The post Introducing the EPP Bulletin appeared first on International Network on Personal Meaning.

Submissions may be based on empirical research, case studies, literature review, or theoretical formulation.

PRIZES

As judged by a panel of adjudicators consisting of Piers Worth, Ph.D., Roger Tweed, Ph.D., and Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D., the winners will receive the following scholarships:

• First Prize: CAD $1,000
• Second Prize: CAD $800
• Third Prize: CAD $500
• Honourable mention: CAD $300

All four winners will have their papers published in the International Journal of Existential Positive Psychology.

Winners must be Student Members of the INPM in order to receive the prize. Click here for membership registration.

Winners will be notified before the end of this year.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All graduate students are invited to submit their papers to drpaulwong@gmail.com and Cc timothy.tfm.yu@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM on November 30^th, 2022

1. The email subject line should be “Joshua Wong Scholarship | Author Name(s)”
2. The attached file(s) should be .docx or .doc (or .rtf for those without Microsoft Word)
3. Text should be single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt font
4. The paper should be 2,000 -3,000 words (not including references) with a 200-word abstract
5. The submission should be authored by either (a) one graduate student OR (b) one graduate student as the first author and a supervisor as the second author.

References

Wong, P. T. P. (2019). Second wave positive psychology’s (PP 2.0) contribution to counselling psychology. Counselling Psychology Quarterly [Special Issue]. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2019.1671320

Wong, P. T. P., Mayer, C.-H., & Arslan, G. (2021). COVID-19 and existential positive psychology (PP2.0): The new science of self-transcendence [Editorial]. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.800308/full

The post Joshua Wong Research Scholarship Contest appeared first on International Network on Personal Meaning.

“Woke up early this morning, praying for ways to get through all the competing voices and get my message out. How can I sum up the Meaningful Living Movement in a simple effective statement? Here is my first attempt: To make life better for all, we need to focus on living a reflective, responsible, and resilient life.

This rewarding journey begins with moments of reflection. An unexamined life is not worth living. Today, I need to re-examine my own life — my resources, limitations, and most cherished ideals. I need to contemplate on what really matters and what should demand most of my energy and time. Most specifically, I need to reflect on the various options so that I can decide on the most effective way to launch the Meaningful Living Movement (M4L).”

In response to his posting, Carrina Chan Wong donated $10,000 CAD. This unsolicited contribution was taken as the “Go Ahead” signal from God to launch this project. After much preparation, the project was launched later in 2011.

At the initial first Meetup to gauge the interest in Meaningful Living, over 20 people showed up. After some discussion, the group decided to have two meetups each week in order to accommodate more people – one meetup on Sunday afternoon, and another one on Wednesday evening.

The first round of Meetups consisted of 12 lessons. The format was simple: firstly, a brief meet-and-greet, then a half-an-hour PowerPoint presentation by Paul Wong to be followed by small group discussion, ending with a time of refreshment and social. Each session took about one and a half hour.

Wong (2011) introduced the M4L meetup as a grassroot mental health movement in the Canadian Psychological Association’s Psynopsis. At its height, over 40 people participated in the Meaningful Living Meetup. A video about the meetup in action can be found through this YouTube link.

The M4L project has evolved from its conception as a follow-up course developed by Paul Wong during the 90s for those who have attended the Alpha Course. The re-incarnation of this project in 2011 continued the conversation on a purpose-driven and meaning-centered life, but with a broader vision – it is designed to advance positive mental health for all people regardless of their religious and sexual orientations.

A great deal of energy has been devoted to spread the good news of meaningful living. Over the years, hundreds of people have gone through different M4L courses and lasting friendships have been formed. Some have become members of the International Network on Personal Meaning.

Wong has suspended the meetups for now because of COVID-19. He plans to restart the meetups in the near future. Looking forward, he also hopes that the M4L project can be adapted to different languages and used in different countries for all those searching for meaning in a time of chaos and uncertainty. All the course materials of the M4L project can be found on the INPM’s Website or on the Meaningful Living Project Channel on YouTube.

References

Wong, P. T. P. (2011). Giving positive psychology away. Psynopsis. Retrieved from http://www.cpa.ca/docs/file/Psynopsis/PsynopsisWEBSpring2011.pdf

The post History of the Meaningful Living Project appeared first on International Network on Personal Meaning.

