Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006: Visualizing best possible self and expressing gratitude increased positive mood and improved emotional states among college students
Reference:
Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(2), 73-82.
Download PDFSummary:
Asking college students to (1) reflect on things they are grateful for or (2) visualize their best possible selves once increased positive affect immediately as compared to a randomized control group. There was no effect on negative affect. People who reported continuing to use the best possible selves exercise 2 and 4 weeks later showed greater sustained positive affect.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
Selves (My Own and Others')Approach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Changing beliefs about emotions, states, and the valence of the self-conceptHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Do I think and feel positively about myself?Do I think and feel positively about myself?Psychological Question Addressed
Do I think and feel positively about myself?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Well-Being
Intervention Technique:
Active reflection, on a positive aspect of self