Description

Existential positive psychology, also known as PP 2.0, is well positioned to address the impacts of the stress brought on by COVID-19, because it integrates existentialism’s focus on suffering with positive psychology’s concentration on flourishing. Especially in these pandemic times, a psychology that focuses solely on the positive seems out of touch with reality. As the physical, mental, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 continue, many of us are experiencing a crisis of meaning. Existential positive psychology highlights the importance of meaning making in the aftermath of a crisis, especially meaning that is oriented toward self-transcendence. Crisis can become the opportunity for change, as we re-consider, both individually and collectively, the meanings we live by. Self-compassion can aid us in this process of self-reflection, as we use our meaning-making abilities to work with and through our suffering, whether it is a personal story of cancer and suicide loss or the collective story of COVID-19.