Designing Happiness: My Personal Quest to Transform Spaces with Positive Psychology

In 2008, during my final year at Loyola University Chicago, a friend introduced me to Positive Psychology through the book What Happy Women Know by Dr. Dan Baker and Dr. Cathy Greenberg. As a psychology major, I was unaware of this burgeoning field focused on what makes life worth living. Positive Psychology reframed my understanding of the discipline: it wasn't just about mitigating negative traits or merely surviving; it was about thriving.

This new perspective radically altered how I viewed the potential of psychology and how I interacted with others. However, as fresh and exciting as this field was, it wasn't universally accepted within the broader psychological community. I recall one psychologist questioning the practicality of Positive Psychology, half-jokingly asking, "How are we supposed to have work if everyone is going to be happy?"

In graduate school, I championed Positive Psychology. I conducted workshops, gave lectures, and seized every opportunity to spread the word about this transformative approach. Whether or not it was fully embraced, it profoundly influenced how I engaged with my clients. My focus expanded from merely addressing their immediate pain to enhancing their resilience and their ability to confront challenges.

One of the most impactful aspects of this approach is the ability to sit with a client, highlight their strengths, and witness how their resilience positively affects their overall well-being.

The core lesson I've embraced from Positive Psychology is the vital role of social connections in achieving happiness. When asked what 'wealth' means to me, I always point to the relationships in my life. I don't just value these relationships; I thrive on the social connections I forge with friends, family, and colleagues.

This passion for fostering thriving environments extended into my work in design psychology. Both fields underscore the importance of relationships in enhancing well-being. Thoughtfully designed spaces can promote interactions and strengthen community bonds, whether in homes, workplaces, or public areas. For instance, open-plan spaces can facilitate communication and collaboration, while cozy, intimate settings might foster deeper personal connections.

Leveraging my clinical insights and the values of Positive Psychology to enhance happiness through social connections has naturally led to my current focus in design psychology. I am thrilled about the opportunity to transform physical spaces in ways that enable people to flourish and deepen their connections with others.

Stay tuned to see how this vision will materialize in our physical environments!