What Are The Top 10 Positive Emotions?

I don't know about you, but I am ready for a little break from bad news. Madoff made off, unemployment is rising, solid families are losing their homes, and stress is ever underfoot. It would be so easy to slip under the waves of fear, depression or just plain anger. So, what to do? The phrase "focus on the positive" is beyond cliché -- but is it?

One of my favorite books to come out of the "positive psychology" movement is called Positivity, by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson. Truly a genius and pioneer in the field, Dr. Fredrickson has been studying positive emotions in her lab long before it was vogue. Her data reveals that negative emotions, like fear, can close down our ability to function, while positive emotions open us up to possiblity, and an increased ability to move forward.

If the whole "Happiness Movement" needed some teeth to it- she's got it, for this is far from 'hearts and flowers' work. In fact, she prefers the term "Positivity" to "Happiness", and stresses the importance and possibility of not just being happy; but flourishing. Isn't that a lovely word? Wouldn't we all love to flourish?

Check out Dr. Fredrickson herself describing "Positivity" and why it is so important at this moment in history. As she says at the end of the clip: "Investing in things that bring us more positive emotions is an invenstment in our future. Choosing Hope over Fear. "