A life of flourishing isn’t built in big, dramatic moments. It’s built in small, positive actions repeated often enough to change your direction.
[Title Photo by Darina Belonogova]
Excelerated Positivity™: The Science and Practice of Flourishing
Many people think positivity is about “thinking happy thoughts” or “looking on the bright side”. It’s not.
That idea has done more harm than good—because when life gets hard (and it does), forced positivity feels hollow. Unreal. Even frustrating. But here’s another take. Positivity isn’t pretending life is always good. It means doing the things that build a life that improves over time. And that’s exactly what modern positive psychology shows us.
When you connect the research with the Excelerated Life™, something powerful emerges.
What Science Says About Flourishing
In Flourish, Martin Seligman gives us the PERMA model. This model defines well-being with five elements:
Positive Emotion
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning
Accomplishment
Flourishing is not just feeling good but living well. Here’s the key question: How do you actually build that kind of life?
The Upward Spiral You Can Create
Barbara Fredrickson gives us the mechanism for doing so. Her research shows that positive emotions do two things:
They broaden your thinking.
They build lasting resources.
When you experience small moments of gratitude, joy, connection, and appreciation, your mind opens. You see more options. You think more clearly. And you connect more easily.
And over time, those moments build resilience, relationships, creativity, and emotional strength. Not instantly. But steadily.
We could call this the Excelerated Upward Spiral!
The Missing Piece: What To Actually Do
This is where Sonja Lyubomirsky’s The How of Happiness becomes so practical.
Her research shows that about 40% of our happiness is influenced by intentional activities — what we choose to do regularly. And she identifies simple, powerful practices:
Express gratitude.
Practice kindness.
Nurture relationships.
Savor meaningful moments.
Use your strengths.
Set and pursue meaningful goals.
Not complicated. But not automatic either.
Excelerated Positivity™: Where It All Comes Together
Now let’s connect the dots.
Martin Seligman gives us the destination (flourishing). Barbara Fredrickson shows us the mechanism (broaden & build). And Sonja Lyubomirsky provides the practices (what to do).
And the Excelerated Life™? It becomes the system for living it out daily
What Excelerated Positivity™ Really Means
Excelerated Positivity™ doesn’t have us ignoring problems, forcing happiness, or pretending everything is fine. But it encourages us to intentionally create positive moments, to repeat them consistently, and then allow them to build over time.
It’s understanding that small moments, practiced daily, change the trajectory of your life.
A Simple Way to Start Today
To begin positivity practice, you don’t need a major life overhaul. Instead, start here:
- Notice One Good Thing
At the end of the day, ask: What went well today? - Create One Positive Moment
Send a kind message.
Express appreciation.
Take a mindful pause. - Share One Connection
Positivity grows faster when shared. You can share
A smile
A conversation
A moment of presence - Repeat Tomorrow
Not perfectly. Just consistently.
Why This Works
Because positivity isn’t a personality trait. It’s a practice. And when you practice it, your thinking expands, your relationships deepen, your resilience grows, and your life becomes richer.
Not all at once. At first, gradually, and then suddenly!
Your Next Step: Begin the Upward Spiral
Don’t try to change everything this week. That’s not how flourishing works. Instead, choose one simple practice from today’s article and commit to it for the next seven days:
Write down one thing you’re grateful for each day.
Reach out to one person and strengthen a relationship.
Pause once a day to notice something good.
Do one small act of kindness.
Keep it simple. Keep it consistent.
At the end of the week, ask yourself: What changed—not just around me, but within me?
Because the truth is, an Excelerated Life™ isn’t built in big, dramatic moments. It’s built in small, positive actions repeated often enough to change your direction. But you have to start. Why not start today?
Flourishing Is Not an Accident
You don’t flourish by accident. You flourish by:
choosing small positive actions
repeating them consistently
letting them build into something larger
So here’s the question: What is one small positive moment you can create today? Start there. It’s another step on the path to embracing your Excelerated Life™!
What is one small positive practice you can begin today?
How will you take the first step?
Share your ideas by leaving a post below.
Excelerated Positivity™ — building the skills that help you flourish — is one practice for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™.
Resources:
Fredrickson, Ph.D., Barbara, L. Positivity. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2009.
Lyubomirsky, Sonja. The How Of Happiness. New York: Penguin Books, 2007.
Seligman, Ph.D., Martin E. P. Flourish. New York: Free Press, 2011.
This blog post includes research information and suggestions provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. The content was generated with AI assistance and is intended to provide information and guidance. Please note that the suggestions are not official statements from OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website.