Happiness As Flexibility Of Mind and Openness?

There are several classic experiments that are summarised and commented on in Prof. Seligman’s Authentic Happiness. The consistent result is that positive emotion allows us to be more flexible, creative and open to new ideas.

I was thinking about this today when I read the explosion of comments on the topic of ME on the excellent NHS Blog Doc. The original article discusses the dilemma that faces Dr. Crippen when asked to provide a sick note for a patient with ME, a condition that he does not “believe in”. Take a look at the comments and the references that are provided in them. They are truly fascinating, and they seem genuinely to be contributing to a desire to learn by the GP in question. Dr. Crippen seems to be taking a real-time journey of listening and discovery that leads to him discussing a new assessment of his patients who currently have the label, ME.

I was recently lamenting that depression and anxiety statistics should not be used to comment on the prevalence of happiness. And I was exposing my thinking on various matters (such as the diagnosis or treatment of depression). I’m actually quite comfortable with holding “on the one hand this, on the other hand...” opinions. I just find it difficult when talking with people who want a definitive viewpoint.

However, I’m now wondering if the desire for an inflexible (as distinct from committed) viewpoint is indicative of being in thrall to the rigidity of negative emotions. Dr. Crippen has proved remarkably flexible and expanded his understanding. He seems keen to look at new ways of assisting those patients in his practice who have the diagnosis of ME. It looks like his personal strengths of respect for others and curiosity have fuelled his willingness to research other viewpoints. As the happiness literature would say, it seems as if his personal character strengths and values are in line with his work: and the positive emotions that flow from that might support the others in a virtuous circle.

By the by - on a different topic, the rest of NHS Blog Doc is fantastic. Very funny. Very provocative. A real smack-between-the-eyes insight into what it is like to be a GP in the NHS at present.

Copyright 2006, Tony Plant Happystance Project