{"id":235,"date":"2025-04-09T11:57:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T11:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tha.de\/honors\/2025\/?p=235"},"modified":"2025-04-23T10:02:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T10:02:02","slug":"a-psychological-perspective-on-optimism-empowerment-and-job-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tha.de\/honors\/2025\/2025\/04\/09\/a-psychological-perspective-on-optimism-empowerment-and-job-search\/","title":{"rendered":"A Psychological Perspective on Optimism: Empowerment and Job Search"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blog April 01, 2025, Third Week Honors Seminar<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you wake up in the morning: Do you get up happily, full of energy and optimism? Congratulations! You might have already found your IKIGAI \u2013 your purpose of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that doesn\u2019t sound like you, don\u2019t worry \u2013 you\u2019re not alone. Our encouraging takeaway from this week\u2019s session is that we\u2019ve all taken a small step closer. And after hearing the insights of Prof. Dr. Sarah Hatfield and Prof. Dr. Peter Cocron on optimism, you also might feel even more in tune with your own sense of purpose. In this lesson, we had the opportunity to reflect on our Ikigai<\/em>, explore the connection between resilience, self-efficacy, and optimism, and consider how our perspective on the future \u2013 including our career path \u2013 can be influenced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s all about purpose!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“What are you grateful for right now?” – That was the opening question of Sarah Hatfield\u2019s presentation \u201cEmpowerment through Optimism: Contributions for Taking Action and Agency\u201d<\/em>. Before reading any further, perhaps take a moment to reflect on this question yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gratitude serves as one foundational resource for various psychological strengths. Our psychological capital consists of inner resources, that help us enhance our well-being, manage tough situations, and move forward with purpose. These inner resources include self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and the belief in our own ability to create a meaningful change.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust in yourself and your power to create impact – even when things go wrong. Sometimes, it\u2019s important to take a step back, reflect on your goals, and ask yourself if they\u2019re still aligned with who you are. And when life knocks you down, remember the famous Samuel Beckett saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Stay grounded, focus on solutions, and bounce back stronger. This process empowers us to take meaningful, creative action \u2013 an important component of optimism, which is a powerful psychological resource itself! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we can learn from the Japanese<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Optimistic people often live aligned with their goals and what matters to them. They have found their purpose in life. The Japanese have a concept for it, called IKIGAI. It consists of four components, just like psychological empowerment: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Meaningfulness<\/strong> \u2013 Your values, your energy, your investment: What does the world need? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Self-determination<\/strong> \u2013 Your freedom of choice and action, your responsibility for your decisions: What do you love? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Competence<\/strong> \u2013 Your skills, your self-efficacy, and confidence: What are you good at? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Impact<\/strong> \u2013 Your ability to create meaningful outcomes through your actions: What can you be paid for? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

          If you find answers to all four questions, you will reveal your passion, your mission, your profession, and your vocation. If you can combine them, you have identified your IKIGAI. Sarah Hatfield encouraged us to reflect on these four questions and document our answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Maybe you would like to try this yourself? Simply start writing, just like we did… and see where the process takes you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Everyone has different strengths, but when it comes to what the world needs, our answers are surprisingly similar.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          This was an interesting insight we discovered when sharing our responses to the four Ikigai questions. It made us wonder: What if we discussed the idea of IKIGAI with our family, friends or community? Could it give us insights into what we truly need in these relationships? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Sarah Hatfield told us about the Okinawan Centerians \u2013 these really old aged people who live long, happily and healthy on the basis of their IKIGAI. If you want to know more about how to live a happy long life, check out the Netflix mini-series \u201cLive to 100: secrets of the Blue Zones\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          Want to learn more about IKIGAI? <\/strong>Check out this video<\/a> (German) or have a look at the book “Ikigai \u2013 The Japanese secret to a long and happy life” by H\u00e9ctor Garc\u00eda and Francesc Miralles. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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          The Surprising Power of Optimism in Job Search <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          In the second part of our seminar session with Prof. Dr. Peter Cocron, we explored the topic “Optimism and the Job Search\u201d<\/em> . Through discussions, reflections, and creative activities, we looked at how a positive mindset can help us navigate the often stressful and uncertain process of finding a job or internship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          We started by discussing why optimism can be helpful when searching for a job. Everyone shared personal experiences, both good and bad. It became clear that staying hopeful is often key to staying motivated. Together, we collected practical recommendations. Later on, we also got creative and visualized our ideas through sketches and drawings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          So, pay close attention – especially if you are a student and are currently looking for internships or entry-level jobs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Some of the recommendations we came up with included: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          Be patient.<\/strong> The job search takes time. It\u2019s normal for the process to take longer than expected. Don\u2019t let that discourage you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Believe in your own ability.<\/strong> Self-efficacy matters \u2014 your belief in your own competence shapes how you face challenges and how persistent you are in reaching your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Learn to deal with setbacks.<\/strong> Rejections are part of the process. Positive coping strategies \u2014 like actively working on the next step instead of avoiding action \u2014 can help you stay emotionally balanced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Celebrate small wins and don\u2019t forget your sense of humor.<\/strong> Whether it\u2019s getting invited to an interview or writing a great cover letter \u2014 recognize your progress. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

          The job search isn\u2019t always easy but with the right mindset, some encouragement, and a little optimism, it becomes a journey of growth and self-discovery. As Prof. Cocron said at the end of his session: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \u201cNo matter how bad the interview turns out, you’re one experience richer, and at least you got a (good) cup of coffee.\u201d <\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n