Positive Psychology: What Does “Positive” Mean?
What Does Positive Mean? it emphasize the positive influences in a person’s life. You might have experienced the following scenario: sitting with a group of friends, when someone raises the topic of positive psychology. A number of people then respond with sarcastic comments such as, “Isn’t that the ‘be happy’ movement?”
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We have a challenge in positive psychology – when people think about our field they immediately imagine the smiley emoticon and feel that the discipline is obsessed with happiness and optimism. Some even think of it as the tyranny of happiness, where joy is the only acceptable emotional state. We all know that in reality, positive psychology is dealing with all of life’s experiences – the difficult and joyful, challenging and easy, painful and hopeful. Our existence is a beautiful mosaic, made up of numerous emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects – which are all part of positive psychology. We discuss this mosaic as part of our “Second Wave Positive Psychology” book. How do we change this bad press and make people realise the true depth of positive psychology? The answer is simple: we distinguish between experiences and outcomes.
What Does a Positive Mean?
When we ask “what does a positive mean?” in the context of positive psychology, we are not simply talking about being cheerful or optimistic all the time. Instead, “positive” refers to the broader aspects of human flourishing — including meaning, resilience, personal growth, and wellbeing. It acknowledges that challenges, pain, and setbacks are often part of the journey toward building authentic happiness and strength.
In this sense, “positive” does not exclude difficulty; rather, it integrates all experiences, transforming them into opportunities for deeper understanding, growth, and balance in life. Positive psychology emphasizes that embracing both the highs and lows of life allows us to cultivate a more genuine and lasting sense of fulfillment.
What does positive mean? meaning of ‘positive’ in positive psychology. We constantly strive to increase levels of happiness, hope, meaning and other aspects of wellbeing in groups and individuals. However, the experiences which lead us towards these positive outcomes might be difficult and challenging. If I look back at some of the most transformative periods in my lifetime, where I developed an authentic happiness within me, I can frequently find pain and challenges involved in the process. In other words, the so-called “negative” became a platform for the “positive”. Positive psychology should not make us deny our experiences – on the contrary, it should make us embrace them. Whatever you feel, however you think, as difficult as it might be, it could be a beginning of a journey which ends with yourself being stronger and more beautiful. Our task in positive psychology is to provide individuals with the theoretical knowledge and practical tools that would allow them to commence such a journey.
If you want to dive deeper into the complexities of your emotions and start your journey toward authentic happiness, download our free workbook here.
Dr. Itai Ivtzan is a Positive Psychologist, and founder of the School of Positive Transformation. He has been a Professor at Naropa University and UCL. With over 20 years of experience combining Eastern wisdom with Western psychology, Dr. Ivtzan has published six books and more than 50 journal papers in mindfulness, positive psychology, and personal growth, with his Psychology Today articles garnering over 500,000 total reads. As a sought-after keynote speaker, he’s passionate about helping individuals become “super-heroes” with enhanced awareness, courage, resilience, and compassion. He invites his students and readers to explore the intersection of psychology and spirituality through his accredited programs, which have transformed the lives of over 15,000 students worldwide.
