When a Symptom Becomes a Tool

November 18, 2019 by John Andrew Williams

In positive psychology’s search for well-being, happiness, stress, and anxiety are treated as symptoms, which makes complete sense. Each emotion is an outcome that could rest on deeper aspects of character. But something interesting happens when we flip the equation and look at happiness, stress, or anxiety as feedback and useful information. We go beyond judging outcomes as good or bad and instead look for the learning. 

If this intense emotion were trying to give you a message, what would it be?