Learn from one of the originators of second wave positive psychology (PP 2 .0) about how to embrace the dark side of human existence.

Dr. Paul T. P. Wong will offer a Certificate Course on PP 2.0. This course represents exciting new developments in positive psychology. You will learn the following:

1. How to see the light and remain optimistic during the darkest hours.
2. How to embrace your “evil twin” in order to become an authentic and complete self.
3. How to cultivate the mature happiness of peace, joy, and contentment in the midst of troubles and shortages.
4. How to become your best self by transcending all your limitations and pursuing the highest ideals of truth, goodness, and excellence.

Since people are complex and life is complicated, PP 2.0 favors a
holistic approach to research and interventions that can deepen our understanding of wellbeing and achieve durable results. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS!

CALL FOR PAPERS for a new collection on COVID-19 and Existential Positive Psychology

(SUBMIT YOUR PAPER(S) HERE)

In the era of COVID-19, many people have suffered high levels of stress and mental health problems. To cope with the widespread of suffering (physical, psychological, social, and economical) the positive psychology of personal happiness is no longer adequate.

One of the exciting new developments in psychology is existential positive psychology (PP 2.0) based on Viktor Frankl’s theory of self-transcendence as a promising framework for research and intervention on how to achieve sustainable wellbeing and happiness through transforming inevitable suffering and inherent human limitations.

This may be the most exciting positive news coming out from COVID-19, because it provides a realistic yet optimistic blueprint for research and intervention that we can use to turn all our negative experiences to our advantage for personal growth and success.

This Research Topic aims to examine the different approaches to Positive Psychology and their influence on individual wellbeing during the COVID-19 era. We welcome diverse approaches discussing overcoming the challenges of every stage of development; the role of self-transcendence in resilience, virtue, meaning, and happiness; the upside of negative emotions; cultivating the resilient mindset and character; and how to use suffering to achieve our potential.

My FREE e-book, Effective Coping with COVID-19 According to Viktor E. Frankl and Paul T. P. Wong, is out now!

Please follow this link to download your free copy. This book is a response to the enormous threat to our mental health posed by COVID-19. The pandemic has exposed both the inadequacy of our present mental health system and the inherent limitations of human beings. The traditional way of facing disruptions with individual strengths is no longer adequate in overcoming this global disaster, which calls for a collective and transformative way of coping.

I have put together this resource book based on my expertise in coping, meaning therapy and existential positive psychology. This book shows how you can develop your innate capabilities and coping skills to adapt well to the era of the pandemic. This book is grounded in both scientific research and clinical experiences. It was written in an inspirational but down-to-earth manner. The new vision of resilience and joy in the face of an uncertain future will empower you to go through the darkest hours with optimism.

The post Miscellany October 2020 appeared first on International Network on Personal Meaning.

The INPM is pleased to announce two free  webinars hosted by Dr. Paul T.P. Wong on growing during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Webinar A explains: (a) Why we need to accept COVID-19 as an opportunity to develop existential courage to transcend suffering as a rock foundation to build a better life, and (b) Why the new science of suffering is necessary for sustainable flourishing in times like this.

Webinar B shows: (a) How Viktor Frankl developed the antidote against suffering, and (b) How existential positive interventions transform suffering into character strength and joy.

These two webinars constitute the Introduction to a Certificate Course on Existential Positive Psychology (PP 2.0) and Meaning-Focused Interventions, which will be offered later.

All registrants will receive Dr. Wong’s new ebook Made for Resilience and Happiness as the textbook for the webinar (see below).

To register, for these webinars click here. Space is limited so register today! (NOTE: If you are registering using a mobile device, you may have to click the link twice to register for the two separate webinars)

The presenter: Dr. Paul T. P. Wong Ph.D., C.Psych is the President of the INPM and a renowned psychologist, who pioneers in the new science of flourishing through suffering. He invites you to inquire about becoming a member of the new Research Institute on Flourishing & Suffering.

