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At King’s we define wellbeing as leading a happy and meaningful life.
Being happy is about maximising positive emotions through positive experiences, such as attending social events, laughing with friends, winning a sports competition, feeling inspired after an engaging lecture, eating good food, travelling with friends.
Leading a meaningful life is about using our character strengths to achieve personal development and growth as well as serving others. For example, persevering at a valued goal despite obstacles, volunteering our time, carefully listening to another’s point of view, training for a competition and expressing gratitude.
Wellbeing at King’s is a shared commitment to helping every student (and staff member) feel supported, capable, and connected. Our strategy is built around five pillars: Learn it, Lead it, Live it, Embed it, and Measure it. Together, they guide how we create a culture where everyone can navigate life’s highs and lows with confidence.
From coaching conversations to social events, policy to peer support - this strategy shapes how we show up, grow, and flourish as a community.
The university and college experience is full of ups and downs.
Students face new challenges such as homesickness, time management, partying, budgeting and making new friends. Alongside moments of pure joy, there will be times of bitter disappointment. It should and will feel difficult at times. Being challenged and moving outside our comfort zone are both necessary if we are to grow into our potential. Alongside success, students may experience failure, disappointment, disengagement and even disillusionment with the choices they have made. This is all part of the journey.
While we cannot directly cause individual students to be happy in their college experience, through the application of positive psychology, we strive to create the right conditions for students to enhance their own wellbeing and as a result, more fully reach their potential. Focusing on personal strengths, positive emotions and factors related to success and thriving helps students to establish positive habits and lay the foundations for strong relationships and good decision making that will serve them in their future.
Our wellbeing framework is based on the work of one of the world’s leading psychologist’s Martin Seligman. Seligman suggests that there are five specific areas that contribute to wellbeing: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment (PERMA).
We (along with other researchers) believe that the development of health (eating, sleeping, moving) is also very important so we have added a H.
