failure exists, what the signs are, what failure can teach us, and above all, how to overcome it to regain confidence, serenity, and motivation.

Yoga: Why and How to Set an Intention

par Elodie Abadie • 22 septembre 2025
I n yoga practice, every posture (asana) and every breath carries a deeper meaning. But there is one tool that makes your practice even more powerful: setting an intention. More than a simple ritual, an intention acts like an inner compass. It guides your energy, directs your mind, and transforms your yoga session into a true experience of awareness and alignment. 👉 In this article, you’ll discover why setting an intention in yoga is essential , how to formulate it effectively, when to use it, and the benefits it can bring both to your practice and to your daily life.

Intuitive Dance: Rediscovering Inner Freedom

par Elodie Abadie • 15 septembre 2025
Intuitive dance is attracting more and more people seeking well-being, creativity, and release. But what exactly is it? As its name suggests, it is a dance guided by intuition rather than an imposed choreography. Here, there are no rules, no codes, no aesthetics to respect. You move freely, in tune with your sensations, emotions, and breath. Intuitive dance is an invitation to reconnect with your body and your deeper self through spontaneous movements, without judgment or performance.

Yoga and Money: Is It Worth Investing in Yourself?

par Elodie Abadie • 8 septembre 2025
Talking about money is often delicate—especially when it comes to a spiritual and ancient practice like yoga. Many people associate yoga with inner peace, serenity, and the search for meaning, while seeing money as a purely material value opposed to this quest. But the reality is much more subtle: yoga and money are not incompatible. Practicing yoga often requires an investment: studio classes, workshops, retreats, teacher trainings, equipment (mats, props…). This raises an important question: why do we hesitate so much to invest in our well-being, when we spend much more easily on things that don’t necessarily bring lasting value to our lives? In this article, let’s explore the link between yoga and money , and why investing in your practice may be one of the best choices you can make.

Teaching Yoga: Where to Begin?

par Elodie Abadie • 1 septembre 2025
I t is often said that we learn best by teaching others what we ourselves have understood.
Teaching, and especially teaching yoga, is a true vocation rooted in sharing. More and more yoga enthusiasts are taking the step to become teachers. But how do you start teaching yoga? What steps should you take, what skills are required, and what qualities are essential to transmit this ancient discipline? In this guide, we’ll explore the key points to becoming an inspiring, competent, and aligned yoga teacher.

Yoga and Breathing: How the Breath Transforms Your Practice

par Elodie Abadie • 25 août 2025
In yoga, each breath is far more than an automatic body movement: it is a deep connection between body, mind, and vital energy. 
The Sanskrit word Prana means both breath and life , reminding us that the breath is the very essence of our vitality. Did you know that you breathe between 20,000 and 30,000 times a day , most of the time unconsciously? In yoga, the breath becomes conscious, guided, and intentional—and that’s what transforms a simple physical practice into a true path of balance and well-being. In this article, let’s explore why breathing is so important in yoga, what specific breathing practices (pranayama) exist, and the many benefits it brings to both body and mind.