Suzann Pileggi - How to Be Happier in your Romantic Relationships

Happiness

Positive psychology offers a refreshing perspective on happiness within relationships by focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses. Suzann Pileggi Pawelski explains that even in challenging times, identifying and nurturing the positive aspects of a relationship can lead to growth and happiness 1. This approach aligns with Marty Seligman's PERMA model, which places relationships at the core of well-being 1.

Relationships are the single most factor to our well-being, our close connections with other people.

--- Suzann Pileggi Pawelski

Healthy relationships, built on character and goodness, are more sustainable than those based solely on passion or utility 2.

   

Healthy Passion

Cultivating healthy passion in relationships involves balancing high-arousal emotions with more subtle, enduring feelings. Suzann Pileggi Pawelski highlights the importance of prioritizing activities that foster positive emotions like gratitude and serenity, rather than relying solely on intense passion 3. This approach helps develop a mature love, moving away from obsessive passion that can be detrimental over time 4.

Obsessive passion has the highs, but it also has the lows, whereas a healthier passion...develops usually in healthier, more mature relationships.

--- Suzann Pileggi Pawelski

By focusing on a range of emotions, couples can create a more balanced and fulfilling relationship.