Conferences

Nick Vujicic was born with phocamelia, a rare congenital condition that involves malformation of the limbs. With only a tiny little foot, he has defied the odds by becoming a motivational speaker, husband, and father. How has this been possible? As I observe him hobble on the platform set up on stage, I take a good hard look at myself. Here are 3 reasons that he inspires me.

Learn about a free online conference sponsored by Dr. Heidi Halvorson and scheduled for September that brings together numerous experts to address the question, “There’s a lot of advice out there – but where’s the evidence that it actually works?”

Time to take another look at the IPPA Third World Congress. How wide was the coverage? Then how deep did positive psychology go when it was embodied by the Chilean miners during their long ordeal? This was one of the stories I heard when I was at the conference.

Nansook Park made Chris Peterson vivid again by sharing funny and wise memories about what he taught us about the good life. Barbara Fredrickson, receiving the Chris Peterson Gold Medal Award from IPPA, put it to a use that honors his statement, “Other people matter.” Martin Seligman challenged members of the positive psychology community to complete Chris Peterson’s unfinished symphony.

It is possible to create constructive news stories, even when horrible events occur. It’s being done in a growing number of conventional newsrooms. News can leave the audience with inspiration, hope, and solutions that were already there in the situation. As reporters, we need to look for them to see them. Here are some of the Positive Psychology tools that lead to constructive journalism.

The IPPA Third Wold Congress had up to 9 parallel sessions, so everybody’s experience was different. But some events were shared by most attendees, including fresh ways to think about the future and about love.

The American Psychological Association’s 2013 Work and Well-Being Conference in Chicago made me wonder. What if there was a way to tip the scales from workplaces being primary sources of stress to workplaces providing knowledge and skills to overcome life stressors, whether the stressors originate in the workplace or elsewhere?

Mindful of the need to turn inspiration into action, I posed a challenge in the last slide: “What can you do to bring Positive Education to your school system?” They were then given heart-shaped post-its upon which to write down their intentions.

More than 300 educators, psychologists, counselors, students, and administrative heads of learning institutions across the Philippines gathered at the Villa Careres Hotel in Naga City to participate in the First National Convention on Positive Psychology. How did this festive and educational event come about?

Dr. Paul Wong opened the second day of the 7th Biennial Meaning Conference with the statement that he had worked for 10 years to bring positive psychologists to work together with existential and humanistic psychologists in order to deepen our understanding of meaning in life.

When you think of the meaning of your life, do you think of making it, searching for it, finding it, or noticing it? Do you associate meaning with times of well-being or do you believe meaning becomes apparent primarily in times of suffering?

As my plane landed at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Thursday, I looked out the window and saw large letters spelling “HAPPY” on the main terminal wall. The sign struck me as a foreshadowing of the days ahead.

On June 28th in Chicago, I had the privilege to attend the Work & Well-Being Conference by APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program. Engaging speakers offered different perspectives on this broad but increasingly relevant topic. Discussions ranged from the macro level: an examination of wellness programs implemented by organizations across the nation to the micro level: recommendations for individuals to deal successfully with stress.

I am disappointed that I won’t be able to attend the International Meaning Conference coming up in Toronto at the end of July. They are putting together an all-star line up of researchers in positive psychology with an emphasis on “healing and flourishing through meaning.” They are also honoring 3 major contributors to our understanding of meaning.

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.

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.

Planning your summer calendar? There are four conferences occurring in June and July that dovetail with Positive Psychology. From a focus on meaning in Toronto to workplace well-being in Chicago to fitness and wellness in San Diego.

Curtains up! Light the lights! July 20-21 and the Canadian Positive Psychology Conference will soon be upon us! The conference will feature highlights of current research in the field, but we will also be hearing from practitioners who have successfully applied positive psychology in their practices. We are anticipating a rich dialogue between research and practice.

Seven hundred people attended a 3-day event on Contemplative Studies including early morning yoga, guided meditations, keynote addresses, panels, master lectures, and posters describing research projects. With hundreds more on a waiting list, the magnitude of the event demonstrated the fervor emerging in the scientific community around contemplative practices.

On 13 April 2012, George Mason University held its third annual conference on the intersection of resilience, well-being, leadership, and strengths. This year’s theme, Living and Leading with Resilience, attracted a sold-out crowd eager to learn from researchers and practitioners such as Rick Hanson, Chris Peterson, Nansook Park, Todd Kashdan, Sarah Pressman, and Kim Cameron.