International Journal of Existential Positive Psychology

Healing the Divide Through Wholeness: Holding on to What Makes Us Human

Pninit Russo-Netzer, Ph.D

Researcher and Lecturer, Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Haifa

Abstract

This article focuses on the epistemological and experiential aspects through which we can gather together the fragmented pieces of our reality. I aim to broaden the overarching framework of wholeness in second wave positive psychology (PP 2.0) and argue that healing the growing divide between components of humans, systems, and disciplines must be acknowledged and validated as essential to achieving a more complete wholeness. First, I advocate for expanding our ways of knowing by becoming aware of and embracing multiple dimensions and perspectives. This approach includes listening to the human voice and understanding the human context. It also includes being open-minded and open-hearted in approaching varied ways of knowing. Second, I advocate for broadening the scope of what it means to be human. This includes understanding and validating humans holistically by moving beyond zero-sum, binary categories to consider the value of human paradoxes, limitations, and complexities, as well as appreciating the joining of opposites and the value of brokenness. I then conclude with a few suggestions for future application of these ideas and offer concluding remarks.

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