Positive Accomplishment

Positive accomplishment is defined as the development of individual potential through striving for and achieving meaningful outcomes. Positive accomplishment involves the capacity to work towards meaningful goals, the motivation to persist despite challenges and setbacks, and the achievement of competence and success in important life domains. Seligman (2011) defines positive education as traditional education plus approaches that nurture wellbeing and promote mental health (Seligman, 2011). Therefore, a focus on wellbeing within schools does not equate with neglecting more tradition goals of helping students acquire knowledge and achieve academically (Seligman, Ernst, Gillham, Reivich, & Links, 2009).In contrast, positive education entails a holistic approach whereby student accomplishment and wellbeing are both valued objectives that contribute to flourishing. The purpose of this summary is to review literature on positive accomplishment and to outline four approaches integral to student success: (a) goal theory (including coaching, selfconcordant goals, and mastery and performance goals); (b) the implicit theory of intelligence; (c) hope theory; and (d) grit.