Harnessing Positivity

Overview

Optimists often get bad press. They’re dismissed for seeing things through rose tinted glasses. Yet, the fascinating thing is that optimists are, on average, far more successful and they also happen to enjoy better health and live longer. We also know from the research that those who err on the side of pessimism are far more likely to develop depression and struggle with motivation. In this talk we’ll explore some of the science that underpins optimism to help explain why optimists often achieve more, including stories of Olympic swimmers, nuns and insurance salespeople. We will also look at what optimism is not and how to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with unbound ‘toxic’ positivity. Finally, we’ll take a closer look at what differentiates the thinking patterns of optimists to those of pessimists, looking at the three Ps of pessimism (personalisation, pervasiveness and permanence). We’ll work though several examples to showcase how to successfully challenge pessimistic thinking and look at other science-backed ways to cultivate greater positivity, which can help reshape the lens through which our brain experiences the world, increasing motivation, resilience and long-term health and longevity.

Learning Objectives

By attending this event, delegates will be able to understand:

• how optimism positively influences our success;
• how to identify what optimism is not and how to avoid the pitfalls of toxic positivity; and
• how to successfully challenge pessimistic thinking and harness our inner optimist for long-term success and greater happiness.

About the speaker

Nick Bloy is a former Lawyer and HR Business Partner with a Masters in Chemistry. He founded Wellbeing Republic in January 2016 to help shift the conversation and focus from ill-being to well-being and peak performance. He works with organisations in the UK and internationally, across multiple different industry sectors (including law, professional services, financial services, media, government and others), in his capacity as a coach, keynote speaker, facilitator and strategist, to help people and organisations to unleash their true potential to thrive. Nick currently sits on the research committee of a ground-breaking research study called ‘Life in the Law’, looking at how the culture and practice of law affects mental health. He has spoken at various national and international conferences about the role that wellbeing plays in driving peak performance. He is also a regular contributor to Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global community, distilling the latest research on human flourishing.

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