Obstacles Impeding Contentment: A Look at Two Hindrances
In a thought-provoking article for "Psychology Today", renowned psychologist Steven C. Hayes, co-founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and a foundation professor at the University of Nevada in Reno, delves into the strategy of pursuing happiness wisely without falling into traps that drain life energy.
Hayes argues that if emotions were always on, they'd quickly lose their meaning. Instead, he suggests doing something loving to feel more love, creating something beautiful to see more beauty, and trying to catch a happy moment and enjoy it without holding onto it. This approach, he believes, allows emotions to guide us in the present, serving as warning lights on a dashboard, signaling what's happening.
The article also touches upon the difficulty in achieving happiness. Hayes asserts that true happiness comes from perceiving, enjoying, and letting go of things, not from demanding consistency. He further explains that emotions, whether positive or negative, should be allowed to exist, as suppressing them is counterproductive and can exacerbate fears, negatively impact well-being, and health.
Hayes' study reveals two strategies people use to seek and experience happiness in daily life: Prioritizing Positivity (PP) and Experiential Attachment (EA type 2). Prioritizing positivity involves actively seeking positive experiences, such as spending time with friends or appreciating beauty, which can work as a "happiness booster" for some individuals. On the other hand, Experiential Attachment is characterized by a clingy demand to hold onto positive feelings, which tends to reduce happiness over time because it leads to an unhealthy fixation on maintaining those feelings rather than experiencing them freely.
Notably, these effects vary individually—some people benefit from prioritizing positivity, while others may slip into experiential attachment, which undermines happiness. For instance, if you're not ready to lose a positive emotion, you've already lost it, according to Hayes.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a key aspect is accepting negative emotions, letting go, and using that energy to act consciously and engagedly in line with one's values. Clinging to positive feelings is problematic and dysfunctional, as it can lead to losing sight of the purpose of emotions.
Dorothee Salchow, a trainer and coach for Positive Psychology, echoes the importance of allowing all emotions or feelings to exist. However, her statement was not repeated in this article as it was mentioned in the previous bullet points.
[1] Hayes, S. C., et al. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes, and outcomes. Guilford Publications. [3] Hayes, S. C., et al. (2014). Experiential avoidance and acceptance in everyday life: A test of the acceptance and commitment therapy model. Behavior Therapy, 45(2), 129-140.
Science and mental health are intertwined, as renowned psychologist Steven C. Hayes, through his work in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), sheds light on the strategy of wisely pursuing happiness without falling into traps that drain life energy. His approach encourages individuals to allow emotions to guide them in the present, acknowledging their existence without becoming overly attached, as suppressing emotions can negatively impact well-being and health. This perspective is supported by health-and-wellness initiatives that emphasize mental health.
