2010 August » Salt Lake Mental Health

Positive #5: Being “On”

Aug 172010

I don’t know quite how to describe it or what mechanism it is that controls it, but I really love teaching Happiness 101 when I am “on”. When I am “on”, the information flows freely, I am relaxed, having a wonderful time, all the information comes to mind quickly and easily and I am giving good information. When I am “on” the students seem to participate more. I wonder if it is a reciprocal relationship between myself and the students because sometimes when I feel “off”, if the group energy is high, I can end up feeling “on”. As I said, I don’t understand exactly what “on” is, but I sure enjoy it when I am there.

~Frank Clayton, Licensed Professional Counselor

What is all this stuff about positives? I’m practicing what I preach in (the free class) Happiness 101. Click here to find out more.

Positive #5: Student M.

Happiness No Responses »

Aug 162010

There was a student in Happiness 101 tonight that really made my day. We’ll call her “M.”, just because I don’t want to embarrass her. Tonight was her third time in the class and she said the class has made a huge impact on her life. She said she did not realize that her choices could effect her Happiness and that embracing that concept and putting it right to work has made all the difference. M. also shared how she was amazed at how writing down the five positives per day can have such a positive impact. M. helped remind me why I teach Happiness 101 and the real effect that it has on real people. Thank you, M.

~Frank Clayton, Licensed Professional Counselor

Studies have shown that writing five positives per day can decrease depression. This is one of them. This is just one of the tidbits from (the free class), Happiness 101. For more positives, click here..

Positive #1: Being known as the Happy Therapist

Happiness No Responses »

Aug 152010

I feel so honored and grateful to be a therapist. People allow me to walk with them on their path for a time. I consider it a sacred thing. But not only am I known as a therapist, but along the way, because of my intense study of Positive Psychology and subsequently teaching Happiness 101, I have become known as “the Happy Therapist”. This is a super-sized honor (without the extra calories). I have a reputation for helping people struggling with depression to dig their way out and help happy people stay that way. There is also that sect in which most people exist: languishing – that is: simply existing or as Thoreau put it “Most men are living a life of quiet desperation.” To these people I enjoy being part of their Happiness wake-up call. I am so blessed.

~Frank Clayton, Licensed Professional Counselor

I post positives on MeetUp.com too. Why? Five positives are better than one – ‘a little something I discovered while teaching (the free class) Happiness 101. Click here for the full scoop.

Positive #3: Positives Find a Permanent Home at SLMH

Happiness 3 Responses »

Aug 142010

Since I am the teacher of Happiness 101, I felt it important not just to talk the talk, but walk the walk. Therefore, I have been making a Happiness Habit of writing five positives per day. I do this because studies (Seligman, Emmons & McCoullough) show that making a habit of focusing on the positives can break the downward spiral of depression and/or help Happy people stay that way. Instead of keeping these positivity morsels to myself, I decided to start spreading them about the internet. I write one on my Happiness 101 Facebook Fan page (which results in a hit on my Twitter account), I write one on my regular Facebook page, and I write one here, on YouTube and on the Happiness 101 MeetUp.com page.

So, today’s SLMH Positive is my decision to share my positives with you here on the website. You will find positives that are inspirational, silly, random, informative and/or thought provoking. Sometimes I even take something that most people think of as a “bad thing” and see what positives I can glean from it. To start beefing up your positivity, read “Building Your Positive Muscles” and feel free to leave a comment, whether it be here, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or MeetUp. I always enjoy sharing the positives.

~Frank Clayton, Licensed Professional Counselor