Next week’s topic will be “The Importance of Human Interaction.”

Friday Review: Happy Reading!

1. P.E.R.M.A.

• When our most basic human needs are satisfied, happiness becomes achievable. But only through the processes of self-awareness are those personal needs recognized. Work a little each day to identify what satisfies your needs and then work toward fulfilling them. Soon it becomes habitual, causing you to flourish and put your best self forward in life.

2. Where Do You Belong?

• Social acceptance is an important factor in human development. We may find acceptance in communities such as families, friends and co-workers, yet others may not. Make an effort and share an act of kindness by helping to fill that same need for social acceptance for someone else. As unique as each of us are, our most basic human needs don’t differ that much.

3. Is Validation Important?

• We like to know what we think and what we say have value. If you’re not receiving the validation you need from a conversation partner, don’t keep quiet. Let the other person know how you feel and that you need them to be as invested and engaged in the conversation as you are. Likewise, be sure to offer the same validation when you’re on the listening end. It feels good to be heard, so make sure you give what you expect to receive.

4. Can Friendships Satisfy Them?

• Friendships are the most entertaining, liberating, rewarding way to satisfy our basic need for acceptance and to gain a sense of connectedness! Make a list of the friendships you value the most and find ways to express your appreciation.

The Insight: Connectedness is one of the greatest, most common and most basic needs we have as humans. Don’t neglect it! Develop strong, supportive relationships centered around fun! Discover for yourself what other needs you might have in your relationships. Communicate those needs, ask for validation and offer your friendship and support to satisfy another’s need for connectedness!

Have a wonderful weekend!

By Sheba

www.bySheba.com

A Positive Perspective for Life, Love, and Relationships

Can friendships satisfy our most basic human needs?

In his book, Flow, author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., states that engaging in supportive, enjoyable relationships is one of the best ways to satisfy the need for acceptance. He distinguishes friendships from any other type of relationship as something that is “naturally enjoyable” on account of:

1.     Choice

• We choose our friends based on similarities in personality and common interests

2.     Acceptance

• Relationships with true friends strengthen our sense of self because we are not obligated to modify who we are to impress them

3.     Fun

• Enjoyment is the foundation of friendship. We choose to spend time with our friends for the sole purpose of enjoying each other’s company.

(Read More)

The Insight – Friendships are the most entertaining, liberating and rewarding way to satisfy our basic need for acceptance and to gain a sense of connectedness! Make a list of the friendships you value the most and find ways to express your appreciation.

Did you know friendship fulfilled a basic human social need?

By Sheba

www.bySheba.com

Creating Positive Perspectives for Life

Why is validation important in conversation?

A recent study, conducted at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands by Namkje Koudenburg, Ph.D. Student, Tom Postmes, Ph.D., and Ernestine Gordijn, Ph.D., found that validation and continuation in conversation correlates to the perceived satisfaction of social needs.

 1.     Well-sustained conversations are associated with feelings of:

• Acceptance
• High self-esteem
• Social validation

 2.     Interruptions and silent pauses in conversations are associated with:

• Rejection
• Negative emotions

(Read More)

The Insight – We like to know what we think and what we say have value. If you’re not receiving the validation you need from a conversation partner, don’t keep quiet. Let the other person know how you feel, and that you need them to be as invested and engaged in the conversation as you are. Likewise, be sure to offer the same validation when you’re on the listening end. It feels good to be heard, so make sure you give what you expect to receive.

How do you show you are engaged in a conversation?

By Sheba

www.bySheba.com

Creating Positive Perspectives for Life

How important is social acceptance?

Research conducted by Brad Schmidt, Ph.D., suggests that social acceptance influences, and in some cases can predict, mental and physical health. Dr. Schmidt surveyed the relationships between a select group of college freshmen and their roommates to assess individual self-esteem as well as to evaluate how highly the roommates regarded each other.

The study found that individuals who did not experience social acceptance from their roommates tended toward:

1. Depression
2. Anger
3. Physical illness
4. Low self-esteem

While students held in high esteem by their peers exhibited opposite behaviors.

(Read More)

The Insight – Social acceptance is an important factor in human development. We may find acceptance in communities such as families, friends and co-workers, yet others may not. Make an effort and share an act of kindness by helping to fill that same need for social acceptance for someone else. As unique as each of us are, our most basic human needs don’t differ that much.

Where do you find social acceptance?

By Sheba

www.bySheba.com

Creating Positive Perspectives for Life

If money doesn’t make us happy than what does?

According to Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., we can find happiness when we work toward incorporating and developing five basic human needs in life to “flourish,” hence the title of his recently published book. He refers to the five needs as P.E.R.M.A.:

 1.     Positive emotions

• How often we experience happiness and satisfaction

2.     Engagement

• Choosing to be involved, engaged and to participate in daily activities, which is referred to in positive psychology as, “Flow”

3.     Relationships

• Creating and developing fulfilling, supportive relationships

4.     Meaning

• Discovering and pursuing purpose and meaning in your life

5.     Accomplishment

• Achieving your goals and dreams

(Read More)

The Insight – When our most basic human needs are satisfied, happiness becomes achievable. But only through the processes of self-awareness are those personal needs recognized. Work a little each day to identify what satisfies your needs and then work toward fulfilling those needs. Soon it becomes habitual, causing you to flourish and put your best self forward in life.

What are your ingredients for a flourishing life?

By Sheba

www.bySheba.com

Creating Positive Perspectives for Life