WHAT IS SKYCHOLOGY?
skychology - the future of wellbeing is looking up
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What do we experience when we look up at the sky? And what role does the sky play in our experience of wellbeing?
Against a backdrop of global urbanisation, the chronic decline of our connection with nature, and the unfolding impact of the covid-19 global pandemic, the answers to these questions matter, according to Paul Conway, who heads up Successful Humans, a wellbeing organisation who provide Personal and Executive Coaching in Positive Psychology.
Research has neglected the human experience of looking up at the sky, and the role the sky plays in our experience of wellbeing, hence the creation of "Skychology", a new area of wellbeing research, defined as: "scientific endeavours to understand and operationalise interactions with the sky to enhance wellbeing" (Conway & Hefferon, 2019).
In the first study of its kind, four participants shared their experiences of looking up at the sky during in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Their experiences suggest looking up at the sky has the potential to be an effective wellbeing activity.
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Summary of findings
Looking up at the sky:
1. Is immediately calming
2. Appears to promote psychological & physiological wellbeing
3. May be a highly effective form of emotional self-regulation
4. Appears to facilitate mindfulness by being present in the moment, experienced as feeling a greater sense of clarity & perspective towards immediate life challenge
5. Promotes a greater sense of connectedness and feeling part of a "bigger picture"
6. Appears to be an everyday window to the experience of "awe" - a complex psychological construct positively associated with wellbeing, perspective-taking, humility, creativity & prosocial behaviour (see Wonder of Awe)
7. Looking at the sky, it seems, never gets old, suggesting we can enjoy its wellbeing benefits throughout our lives.
The results of the study suggest looking up at the sky is an effective, everyday psychological and physiological wellbeing activity, with the potential to positively impact lives all across the world.
So the next time you feel like you need a lift, lie down on the ground, look up to the sky and receive the positive benefits from our beautiful world we live in.
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Successful Humans, a wellbeing organisation committed to creating a world where successful people are successful humans, and doing well means being well.
Whatever "success" means for you, they will move you towards it, and create wellbeing at the heart of it, using combined evidence-based Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology approaches to creatively stimulate self-awareness and promote wellbeing.
Including:
Skychology - experience everyday wellbeing by looking up at the sky
Visualisation, including exploring your "best possible self"
Strengths-based coaching - a cornerstone of Positive Psychology
Exploring what it means to live authentically
Creative approaches (writing, drawing, picture cards, story dice)
Walking coaching & nature-based interventions
Cognitive-based Coaching (CBC) - changing your relationship with something to transform your experience of it
Meditation & mindfulness practice - think of it as gym for the mind!
Exploring personal metaphors through Clean Language
If you are interested in Skychology and would like to get in touch with Paul,