Rags to riches : positive psychological attributes and spiritual factors creating meaning.

Abstract

In mainstream media, the common perception is that “rags to riches” stories only consist of becoming “rich and famous”. This paper aims to reflect on the phenomenological experiences of 19 South Africans who significantly were able to move beyond their own significant low point experiences (imaginary: “rags”) into high point experiences (imaginary: “riches”). The presence of a meaningful experience indicates a turning point divide between low and high. Having the right positive psychological attributes supports the change required to move beyond your circumstances. The study explored the deeper internal psychological attributes within a person along with spiritual factors that could affect change in a person’s life to have an improved and fulfilling life. An existential-phenomenological-humanistic approach, from a positive psychological theoretical viewpoint, was used. The attributes were identified as themes through thematic analysis. The study found that meaning was the most prevalent feature in all respondents’ lives to indicate a turn away from, sometimes intense, negative experiences. The presence of a positive mind-set (including positive attitude, self-thought, and self-talk) played a dominant role in affecting change, while the presence of faith and religious belief indicated the spiritual factors associated with change.