The mustard seed principle: The story of INPM
Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D., C. Psych.
President, International Network on Personal Meaning
Coquitlam, B.C., Canada

A tiny seed was planted a few years ago and it has been growing steadily ever since. That is the story of the International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM).

It began as an idea in one man's mind. The idea was to establish a network of scholars and students from all over the globe dedicated to the study of personal meaning and its applications.

From its inception, INPM was meant to be a different kind of learned society, one that would be both international and interdisciplinary. It was also intended to be a different kind of organization, one that would be open, fluid, and dynamic, responding to changing needs and rapid shifts in social conditions.

In short, it would be a new kind of association held together by the strength of a shared vision rather than ideology or professional identity.

This organizational experiment is still ongoing and evolving. I hope that in the next stage of development, national networks will be formed so that they can implement the vision of INPM in their own languages.

Since the INPM is unlike any other professional or academic association, sometimes it is difficult to explain to others who we are as an organization. But it is never difficult to communicate to people what really matters - the heart and soul of the INPM and its vision to improve the human condition through meaning and spirituality.