The Wellbeing Formula: The Science and Practice of Making a Good Life

The Wellbeing Formula will introduce you to the psychological science and practice of wellbeing. It will draw on psychological theory, research evidence, and practical techniques to help you understand the factors that create flourishing individuals, communities, and societies. Specifically, this course will provide you with an understanding of current theoretical models and research evidence regarding the factors that promote the capacity for people to thrive. Among these factors are developing the ability to: - have a deep sense of self-acceptance, - experience positive emotions, - be fully engaged in life, - have positive relationships with others, - experience a sense of accomplishment, - have a sense that your life is valuable and meaningful, - experience personal growth through life’s difficulties, - have a sense of being in charge of your own life, and - optimise your physical health. In addition to its focus on psychological factors, the course will address sociocultural factors in terms of the societal determinants of wellbeing and how to build flourishing communities and societies. More than helping you to gain an intellectual understanding of the science of wellbeing, this course will also provide instruction in key strategies whereby you can understand the processes involved in enhancing your own wellbeing and that of others. This course will move away from a more traditional focus on illness to one on health, from what causes us to experience distress to what protects us against distress, from a focus on eliminating problems to cultivating strengths, and from how our suffering can be minimised to how we can thrive.