In this introductory course, we introduce you to Positive Psychology—the science of human flourishing.

Together, we’ll explore “real-life” questions that truly matter, such as: What actually makes people feel satisfied and fulfilled? Why do some people handle stress, setbacks, and uncertainty better than others? What strengths help them stay steady and move forward?

You’ll also learn the difference between the early days of positive psychology and its more mature second wave, which takes a balanced view of well-being—one that includes struggle, meaning, and growth; not just happiness.

Finally, we’ll introduce the Sailboat Metaphor, a simple and powerful way to understand how well-being works. It compares human functioning to navigating a sailboat, showing how key elements of well-being interact and influence one another. This metaphor serves as the organizing framework you’ll return to throughout our programs.