Share this post | 2 min read
Dr. Barbara Fredrickson talks about the positivity ratio. If you like the idea of adding more than a little pep to your life, you'll want to take this test. The Positivity Self Test assesses the ratio of positive emotions to negative emotions you experience daily. Experiencing 3 positive emotions for every 1 negative emotion, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson says, is the tipping point or threshold that gives us passage into a "flourishing" state. Flourishing is a wellness level that allows our strengths, our growth, and our happiness to thrive.
Dr. Fredrickson is a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is a renowned researcher and has investigated a wide range of positive emotions (including love, interest, hope, and joy) for over twenty years. In May of 2010, she was asked to brief the Dalai Lama on her research.
Although her studies have shown that positivity naturally forces us to think more in terms of "we" than "me," Fredrickson reports that 80% of adults fall short of the ideal ratio [score 2:1]. In her book, Positivity provides advice on how to increase the flow of your positive emotions by being, for example, appreciative, curious, open, and real.
Fredrickson suggests tracking it daily and offers a formal two-week assessment (free of charge) on her website to get you started. She says the key is discovering what makes you really feel alive, what brings you joy, peace, and curiosity. If you can make those things a higher priority in your life, you'll be more likely to flourish.