Research Institute on flourishing and suffering

From the perspective of second wave positive psychology (PP 2.0), the complexity of the human mind can be best understood in terms of contractions between opposing forces, such as good and evil, happiness and suffering. Therefore, the circle of wholeness and wellbeing consists of two halves, the existential positive psychology of suffering (Yin) and the positive psychology of flourishing (Yang).

Research on the relationship between flourishing and suffering demands more attention because healing, flourishing, and growth may depend on the optimal tension and balancing between conflicting forces. (Wong, 2019). When we embrace suffering and death as part of us, and work with them as our life partners, we may become more open, authentic, and creative, resulting in sustainable flourishing.

“Yes, ironically, this is the very wound that can lead to new spiritual growth.  Thinking of your death can help you to radically alter your fixed and habitual perception. Instead of living according to the merely visible material realm of life, you begin to refine your sensibility and become aware of the treasures that are hidden in the invisible side of life.” (O’Donohue, 1999)

The RIFS is the research arm of the International Society for Existential Positive Psychology, the professional division of the INPM. Its objective is to support original collaborative research, maintain a Research Ethics Board, and publish a peer reviewed journal (The International Journal of Existential Positive Psychology [IJEPP]). You are invited to becoming a founding member of this institute (www.meaning.ca/membership).

Are you interested in: (a) enrolling in the forthcoming certificate course on EPP and Meaning Therapy?  and/or (b) joining our Research Institute on Flourishing & Suffering as a member? If so, please email us at drpaulwong@gmail.com.

References

O’Donohue, J. (1999). Anam Cara: Spiritual wisdom from the Celtic world. Transworld Pub.

Wong, P. T. P. (2019). Second wave positive psychology’s (PP 2.0) contribution to counselling psychology. Counselling Psychology Quarterly [Special Issue]. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2019.1671320

The post Miscellany July 2020 appeared first on International Network on Personal Meaning.

The study is administered online. It aims to measure different mechanisms of psychological coping and its beneficial/detrimental effects on mental health with a longitudinal design. A special emphasis is put on elements proposed by existential positive psychology such as meaning in life, mature happiness, prosocial behavior, responsibility, and acceptance of negative emotions as potential buffers against stress and mental health problems.

We live in a very intense and crucial time for humanity because for more than a hundred years we have not faced a pandemic as harmful as the current one. As psychologists and researchers, we have the responsibility to measure the psychological effects of this crisis in order to understand which are the most effective coping methods. With this knowledge we will be able to identify the characteristics of the most resilient and also the most vulnerable people with the long-term objective of generating interventions that can help in times of crisis like this.

The principal investigators are Nikolett Eisenbeck, David F. Carreno, Paul T. P. Wong, and Joshua Hicks. We are looking for collaboration and participants. To collaborate, please, send an email to Nikolett (nikolett.eisenbeck@ual.es) or David (carrenodf@ual.es).

To respond to the online survey in English, click here: https://forms.gle/wX1hyPNsMtztQyup8

For further information and available languages, click here: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Psychological-coping-with-the-coronavirus-pandemic.

As a reward for participating in this study, we will send you the following ebook by Dr. Paul Wong.

The post Multinational Research on Psychological Coping With COVID-19 appeared first on International Network on Personal Meaning.

This article is designed to help you explore all of the people, places and things available to help you improve your life starting today.

Right off the bat, I want to share with you some very good news: There are literally DOZENS of places to go and people to talk to when it comes to Self Improvement. The only problem is that it can difficult to comprehend and evaluate all of these options. That’s why I’ve compiled a complete list of 31 Self Improvement resources. Consider it a brainstorming session to help you think about and understand all of the different choices available.

I’ve divided the list into five sections, and for each section, I include the pros and cons of using those particular resources. Basically, I want you to use this list for two reasons:

• To get you thinking about all of the different resources available to you, and
• To get you thinking about their advantages and disadvantages, so you can appropriately choose the right one(s).

So, how many of these resources have YOU used to improve your life?

YOUR IMMEDIATE CIRCLE OF CONTACTS (1-4)

As a general rule, the people in this group are more likely to give you personal attention, and they are more likely to sincerely care about your needs. There are two things to look out for, though. These people are not necessarily experts in the areas where you need to improve, and they might have their own agenda. But they are generally easily accessible and can be great resources.

