Jaime’s idea of practical self-reliance serves up a welcome, encouraging balm for my weary heart. Jaime gives us hope and inspiration to celebrate the simple and good. In the spirit of thanksgiving wherever you are, I’m happy to share some resources to help you boost your practical self-reliance.
Elaine O'Brien
Elaine O'Brien
Elaine O'Brien, PhD, MAPP, CAPP is an Educator, Trainer, Author, and Presenter. She is the Creative Director and CEO of Lifestyle Medicine Coaching and Training, LLC, a consultancy, and FitDance: Move2Love training and presentations for whole health and optimal performance. Her recent doctorate in Kinesiology: Psychology of Human Movement aligns with her background, early vision, and dedication to Positive Public Health, Well-Being and Social Justice for the greater good through positive action. Dr. O’Brien is one of the first 100 people in the world to have earned the University of Pennsylvania Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) degree, and she is a frequent MAPP presenter, including leading elevating Energy Breaks for Dr. Martin Seligman’s classes. At Penn, she also worked as a Recitation Leader for Dr. Angela Duckworth’s Introduction to Positive Psychology classes. Dr. O’Brien is the author of journal articles, and has been a speaker at recent presentations, including at Kripalu Institute for the Wholebeing Institute’s premiere Embodied Positive Psychology Summit, and for Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, Happier TV. She will be presenting at Canada Positive Psychology Association, the European Positive Psychology Conference, Angers, France, and at the American Psychological Association in Denver. An international speaker, educator, and consultant, she has presented positive education, psychology, presentation and performance training programs throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Korea, and in China, where she presented at the first two Positive Psychology Conferences at Tsinghua and Beijing Universities. Dr. O’Brien’s areas of research and applications include the Science of Thriving, Positive Health and Aging Well, Positive Adult Education and Generative Development, Enjoyment and Motivation, Performance, Positive Movement, Medical Wellness in Action, Community Wellness and Positive Groups, Self-Determination, Positive Mental Health and Pro-Active Therapies, like Flow: Aqua Fitness. Elaine has contributed to Positive Psychology books including by Kathryn Britton, and Marie-Jose Schaar, Lucy Hone, and Dr. Marsha Snyder. Her dissertation, “Positive, Active, Older, but Youthful Women and FITDANCE: Uplifting Community Dance Exercise” will be the topic of her APA presentation in Denver, August 2016.
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AllConferencesHealthPositive aging
Building Bridges to Learning, Peace, Positive Health and Medicine in Budapest #ECPP2018
Back in March, Dr. Attila Oláh invited people to attend the 9th European Conference on Positive Psychology in Budapest. The conference happened in late June. Here is a report on conference happenings.
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AllConferencesParenting & Schools
Invitation to a Virtual Panel to Recap Positive Education Conferences
This summer, there were two major events focused on positive education. On August 8, there will be a panel to explore what people learned by participating. You are invited to register.
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AllConferencesHabitsHealthMedicineRelationshipsTaking Action
Redefining True Health Care: Inaugural Summit on Happiness Science in Health
On May 6-7, 2018, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) hosted a ground-breaking Summit on Happiness Science in Health Care: Infusing Positive Psychology into Medicine and Health Care. Participants all recognize the need to connect positive psychology and health care.
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AllBook ReviewSelf-efficacyTaking Action
Wire Your Brain for Confidence and Conquer Self-Doubt (Book Review)
In her abundant, practical, and well-researched book about confidence, Louisa Jewell weaves together the science of positive psychology, self-efficacy, self-determination theory, and neuropsychology in an engaging and accessible manner.
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AllHealthPositive aging
Inspiration & a Few Laughs from HBO Documentary: If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
A heartwarming, delightful, and profound new HBO documentary, If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, highlights amazing people living and thriving into their 90s and 100s!
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The United Nations has 17 sustainable development goals that create a broad vision of a positive future. In service of these goals, Kunal Sood intends to have a positive effect on the lives of a billion people by combining technology and entrepreneurship. Whether or not you think as big as Kunal does, there are things you can do on a daily basis to move us toward a positive future.
