INPM: An Inclusive and Interdisciplinary Tent

Editorial
Luis A. Marrero, MA, RODP

I am pleased to write my first contribution as Editor for The Positive Living Newsletter; and grateful for the vote of confidence that Dr. Paul Wong and the new International Network for Personal Meaning (INPM) Board of Directors has bestowed on me.

The Board held its first retreat on October 27 and 28 in Toronto, Canada; and an ambitious as well as exciting agenda has emerged for the benefit of our current and future INPM members. This includes our goal of welcoming and collaborating with several allied psychology associations. In his President’s Report, Dr. Wong introduces the new Board members, and provides highlights of the first Board meeting. In the report he expands on the value and wisdom of integrating “…the positive psychology of meaning research as well as insights from other branches of psychology…” We look forward to collaborating with other professional associations and adding value to our membership through this multidisciplinary approach!

We too look forward to what will be a stimulating 9^th Biennial International Meaning Conference, to be held in Toronto, Canada, from July 28^th through the 31^st, 2016. See also further details about the Conference in Dr. Wong’s President Report. We will enjoy welcoming you to beautiful Toronto.

Our Featured Member for this edition of The Positive Living Newsletter is Dr. Gordon Medlock, a member of INPM’s Board of Directors. We encourage you to learn about your officers and Directors, and to approach us during our events. We would very much enjoy meeting you in person.

Finally, continuing my previous contribution on my logoteleology theory or Meaningful Purpose Psychology, I share a short paper, Suffering in Meaningful Purpose Psychology. Feedback and comments are welcomed.

Please join INPM or renew your membership. You are very welcome to “Our Tent”.

Luis A. Marrero
luis@bostonimp.com

Make a difference by becoming an INPM member!

President's Report Paul T.P. Wong, PhD

INPM Starts a New Chapter

The inception of the International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM) was as audacious as the start-up of a new business venture, with nothing more than a dream and passion. In those early days, fearless of obstacles and failures, I forged ahead with all I had and got my hands dirty in many aspects of the fledging organization just to keep the dream alive.

That was back in 1998. Now, after 18 years of struggle, I feel gratified that I have accomplished more than I expected. I am now very pleased to have an active and responsible Board to move forward. [...]

From left: Paul, *Brent, Daniel, Luis, Gordon, Chieh, Lilian, and Ryan.

9th Biennial International Meaning Conference • July 28-31, 2016 • Toronto

Suffering in Meaningful Purpose Psychology

CEO, Boston Institute for Meaningful Purpose

Viktor Frankl (2006) shared that “we can discover this meaning in life in three different ways: (1) by creating a work or doing a deed; (2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.” Logoteleology or Meaningful Purpose Psychology (2013) embraces Frankl’s propositions; yet it differentiates between two types of suffering, and offers preventive and meaningful alternatives to confronting life’s painful challenges.

Meaningful Purpose Psychology (MPP) is the scientific study of the meanings that enable people and institutions to succeed. Its scientific name is logoteleology (Marrero, 2013). While MPP provides remedial interventions to deal with existential problems, logoteleology is primarily dedicated to prevent conditions that lead to the existential vacuum [...]

Personal Reflection: Gordon Medlock

It’s a pleasure and an honor to be elected to the new INPM Board of Directors. I’ve been asked to share a bit about my role on the Board and relevant experiences related to the work of INPM. As some of you know, I have been engaged in supporting Paul Wong’s meaning summit project to develop more integrative perspectives, approaches, and agendas for meaning-oriented research and practice. Following the 2014 congress in Vancouver, jointly sponsored by INPM and the Constructivist Psychology Network, I submitted an article summarizing the contributions of all the panel participants and agreed, with the support of Paul and Bob Neimeyer, to be a guest editor of a special meaning edition of the Journal of Constructivist Psychology (JCP) devoted to the work of the panel participants. I am delighted to report that we have 12 excellent articles addressing the meaning summit agenda, providing insights into the opportunities and challenges that face our field of meaning-oriented research and practice. [...]