Ways to stretch positive feelings:

• Try to use a greater variety of words to describe positive experiences and feelings (i.e. instead of "great" or "good," try "delightful" or "serene.")
• Share your highlight reel. Instead of jumping to recount the worst parts of an experience when describing it, and then saying "but it was overall great!" —start with the most positive.
• Find silver linings within things that at first seem negative.
• Try to think of the best possible outcome first with something coming up, rather than focusing first and foremost with preparing for the worst.

...when adults experiencing depression or anxiety participated in 15 weeks of psychotherapy focused on enhancing positive emotions, they reported more improvement than a group whose therapy focused on reducing negative emotions...

...prompts to plan pleasurable activities, savor positive moments and look forward to future positive events.

"My studies in narrative therapy have taught me to locate and interrogate dominant discourses that condition the things that I think I should be."

jessica dore