Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice
Students’ psychological well-being constitutes a critical issue that necessitates support and dedicated intervention from student affairs professionals. Positive psychology, focusing on future-oriented prospective thinking, offers valuable insights and methods relevant to student affairs. This paper...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Journal of Student Affairs in Africa
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Student Affairs in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://upjournals.up.ac.za/index.php/jsaa/article/view/5259 |
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| _version_ | 1841560840165130240 |
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| author | Henry Mason |
| author_facet | Henry Mason |
| author_sort | Henry Mason |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Students’ psychological well-being constitutes a critical issue that necessitates support and dedicated intervention from student affairs professionals. Positive psychology, focusing on future-oriented prospective thinking, offers valuable insights and methods relevant to student affairs. This paper leverages the principles of Positive Psychology, particularly prospection, and reports a qualitative study that explored how 45 university students (26 females and 19 males; age range: 18-23) conceived of their best future selves. Phenomenological analysis revealed a dynamic interplay between students’ optimistic visions of personal and professional success, and the pressing need for practical strategies to realise these aspirations. By integrating and leveraging Positive Psychology, particularly prospection-focused methodologies, practitioners can support students in envisioning their futures more clearly and translating ambitious visions into tangible outcomes, thereby fostering individual and collective growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4816df5a61aa407b878a8f5c86b0418c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2311-1771 2307-6267 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Journal of Student Affairs in Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Student Affairs in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-4816df5a61aa407b878a8f5c86b0418c2025-01-03T12:43:22ZengJournal of Student Affairs in AfricaJournal of Student Affairs in Africa2311-17712307-62672024-12-0112210.24085/jsaa.v12i2.52595261Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs PracticeHenry Mason0TUTStudents’ psychological well-being constitutes a critical issue that necessitates support and dedicated intervention from student affairs professionals. Positive psychology, focusing on future-oriented prospective thinking, offers valuable insights and methods relevant to student affairs. This paper leverages the principles of Positive Psychology, particularly prospection, and reports a qualitative study that explored how 45 university students (26 females and 19 males; age range: 18-23) conceived of their best future selves. Phenomenological analysis revealed a dynamic interplay between students’ optimistic visions of personal and professional success, and the pressing need for practical strategies to realise these aspirations. By integrating and leveraging Positive Psychology, particularly prospection-focused methodologies, practitioners can support students in envisioning their futures more clearly and translating ambitious visions into tangible outcomes, thereby fostering individual and collective growth.https://upjournals.up.ac.za/index.php/jsaa/article/view/5259best possible selves positive psychology prospectionqualitative researchstudent affairsstudent counsellingmental healthhope theory |
| spellingShingle | Henry Mason Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice Journal of Student Affairs in Africa best possible selves positive psychology prospection qualitative research student affairs student counselling mental health hope theory |
| title | Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice |
| title_full | Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice |
| title_fullStr | Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice |
| title_short | Envisioning My Best Future Self: Integrating Positive Psychology and Prospection in Student Affairs Practice |
| title_sort | envisioning my best future self integrating positive psychology and prospection in student affairs practice |
| topic | best possible selves positive psychology prospection qualitative research student affairs student counselling mental health hope theory |
| url | https://upjournals.up.ac.za/index.php/jsaa/article/view/5259 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT henrymason envisioningmybestfutureselfintegratingpositivepsychologyandprospectioninstudentaffairspractice |