The founder of Happiness Scientists on cultivating a positive psychology practice that honours the full spectrum of human emotions

This story is one of nine on The Peak Singapore’s Power List. The list is an annual recognition that celebrates and acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, influence, and impact within their respective fields and the broader community. 

Our theme for this year is Joy, honouring business leaders who have contributed to spreading happiness, enhancing well-being, and uplifting the spirits of those around them. This theme responds to recent global challenges, highlighting the need for resilience, compassion, and, most importantly, joy in our lives to navigate uncertainties with grace and efficiency.

“As a child, I remember observing what people were doing and wondering, ‘Why do they behave that way?’” Sha-en Yeo reminisces. Thus began Yeo’s lifelong affair with psychology. She first studied it formally in university, but it was the early 2000s then, and psychology primarily focused on psychiatry and cognitive science — the science side of psychology — whereas Yeo was interested in more internal factors.

“Positive psychology wasn’t even a thing back then,” Yeo explains. “When the opportunity came, and I learned about it, I realised it was exactly what I was looking for.”

The start of something new

Yeo tells me that positive psychology focuses on an individual's strengths and behaviours, enabling them to build a life of meaning and purpose. Intrigued by this emerging discipline, she took a break from her job to pursue a master's degree in positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

During her studies, a pivotal assignment made Yeo realise that her strengths and passions were not fully utilised in her current role. She had recently transitioned from teaching to a desk job at the Ministry of Education (MOE) but discovered that she thrived in front-facing roles that allowed her to connect with people and leverage her psychological expertise.

“Even then, I didn’t immediately think I would start my own company,” Yeo says with a smile. “But at the time, no such job existed — unless I wanted to step out and try it myself and see if I could create something that wasn't there.”

So in 2011, shortly after Yeo finished her master’s, she founded Happiness Scientists. 

Inside out

Yeo's work addresses barriers to joy and well-being, which she categorises as internal and external. By helping clients understand these barriers, Yeo enables them to better grasp and leverage their strengths to pursue more fulfilling lives.

Internal factors, such as past traumas and personal misalignments, can hinder one's ability to experience happiness. Drawing on her background in education, Yeo has focused particularly on trauma, researching trauma-informed practices and examining trauma within educational contexts.

External factors include societal pressures and expectations that can steer people from paths aligned with their passions and strengths. These external influences can be confining and controlling, potentially leading to internal issues like personal misalignments.

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To address these factors, Happiness Scientists employs a two-step approach. One is creating a safe space for individuals to reflect on their experiences and understand themselves; and two, utilising tools and strategies from positive psychology to equip individuals with skills to address internal and external barriers.

As people become more self-aware through this process, they are better positioned to employ strategies and set goals that align with their authentic selves, enabling them to fulfil their tasks effectively.

Yeo succinctly explains her approach: "I give them the space and tools to manage the internal, to get back to a more neutral state. And from there, to get on the upward trajectory of joy."

Excess of positivity

But for those who don’t understand Yeo’s work, it is easy to misinterpret it as toxic positivity. Toxic positivity is the belief that people should dismiss all other emotions to be perennially positive. Under this, the severity of any situation is downplayed, as all difficulties are attributed to a mindset issue.

Yeo acknowledges the fine line that exists between the two. “The association makes people think that they cannot have conversations about challenging situations and emotions,” Yeo explains ruefully, “and that they can’t talk about suffering and pain in positive psychology. But that's inaccurate.”

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Positive psychology is nothing like that, Yeo clarifies: “Positive psychology is an emphasis on the positive aspects of life, but it is not a denial or dismissal of other aspects. Instead of dismissing, we acknowledge.” To prevent misunderstandings among her clients, Yeo first teaches them about toxic positivity.

Her clients then learn how to use positive psychology tools to navigate challenging situations and to meet the challenge and whoever's facing it where they are. 

Of joy

When Yeo looks back on her life, she is most proud of being a pioneer in a field previously unknown — though being a mom is a close second. Today, as the field receives more acknowledgement, Yeo is passionate about making positive psychology more mainstream and accessible so that its principles can benefit a wider audience. 

And there is no better endorsement of her work than Yeo herself — her journey from a curious child to the founder of Happiness Scientist exemplifies the transformative power of following one's passion and leveraging one's strengths.

“Joy, to me, is that feeling when you and your life make sense in this world.” Yeo shares. “Happiness as an emotion can be very fleeting, but joy is often deeper, more internal, and longer lasting. It’s a feeling of ‘this matters to me’.”

For more stories on The Peak Power List, visit here.