Abstract

MASON, Henry D.. Envisioning my best future self: Integrating positive psychology and prospection in student affairs practice. JSAA [online]. 2024, vol.12, n.2, pp.99-114. ISSN 2307-6267.  https://doi.org/10.24085/jsaa.v12i2.5259.

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 article 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.

Keywords : Best possible selves; hope theory; mental health; positive psychology; prospection; qualitative research; student affairs; student counselling.

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