But “personal trainer for the mind”, UNE Associate Professor of Psychology John Malouff, is determined to think differently and to help others do the same.
“There are lots of people who go through life silently suffering or miserable. And they don’t have to be,” he says. “They can change what they’re thinking and doing and be happier. We have one life and it’s to be enjoyed.”
Upbeat John has long been a proponent of positive psychology – that branch that focuses on developing our personal strengths and wellbeing so that we might flourish. And now he is offering Armidale professionals four free group sessions to learn the strategies he believes will enhance lives, workplaces and even the broader community.
“I’m all for engaging with our communities and helping people, and this is the first time I’ve run this group in Australia in person,” John says. “The training will cover mindfulness, gratitude, self-kindness and reframing, which is relevant to everyone’s lives.
“Things are going to go wrong. The important thing is to learn from those experiences and to take away something positive. That’s one of my specialties and it has worked very well for me.”
Some people naturally have a positive mindset – a product of their biology, upbringing and role models – while others must work hard at it.
“Positive psychology gives us the tools to adjust the way we think. Participants in our sessions will learn how to apply these strategies and how to rise to the occasion when they come under pressure. I’m hoping it will encourage them to make lifelong changes, to make the best of every situation, and the beauty of a group process is that we can help each other.”
A/Prof. Malouff and psychology student Ally Crawford will deliver the 70-minute sessions at UNE’s Psychology North Building on March 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 6pm.
Places are limited. To register or find out more, email jmalouff@une.edu.au by March 1.
