Martin Seligman: building a flourishing state

World leading psychologist and expert adviser on wellbeing at the highest level of international public policy, Dr Martin Seligman, will join forces with partners from government, business and community to drive action on wellbeing and resilience for the citizens of South Australia. Dr Seligman will be here in Adelaide 01-29 February 2012 and then again in February 2013.

We want to see South Australia and its citizens flourish. And we want to demonstrate that, more than just a catch phrase, flourishing is something that can be measured, taught and embedded in our state to deliver a better South Australia. Dr Seligman’s scientific rigour in the measurement of well-being and its use in driving flourishing at both the individual and state level make him the perfect catalyst for action here in South Australia.

The information above has been taken from the following website; http://www.thinkers.sa.gov.au/thinkers/martinseligman/who.aspx

I submitted an Abstract to present at the Thinkers In Residence Conference, The Science of Wellbeing conference on Friday 24^th February 2012 at the Adelaide Hilton. On Friday I was informed that the paper I submitted Positive in spite of dementia has been accepted, and will be included in the Early Intervention stream of the conference. I am rather excited about this, as it is a reasonably high-profile event, and Martin Seligman is a world leading psychologist. On top of this the conference organisers are “exploring further opportunities for my material to be made available, for example on the Martin Seligman page of the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence website following the event.”

To say I am thrilled about the opportunity to share how I manage dementia and live alongside it positively is an understatement. Being extremely nervous to be amongst such a leading figure is obviously the other emotion! But what have I got to lose? Nothing! So it is well worth my effort to be there. The opportunity to start the scientific world thinking about treating dementia, especially in the early stages, as a disability or brain injury, and to rehabilitate us instead of suggesting we dis-engage from our lives is truly exciting. I will be speaking out for every single person with dementia, and for the people who love and care for them, as I have not yet heard of many positive dementia train journeys. If in some small way I can help to change that, then my goal will be on its way to being realised.