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Today I highlight experiences and perceptions of five MAPP alumni who also participated in the CAPP program with me. The CAPP program has prepared us to go teach similar programs elsewhere. We are starting several new CAPP programs at new locations in 2015. Sign up to be informed when a program near you comes available.
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AllInterviewPositive FeelingsTaking Action_1 Positive Experiences
PERMA-V: Training with Rigor & Vigor
Like the burgeoning global MAPP programs springing up around the world, the high quality Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) experience leads people toward whole health, well-being, healing, flourishing, and love across all domains of life. CAPP is relatively accessible with more locations being established worldwide. It is helping to bring Martin Seligman’s 2051 moonshot goal to fruition.
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Kathie and Peter Davis are the visionary founders of IDEA® Health and Fitness Association. One of their main goals for IDEA is to bring positive psychology and the science of happiness into the field of fitness, thereby creating a wholeness model of health for the world.
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The promotion of health is a positive and proactive measure that is in line with the field of Positive Psychology’s vision of increasing well-being in the world. Guiding forces in the health, wellness, and fitness industry, Kathie and Peter Davis are the harmoniously passionate founders and visionaries of IDEA Health and Fitness Association. With a focus on optimism, appreciation, integrity, core values, and positive transformation, Kathie and Peter have set a standard for excellence since 1982.
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AllAppreciative InquiryChangeGlobal PoliciesInterviewTaking Action
A Passion for Sustainable Change: SOMO Leadership in Cleveland
This week marks the third annual Sustainable Cleveland 2019, an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) summit led by David Cooperrider for the city of Cleveland. I had the opportunity to interview one of the participants, Louis Alloro, who is also involved in SOMO Leadership, a business that emerged from the first Sustainable Cleveland conference held in 2009.
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We can merge Positive Psychology and Positive Physical Activity to establish Positive Exercise Prescriptions (PEP) for flourishing individuals and communities. People can reach for healthier, happier, and richer lives by moving well, reducing the grave risks of inactivity. Let’s seek harmonious passion in moving well.
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AllRelationshipsSavoring / In-the-Moment_1 Positive Experiences
American Roots Music: Building Positive Communities Through Music Appreciation
This year, Asbury Park has been chosen as a site for the Smithsonian roots music exhibition. Tapping into our souls, music transcends economics and unifies us as human beings. Music historian Robert Santelli believes that through music, “We can accept one another for our differences, and this is embedded into our overall heritage.” Music is experienced by everyone and helps define who we are, both individually and in communities.
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Primitive man’s reaction to death was one of fear. Today, man still reacts to death with fear. Without exchanges about end-of-life issues, there is confusion, which adds a psychological, spiritual, and financial burden for those dying, and their families. Our failure to address these concerns can lead to greater suffering.
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China’s rise in the global community generates widespread uncertainty at home and abroad. Chinese fiscal expansion has already fundamentally changed the nature of the world’s economy. All of our futures are intimately linked to what happens there. The recent contributions of Yukun Zhao and Timothy So to Positive Psychology are important to the improvement of living conditions and quality of life in China.
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Historically and culturally, Positive Psychology took a giant leap forward this summer with two complementary international conferences held in China on Positive Behavioral Science and Positive Education. These events aimed…
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Delegates from more than 50 countries joined forces at the inaugural Exercise is Medicine™ World Congress with two goals: Unite with others across borders to build a healthier world and globalize Exercise is Medicine™ as a positive movement. The goal is to make exercise the most widely prescribed drug in the world!
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AllHappiness ExercisesRelationshipsTaking Action_1 Positive Experiences
A Healthy and Fit Nation: Spotlight on Dr. Regina Benjamin
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin gave a keynote speech at the Exercise is Medicine™ conference. In charge of 6500 uniformed health officers, Dr. Benjamin is an advocate for prevention in health care, and told the audience “People need our help!”
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AllGratitudeRelationshipsSpirituality
Joyful Blessings Days: Intergenerational Gratitude Experiences
How can we help people experience more gratitude and build cross-generational ties that enrich their lives? The Joyful Blessing Day design has emerged from monthly events at the Neptune Senior Center, where the “Feeling Great” dance-fitness class members are joined by high school students in an intergenerational workout followed by lunch. The Joyful Blessing Day approach combines music, savoring, and positive conversations across generations.
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