Promoting Well-being in School: A Journey Through Positive Psychology

How positive psychology and growth mindset nurture success in the classroom

As an educator, it is both fascinating and exciting to learn about new approaches to bolster our students’ well-being. One of these approaches is the concept of positive education, which I discovered through the book “Increase Well-being in School — Practical Lessons in Positive Psychology” by Åse Fagerlund. As I understand it, the aim of positive education is to develop scientifically validated positive psychological programs in school environments that enhance the well-being of both students and educators.

The school is one of the primary environments where children and youth engage in identity and social development. Hence, it becomes an ideal milieu to promote positive psychological interventions that elevate the well-being of students. The rapid growth of the positive psychology movement has resulted in its application to students of all ages. What I loved most about this concept is the integration of hope, which is central to goal-setting and achievement, essential aspects of positive psychology.

Implementing positive psychology in school environments involves helping students to set, prioritize, and clearly outline markers for what they aim to achieve. When students achieve their set goals, they can feel more accomplished and experience positive emotions, such as satisfaction. It was a significant revelation that expressing positive emotions could help them stay more focused on what will make them happier in their education and daily life, which is the foundation of positive psychology.

The test we conducted this week is part of the specific methods within positive education that focus on interventions to enhance an individual’s ability to recognize their strengths and thrive, despite challenging experiences. Strength-based interventions are often employed when introducing students to positive education. I realized that using such interventions encourages individuals to utilize their character strengths in new ways. Positive psychology offers individuals ideas or tools on how to further develop their signature strengths and use them effectively.

Being open-minded and ready to learn and grow is a key aspect of education. If a student enters an educational environment with the mindset that they can improve their abilities through hard work and practice, they can be more open to new experiences and less fearful of failures. It reminded me of psychologist Carol Dweck’s research into how our beliefs influence our mindset. According to Dweck, individuals can adopt a growth or a fixed mindset. These mindsets are largely based on our experiences from an early age, as the responses and opportunities we have for learning can impact how we approach new skills throughout life. While individuals with a fixed mindset believe their intellectual and personal abilities are set, a growth mindset is based on the belief that you can cultivate your intellectual ability through perseverance.

Encouraging a growth mindset means nurturing an individual’s ability to develop and helping them realize they can continue to achieve beyond their current potential through hard work and persistence. Within education, a teacher’s approach to praising students plays a significant role in developing students’ mindsets. In her theory, Dweck explains that when teachers focused their praise on a student’s intelligence (e.g., “You’re so smart”), students were more likely to opt for easier tasks. In contrast, when teachers praised students for the effort they put into the task (e.g., “You worked so hard”), it motivated students to proceed to more challenging tasks. Therefore, it’s crucial for educators to focus on praising students for the effort they put into tasks, rather than suggesting that intelligence is a fixed trait.

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Katherine Myrestad is an accomplished Writer, Spiritual Coach, and Social Pedagogue. To explore Katherine’s work, articles, poems, and coaching services, please visit her Linktree. Her journey and wisdom are sure to inspire you on your path to self-awareness and spiritual growth.