Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology: The Seven Foundations of Well-Being

Many have wondered if there is a key ingredient to living a full and happy life. For decades now, scientists and psychologists alike have been studying the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The positive psychology movement was founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play. At the same time, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—a mindfulness-based, values-oriented behavioural therapy that has many parallels to Buddhism, yet is not religious in any way—has been focused on helping people achieve their greatest human potential.

Created only years apart, ACT and positive psychology both promote human flourishing, and they often share overlapping themes and applications, particularly when it comes to setting goals, psychological strengths, mindfulness, and the clarification of what matters most—our values and our search for meaning in life. Despite these similarities, however, the two different therapeutic models are rarely discussed in relation to one another. What if unifying these theories could lead to faster, more profound and enduring improvements to the human condition?

Edited by leading researchers in the field of positive psychology, Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology is the first professional book to successfully integrate key elements of ACT and positive psychology to promote healthy functioning in clients. By gaining an understanding of "the seven foundations of well-being," professionals will walk away with concrete, modernised strategies to use when working with clients. Throughout the book, the editors focus on how ACT, mindfulness therapies, and positive psychology can best be utilised by professionals in various settings, from prisons and Fortune 500 business organisations to parents and schools.

With contributions by Steven C. Hayes, the founder of ACT, as well as other well-known authorities on ACT and positive psychology such as Robyn Walser, Kristin Neff, Dennis Tirch, Ian Stewart, Louise McHugh, Lance M. McCracken, Acacia Parks, Robert Biswas-Diener, and more, this book provides state-of-the-art research, theory, and applications of relevance to mental health professionals, scientists, advanced students, and people in the general public interested in either ACT or positive psychology.

"The hallmark of our evolutionary flourishing is collaboration, and this brilliant book is a stunning example of its power. Editors Kashdan and Ciarrochi have taken two of the most influential therapies of our time-acceptance and commitment therapy and positive psychology-and have initiated a dialogue that both clarifies and deepens the discoveries that have emerged independently in each. By establishing seven foundations of well-being that are both scientifically based and practically oriented, they enable a coherent and fascinating look at the role of mindfulness and an array of potent, cutting-edge therapeutic strategies. This fresh synthesis is destined to be a landmark in the literature of emotional healing and spiritual transformation."
- Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge

"Unifying two important fields-positive psychology and acceptance and commitment therapy-Kashdan and Ciarrochi's volume contains multiple gems of contributions from the pre-eminent figures in psychology. Whether you are an expert or a novice, a student or a mental health professional, you will learn a great deal from this book."
- Sonja Lyubomirsky, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness

"To every innovator working to create new tools and technologies for increased well-being: Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology should immediately go to the top of your must-read list. The new research and provocative ideas in this collection will undoubtedly spark countless fresh ideas and help shape, for the better, the next wave of life-changing, positive interventions. This book will give an invaluable edge to designers and developers who want to ground their creative work in leading-edge scientific research."
- Jane McGonigal, PhD, author of the New York Times bestseller Reality Is Broken