Elaine O’Brien, PhD, MAPP ’08, is a constructive psychology, health management, constructive well being promotion,
motion science, growing older, and well-being speaker, creator, coach, thought chief, individuals/venture supervisor, educator, and
guide. Elaine creates packages selling proactive constructive well being/health, and optimum efficiency.
Elaine presents internationally and on-line. She advances well being, health, and flourishing by inspiring individuals to maneuver extra and
to seek out each enjoyment and that means in movement through PEP: Constructive Train Practices.
Elaine’s web site.
Full bio.
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The IPPA World Congress 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, was a luxurious feast of empirical analysis, idea, and utilized delights. The convention program and folks included attendees from throughout the globe. Collectively we reveled within the goodness of the science we’re all in search of to advance. There have been alternatives to satisfy, care, and share. Many occasions highlighted strengths, empowerment, willpower, friendships, and constructive connections to the science and one another.
Let’s have a look at this yr’s stellar occasion from a Transcendent Strengths perspective. Within the VIA Character Strengths, the transcendent strengths are people who assist us hook up with the bigger universe. Expression of those strengths enhances the sense that life is significant. The strengths within the Transcendence advantage are appreciation of magnificence and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality.
Appreciation of Magnificence and Excellence
Convention planning led by Andrew Soren and his crew was wonderful certainly. The number of a variety of matters, together with from caring for underserved populations, and the setting, the agenda hit a candy spot to propel considering, conversations, and analysis because the science of constructive psychology advances into the subsequent wave. There was a steadiness of time for studying, dialogue, and celebration all constructed into the time collectively.
Conference Middle
Town of Vancouver supplied a chance to savor distinctive magnificence, together with an outside recreation pre-conference session led by Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore and mates, journeys to get pleasure from a stunning a part of the world, and even between-session strolls on the waterfront promenade outdoors the gorgeous convention heart. At one level, after 5 hours indoors, I observed a window with a stunning view of the surroundings outdoors. I used to be grateful.
Gratitude:
Gratitude includes feeling a deep sense of thankfulness in life and taking time to precise thankfulness to others. The examine of gratitude is an attractive a part of the science of utilized constructive psychology. Gratitude has been discovered to be beneficially related to psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Gratitude is a predictor of fascinating life outcomes.
Gratitude in motion
The convention itself was a wealthy expertise that allowed us to expertise gratitude in being collectively stay, after a number of conferences held nearly in response to Covid.
As an outgoing board member of the IPPA Constructive Well being and Wellbeing Division, I skilled gratitude for the providers of the 2 award winners, Dr. Karen Garman, MAPP, and Dr. Sarah Pressman. It was a pleasure to look at them current their work after which see them honored for his or her contributions to Constructive Well being, by outgoing division president, Dr. Joel Milam.
Dr. Garman’s speak title was, “It made a distinction for that one,” referring to the story of the boy on the seashore tossing starfish again within the water. Dr. Pressman spoke concerning the therapeutic energy of smiling. Each contributed to my sense of hope for the long run.
Hope
Hope is about anticipating one thing constructive. It includes being future minded. One of many excessive level moments round hope for me was the wealthy international analysis offered by Dr. Helena Agueda Marujo from Portugal and Dr. Andreas Krafft from Switzerland on the session, Hope Throughout Cultures: Classes from the Worldwide Hope Barometer.
The 2 audio system are concerned in shut collaborations on hope throughout continents. Their work integrates views from psychology, philosophy, and theology. They’ve developed a novel idea and mannequin of hope supported by empirical information. They’re each devoted to advancing this essential imaginative and prescient and sharing their provocative iterative analysis through an open-source journal (see references under). I consider this journal priming goodness, peace, and hope on the planet.
Humor
Laughing collectively
There have been many alternatives for enjoyable, play, and lightness throughout the convention. Humor can deepen our studying whereas contributing to social interactions, constructive relationships, and progress towards better targets. In truth, humor was not laborious to seek out at this culturally numerous occasion. Throughout the night social gathering, there was enjoyable, dancing, and laughter whereas gifted presenters sang and performed stunning music, a few of it spoofing standard songs. It jogged my memory of Sarah Pressman’s feedback concerning the science of smiling.
Spirituality
Cultivation of spirituality advances that means, goal, life calling, constructive beliefs concerning the universe, and the expression of advantage and goodness.
Sundown
Dr. Ryan Niemiec led the division assembly for the IPPA Spirituality Division. This standing room solely session featured leaders exhibiting developments on this rising discipline. Dr. Dan Tomasulo led actions that concerned significant conversations, humor, and deep, profound insights for the viewers.
Abstract
There was an abundance of magnificence, excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality on the IPPA World Congress 2023. For me, it was a excessive level of non-public {and professional} transcendence. I’m nonetheless vibrating from the goodness of studying, being with expensive mates, assembly new mates, being impressed, being seen, and caring about one another and our shared humanity.
References
Marujol, H. A., Velez, M. J., Gonçalves, S. P., Neto, L. M., Krafft, A. M., & Cassais, M. (2021). The worth of hope: Validation of the perceived hope scale within the Portuguese inhabitants. Present Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02115-6
A. M. Krafft, T. Guse, & A Slezackova, editors. Hope Throughout Cultures: Classes from the Worldwide Hope Barometer. Open entry journal.
Niemiec, R. M. (2024). The Mindfulness and Character Strengths Workbook. Hogrefe.
Passmore, H.-A. & Holder, M. D. (2017). Noticing nature: Particular person and social advantages of a two-week intervention. Journal of Constructive Psychology, 12, 537-546. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126.
Tomasulo, D. (2020). Discovered Hopefulness: The Energy of Positivity to Overcome Melancholy. New Harbinger Publications.
UCI Press Launch (2015). When You’re Smiling. Story about Sarah Pressman’s analysis.
Picture Credit
Vancouver Conference Middle by Elaine O’Brien
Espresso Cup Photograph by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Laughing collectively by Siviwe Kapteyn on Unsplash
Sundown by Elaine O’Brien