Fields

I invite you to the upcoming 8th World Congress on Positive Psychology. Over the course of the four days attendees will see the latest innovations in the field of positive psychology research and practice. To whet your appetite, I describe here 3 sessions that I can’t wait to attend. Be there in Vancouver BC, July 20-23.

This issue of the MAPP Magazine introduces the new magazine staff for the magazine with articles about their passion areas: Abi Tschetter writes about the power of personal narratives, Pax Tandon about the directions she thinks positive psychology should take, Mark O’Brien about a deeply personal experience of post-traumatic growth, and Kimberly Dickman about the importance of touch.

If the name Clifton rings a bell, it should. For three generations starting with Donald Clifton, this remarkable American family has been synonymous with surveys and the systematic study of…

This issue of MAPP Magazine deals with the theme of Civic Engagement: how volunteering to help run elections can increase well-being; how positive psychology can be applied to approach discussions with adherents of extremist groups so that interventions are not perceived as personal attacks; and how members of a community can use strengths to make connections and facilitate curious conversations among those with opposing political views.

The practical problem with emotional contagion is not just in spotting the outbreak. By then it might be too late to save either self or a contact community from ill effect. But are there strategic tools to spot ominous spreads from afar? If you or people close to you do catch an emotional infection, how should it be treated? Can this kind of wave be contained? This book explores detection, identification, and containment of emotional contagion..

Today is the launch day for the eBook of Kathryn Britton’s new must-read guide to writing:Sit Write Share This book should be a resource in your personal library like a great cookbook is a staple in your kitchen. Kathryn suggests that people approach writing with an experimental mindset. Likely some of her 55 experiments will become favorite go-to staples that appear frequently on your writing menu, while others will help you think holistically about planning a dinner party — presumably the book or long-form piece that you want to write.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whether you’re bringing your expressive medium to the side of a creek, having a collaborative meeting while on a mountain hike, or simply taking some time by yourself to sit and breath in the forest, the natural outdoors can be a huge benefit to the creative person, process, and lifestyle.

This is the second part of an interview of Henry Edwards about his book, The Daily Better. Today we dig a little deeper. We talk about better ways of making decisions than being driven by fear. We also discuss the impact he has had on the world views of his high school students and explore his plans for a future book targeted for them and their age peers.

In 2019, Henry Edwards published The Daily Better: 365 Reasons for Optimism. I interviewed him on December 12 about why he wrote the book. I learned that he personally changed his world view to be more open and hopeful and that he hopes his book will help others do the same.