1. Your Friends
2. Your Family
3. Co-workers
4. Your Employer (boss or manager)

INFORMATION RESOURCES (5-12)

There is an unbelievable wealth of information out there to improve your life. On the Internet alone, there are over five million websites with the exact phrases of “Self Help” or “Self Improvement.” On Amazon.com, there are over 190,000 books with references to these topics. Almost all the information you are looking for can be found here, but it could take hundreds of lifetimes to find the right information for you. Which of these resources do you currently use to help you improve your life?

5. Internet Websites
6. Books (Library, Bookstore)
7. Seminars, Retreats
8. High School, College or Continuing Education Courses.
9. Audio Programs
10. Television and Video Programs
11. Radio
12. Other Media, Magazines, Movies, Music

TRAINED PROFESSIONALS (13-22)

A trained professional can help you survive and thrive in many areas of your life. Many have worked with people in your exact circumstances and helped them find the answers they were looking for. As a general rule, professionals can provide you with more objectivity than you would get from a friend or family member.

One of the challenges of working with trained professionals is finding one that is suitable for you. It is important to find the right type of trained professional (i.e.–therapist or personal coach) and then the best person based on your background, needs, and personality. Trained professionals can be very expensive to work with and in some instances have a stigma attached to them. But in many cases, the benefits of working with a trained professional far outweigh the costs and the risk.

13. Therapists (Professional Counselors, Psychologists)
14. Personal Coaches, Life Coaches
15. Clergy (i.e. Priest, Minister, Rabbi)
16. Accountant, Attorney, Stockbroker, Financial Planner
17. Self Improvement Experts (Tony Robbins, Dr. Phil)
18. Librarians
19. Personal Trainer
20. Doctors and Other Health Care Professionals
21. Employment Experts (Job Placement Experts)
22. Psychics, Spiritualists, Yogis

ORGANIZATIONS (23-25)

I am using the term “organizations” in a very broad sense. These can include non-profit and for-profit organizations and both professional and social organizations. The biggest benefit that many of these organizations provide is the ability to work with, network with, and share experiences with people in the same boat, on the same mission, or with the same problem. These organizations frequently have “trained professionals,” often have people who are our friends and family, and use “Known Information Resources” to help each of us grow. These types of organizations are not for everybody, and the benefits that you get back are tied directly into what you are contributing. The wrong group could be a waste of time, but the right group could change your life forever.

23. Non-Profit Support Groups (i.e.–AA, Child Support Groups)
24. Social and Professional Organizations (i.e.–Toastmasters, MENSA)
25. Spas, Health Clubs
26. Personal Support Network (Master Mind Groups)

OTHERS POTENTIAL AREAS (27-31)

The above areas covered countless resources to improve your life. Here I have included some additional areas that others have found helpful in the past. As you can see, there is a tremendous amount of overlap between the different resources.

27. Free Government Resources (Hotlines, Brochures, Help Centers)
28. Inner Guidance (Asking and Giving Yourself Help)
29. Pets for other wisdom (Great listeners)
30. Mentors
31. God

Now that you have gone through the whole list, I have an assignment for you. I want you to evaluate each of the areas above and try to determine which of these has helped you the most in the past. Then see which resources you can use to make your future a bright one.

FINAL NOTE

For those of you who want to additional resources right away, we have written a comprehensive book, entitled:

“Self Improvement: The Top 101 Experts That Help Us Improve Our Lives”

This book is a groundbreaking 460-page comprehensive resource with detailed information on the top 101 experts, their insights, their messages, and their products.

You can learn the secrets of Tony Robbins, Dr. Phil, Zig Ziglar, Deepak Chopra, Stephen Covey, Wayne Dyer, Dale Carnegie, plus 94 more in this epic 460-page book on Self Improvement.

To get complete details, visit www.selfgrowth.com/topexperts.html

Copyright ©2004 by Self Improvement Online, Inc.

David Riklan is the founder of www.SelfGrowth.com, the #1 Rated “Self Improvement” site on the Web. He creates resources, such as his e-book, http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/top101.html, E-Course, & FREE newsletters, to help you achieve success.

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