Session 2 has been off to a great start! We just returned from our Study Tour in Edinburgh, Scotland. My Positive Psychology class spent 5 days in Scotland to further our knowledge about wellbeing, happiness, and positivity. This study tour was incredible! There was not a day when I was not happy or enjoying the adventure. (Hint: stay tuned for my next blog post to hear about my trip!)
In Positive Psychology we focus on how to increase one’s wellbeing and happiness. We are also exploring why Denmark is constantly rated as one of the happiest places to live in the world. There are a multitude of factors that affect happiness and wellbeing, which we cover in this course. We also look at ways in which we can use meditation, mindfulness, and other strategies in order to remain positive and increase our happiness, especially during times of stress.
I decided to take this course because I want to improve my thinking and be more self-loving and confident. I can also use the knowledge I gain to help others increase their wellbeing, self-love, and confidence. We have learned a lot about positive psychology, from different theories regarding happiness to implementing wellbeing initiatives in organizations and for the general public. Increasing wellbeing and positivity means a lot to me because I am my biggest critic. Learning new ways to refrain from being so hard on myself will help me become a happier person and I will be able to enjoy the little things more often.
This course is not really related to my Session 1 course, Sports Medicine: Performance and Fatigue. However, both courses encompass concepts that are in my potential career field. One way they are related in terms of similar concepts is that during my Sports Medicine course we talked about the mental side of sports. Being able to be confident in yourself and believe in yourself will greatly increase your performance. Increasing confidence during a competition requires similar thinking to that of increasing wellbeing.
An activity we did on our Study Tour in Scotland was hiking Arthur’s Seat. It was quite a journey as the wind picked up greatly as we continued our way up the hill. At the top, it was difficult to keep your balance because the wind was so powerful. The views were absolutely stunning. You can see the sea and the highlands, as well as beautiful Edinburgh and the surrounding area. One of my favorite parts of the hike was sitting on top of Arthur’s Seat and looking down at the seagulls flying below. I had never seen a bird fly from above, only from below and looking up. It was a beautiful sight to see the swiftness of the birds and the way they maneuver their wings. It made me think about how many things we look at only through one perspective. I have witnessed birds and seagulls flying a countless number of times, however, never from this perspective.
My abroad experience has been unbelievable. I am sad that it is coming to an end; however, I am excited for the remaining time I have here even though it is short. I look forward to learning more about increasing my wellbeing and the wellbeing of others, as well as continuing to live in the most amazing city!