This week we veer a little off the nutrition path to bring you Amy O’Sullivan, a Positive Psychology Coach from Rochester, NY. Don’t worry, this topic still pertains to nutrition and body image and, bonus, will help you learn little steps to improve you overall well being in life. We know that knowledge does not always equate to behavior change so we brought on Amy to discuss how you can use the strengths you already have to capitalize on taking the steps necessary to help you feel mentally and physically better.

About Positive Psychology:
Founded by Marty Seligman in 1998. According to the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is 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. It provides researched practices, training and habitual patterns that have direct positive effect on overall well being. Positive psychology offers us the choice to question the thoughts that no longer serve us, enabling us to change the way we think by cultivating positive feelings. Unlike past therapeutic approaches, Positive Psychology places an emphasis on innate strengths and what is going right in one’s life, instead of focusing primarily on what is wrong, mental illness, or flaws. The field presents an opportunity to become the best version of yourself simply by changing your perspective.

About Amy:
Amy O’Sullivan is Certified in Applied Positive Psychology through the New York Open Center, a certification administered and based off of The University of Pennsylvania’s Master’s Program in Applied Positive Psychology. She received her Bachelors of Science degree with a double major in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Amy was a scholarship athlete and captain for the University of Maryland Women’s nationally ranked soccer team. For the past four years, Amy has modeled in New York and overseas on a very competitive level. The two experiences have informed her interest in the study of Positive Psychology and the demand for mindset shifts in all arenas of life. Amy currently works with female athletes to align their thought processing to support performance, mental durability, and consistency. In addition, Amy works individually and at The Healing Connection, to introduce positive psychology concepts as a tool for eating disorders patients in recovery. As a certified yoga instructor, Amy interweaves the underlying principles with breathe and movement. Amy hopes to begin her Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology in the Fall of 2018 at the University of Pennsylvania.

Topics covered this episode:

-What is positive psychology

-How focusing on positivity helps improve hope

-Identifying character strengths and how to build on them

-What is “flow” and how can you get in it?

-How positive psychology differs from psychotherapy

-Positive psychology for improving athletic performance

-Breathing for relieving stress and balancing the nervous system

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Don’t forget to hashtag #AdventuresofSassyandPearl and #NutritionGeniusRadio while you are listening!

Connect with us:

Laura’s Website: TheSassyDietitian.com
Marie’s Website: PearlsofNutrition.com

Show Notes:

Via Character Strengths Test

Marty Seligman- Learned Optimism

Kristin Keff- Self Compassion 

Barbara Frederikson- Love 2.0

UPenn Positive Psychology

Cory Muscara

Connect with Amy:

[email protected]