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While we cannot change our biology, we can still make progress toward our goals by developing a deeper awareness of what drives us, accepting what can and cannot be changed, and taking action to change what we can. This can be iterative process that moves us toward actually doing what we know is good for us.

The latest issue of MAPP Magazine has been published by graduates of the MAPP Program at the University of Pennsylvania. This edition has more articles on Positive Humanities. It also explores the factors that lead to habit formation.

August 31 is the launch date for the new book, The Business of Race: How to Create and Sustain an Antiracist Workplace and Why It’s Actually Good for Business. At first blush, the title says it all: who the book is for, why it matters, and what we can aspire to achieve. But as a curious person and a long -time friend of Margaret Greenberg, I wanted to know more.

The latest issue of MAPP Magazine has been published by graduates of the MAPP Program at the University of Pennsylvania. This edition is dedicated to the Positive Humanities.

In recent years, scholars within positive psychology have been adopting a more nuanced view of positive and negative, recognizing that positive qualities can sometimes be harmful and negative mental states can sometimes contribute to human flourishing.

Does Zoom fatigue happen partly because we are getting fewer opportunities to be energized by each other? What can we do to regain some of the ability to energize each other through remote connections?

The latest version of the MAPP Magazine is now available with articles about expectations of well-being during trying times, perspectives from Dr. Angela Duckworth on this past pandemic year, and the broad range of capstone topics chosen by the 2020 class of MAPP graduates. We invite you to read and subscribe.

Sharing memories of Ed Diener, a positive psychology pioneer whose work has touched millions. We invite you to share your pictures and memories in the comments.

Graduates of the MAPP Program at Penn have just published another issue of the MAPP Magazine with articles about maintaining well-being during the pandemic, caregiving, and exploring character strengths.

Beginning on March 18th, the International Positive Psychology Association is kicking off the Evidence in Action Conference, which celebrates the application of positive psychology across fields and disciplines. IPPA has chosen to run a 24-hour program to engage members around the world, sectioned into blocks of time followed by a large breaks so participants can be present and engaged without getting zoom fatigue.

What if there is a false dichotomy between optimism and pessimism?  Could the same individual filter with the caution of the pessimist and choose the hope and positive outcomes of the optimist?

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.

While feeling stressed may be an appropriate reaction to the pandemic, fight for racial justice, and contentious election, the fact that we have powerful inner resources called character strengths can help us cope with these adversity. Here are three constructive actions your strengths can help us do in the face of today’s challenges. Strengths can be a source of hope.

Since you can’t escape yourself, it would serve you better to learn how to be a better friend to yourself, to become someone you don’t need to escape from.

Add positivity, healthy awareness, and joy to your life with a free online resource sponsored by the Penn Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Alumni Association. Along with the goal of helping people find more joy in the moment, the team also wants to help people apply positivity in order to fight infection, thereby lessening the risk of disease and enhancing the ability to thrive.

When I became self-employed, I found myself being the meanest boss I had ever had. Here’s how I switched to self-compassion and what happened as a result.

In the face of the sadness and worry of the coronavirus pandemic, I encourage you to create a digital Positive Portfolio on your smartphone: This is a folder attached to your home screen where you consciously assemble artifacts, such as photos, videos, and music, that evoke memories of special positive valence.

Instead of trying to maintain a beautiful veneer and optimize our performance under the current circumstances, I would like to recommend to open-minded readers something entirely different: cultivate a stance of self-compassion. We don´t need to pretend we have everything under control. We don´t have to be perfect.

Exploring and applying character strengths can help us improve relationships, buffer against negative feelings, and manage problems as well as enhance our well-being during this challenging time. We offer some simple suggestions for activating different character strengths while dealing with this international pandemic.

Studies have revealed that not only are physical, mental, and social well-being important components for total health, but they are tightly interrelated. The evidence also shows that a happy, engaged, and fulfilling psychological and social life is not just a consequence of good health. It leads people to live a healthy and long life. Medical providers, patients and their families need positive medicine.