Question

Answer to the questions based on your knowledge about positive psychology and happiness theory (PERMA-model; P+E+M) plus the character strengths model.

1.

Obama is driving in his car and suddenly his car starts to make a weird sound:

Obama: “Oh no! The muffler sounds bad… What if I have to take it to the maintenance shop?... I can’t afford the expense… I’d have to draw the money from Jamie’s college fund… What if I can’t afford his tuition?... That bad school report last week… What if his grades go down and he can’t get into college?...Muffler sounds bad…”

… And so Obama’s worrying mind spins on in an endless loop of ruminating thoughts, and it’s causing him lots of negative emotions.

• Describe in details - step by step - how Obama should conquer his worrying mind in order to feel more energized and hopeful.

Answer 1

Here Obama's thought filled with negativity as he was worried about the car complaint at the same time he was thinking about how he would manage the expenses would cost on clearing the complaint from a work shop.

Connecting with the happiness theory in psychology, Obama lacks PERMA elements of happiness or positive psychology his emotions can be changed to positivity in order to overcome from the current fear of car complaint. He can be of optimistic towards the future if he draws the money which is ment to pay his son's tuition fee to cover the repairs. If he builds up a positive thought within him he could clear out all the negativity further.