Settling In - Moving Overseas and Positive Thinking    

Summary: If you are moving overseas or already have, your outlook on your international living experience is a key determinant to the level of happiness and satisfaction you'll enjoy while living abroad. If you can find some way to focus on your strengths and minimize the time you spend worrying about your weaknesses, you'll be one step ahead of the game.

One of the areas bandied about in self-help books is positive thought or positive thinking. It might sound a bit sappy to some, but it is not something conjured by hippies on a commune during the 1960s. (I know some are probably saying, "so what if it did?" Point taken!)

Rather, Positive Psychology is a somewhat new and exciting branch of psychology that is well-researched and documented in the psychological and counseling literature. Highly respected psychologists, such as Albert Bandura (Stanford University) and Martin Seligman (University of Pennsylvania), have dedicated significant portions of their careers to the exploration of this exciting area.

In other words, don't take it lightly!

But, what does it mean for you as you consider moving overseas or improving your established expatriate experience? More than anything else, Positive Psychology focuses on your strengths rather than any perceived weaknesses.

In other words, consider what do you well, and how can you apply these strengths to aspects of your life you've identified as areas for growth.

Here are just a few ideas to ponder and/or try to get the ball rolling:

1.) What are the activities that bring you pleasure? Do you apply your strengths to your primary activities? How can you if you are not already doing so? Are there new activities you can explore as part of your international living experience?

2.) Here's something to think about - In what activities do you lose track of time? You know what I mean - you start something and before you know it, 2 or 3 hours have passed and it seems like 10 minutes. Positive psychologists call this "Flow." If you can identify these activities, you'll have an advantage in that you'll be able to create large blocks of time in your day, when available, that will be rewarding.

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First Published: Jun 14, 2009