Book Basket: Well-Being and Meaning
Positive psychology is the study of what’s going well in our lives and how we can build on that to flourish and increase well-being. Studies show that most of our character strengths are correlated with well-being. Out of them, gratitude and love of learning stand out as the strengths that independently predict increased well-being with love, honesty, hope and humor next in line.
Our search for meaning is also associated with well-being. Whether through our relationships, work, values or spiritual practice, we feel a sense of happiness, health and resilience when our lives are connected to a greater purpose.
The Values in Action Institute on Character recently shared a “meaning wheel” focusing on the six strengths to focus on in order to build meaning in our lives: gratitude, appreciation of beauty and excellence, curiosity, social intelligence, perspective and spirituality. You can download it for free here.
Included are a few tips for activating each strength: from writing letters (gratitude) to watching the sunset (appreciation of beauty and excellence), trying food from another culture (curiosity) to observing nonverbal cues in conversations (social intelligence), finding a wise quote (perspective) to meditating (spirituality).
Here is our book basket of stories connected to these strengths and making meaning. Many of these children’s books relate to gratitude as it may be the best one to focus on in improving well-being. (It’s also the one my son wants to focus on this year.) Others are a mix bag that may leave you with a feeling of meaning. While exploring character strengths independently is helpful in understanding them, in real life they are more intertwined, working together to boost purpose and well-being.
Hope you find some that lead to good conversations and fun reflection.
Well-Being Book Basket for Kids
Resources for grown-ups & teens:
Which Character Strengths are Most Predictive of Well-Being
Cultivating a Culture of Authentic Gratitude
The Impact of Gratitude on Teen Well-Being
Growing Up Grateful Gives Teens Multiple Health Benefits
Here are some thought-provoking psychology books that delve deep into meaning-making, well-being and pursuit of the good life. In The Happiness Hypothesis, Jon Haidt explores philosophical ideas from ancient times around the world in tandem with modern scientific research to explore the human condition. Flow is a groundbreaking classic that explores that happy state of mind when we’re absorbed in a challenging-enough gratifying task. Flourish focuses on well-being and what makes life fulfilling.
We’ve read many other excellent books related to gratitude, appreciation of beauty and excellence, curiosity, social intelligence, perspective, and spirituality. Explore them through the book guides below.
