Positive Psychology (PP) is a natural partner to development coaching, another intervention to support people improve themselves, their lives, teams or organisations.
My coach introduced me to PP when I first began working with him in 2011, and some of the interventions and tools he taught me began to make a difference to how I thought about situations and how to deal with them. Fast forward to 2019 when I attended a two-day introduction to the subject in Bristol.
I booked with www.positivepsychologytraining.co.uk lead by Miriam Akhtar with her colleague Bridget Grenville-Cleave and I learnt about the history of this scientific study and the founder of the PP movement in 1998, Martin Seligman. Covering the PERMA model as the foundation I learnt that PP could help us to understand our emotions, negative attitudes, purpose and what makes us happy, and how bringing different elements together we can begin to be more positive, happier and flourish in our lives.
Part two of this programme was via Teams in November 2020, during wave three of the COVID pandemic. Sat in the corner of my lounge, surrounded by furniture covered in dust sheets because the decorators were in, I learnt more about personal strengths, resilience and happiness and how implementing this to all areas of my life can make me more productive and make things easier to deal with.
My interest in PP was now piqued and I want to know more about this subject as I knew it would help me personally and, in my work, but would also help to support my clients. But was next? Reading endless books? More online lectures? Well, the only formal programme I could find was a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of East London (UEL). A degree? Not only a degree, but a Masters? No way could I do that.
I was a woman of certain age who only gained one A level, a few GCSE’s (yes, I’m that old!) and certainly never went to university. So, that was that. Or was it. I kept thinking about the subject and the Masters course and re-read the overview on the university website many times, always telling myself there was no way I could do a Masters. A bit more searching, and I found that Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) also ran the course Centre for Positive Psychology – Centre for Positive Psychology, Buckinghamshire New University (pospsychbucks.com) and this was a bit closer to where I lived. Mulling it over and having a chat with my husband, I enquired about what the entry qualifications with BNU were. Even without a post-grad degree, they would accept people who had life and work experience and the fact I was already a coach helped. So, this was it. They would accept me if I wanted to enrol.
I have a love of learning and I really felt that this subject and programme would be good for me to do, so I took the plunge and enrolled. I met with the lecturers and some fellow students for an online introduction to the Master’s programme and we were given all the details we’d need for the coming months. It was suddenly very daunting. The mention of lectures, one weekend a month at university or joining online, semesters, modules, reading lists, action learn sets and assignments all made my head spin. Planning and finding the time for reading, writing assignments and watching lectures whilst working and having a life, would be my biggest challenge. Then a few days before the course officially started, my family received the devastating news that my mum had leukaemia. She was so thrilled I was giving the degree a go and was always so encouraging and proud, that I knew when she suddenly and sadly passed away in October, I had to continue and do it for her. I got time extensions for my first two assignments which had been due to be submitted a few weeks after she died and it was hard going, but I knew mum had faith in me and I was thrilled with the results I gained for these, even through this difficult time.
I’ve just completed the first year of this master’s and it has been tough at times. There has been huffing and puffing, tears, nerves, anxiety, frustration and often the thought of giving up! Finding the time for the reading, research, projects and writing the assignments has often been hard to do, but with the support of some brilliant people I’ve meet and who I have the pleasure of studying with, the lecturers and associates and the love and support of my husband, dad and close friends, I have overall, enjoyed the challenge and learning.
I’m getting ready for the beginning of year two in October, by getting the books out from the university library, writing out a study plan and starting to think about possible subjects for my dissertation. We have the choice of doing the Masters over two or three years. I’m going for three years, because I don’t need to rush it and I know year two alone will be tough, without the added pressure and work of putting together a practically based dissertation at the same time.
If you want to do something, what have you got to lose? You never know what you might be capable of. If you never change anything, the results will always be the same. I hope Positive Psychology and the experience of doing the degree will make me a better person and help me to help others become the best version of themselves.
Vicki Fennell
Personal Development Coach – Ebb and Flow
07554 020669
