MAPP Alumni Magazine

Published by and for the U. Penn. Master of Applied Positive Psychology Alumni WINTER 2014

In this issue

Updates from MAPP Alumni P.2 Responses to “An Open Letter” P.3 Featured: Introducing sisu P.4 Teacher Training in India P.7 Photos from Summit P.7

An Open Letter from the MAPP Alumni Board Call for papers ... Vice President Please submit your news, essays By Emily vanSonnenberg, MAPP ‘10 and commentary for the Spring edition of the newsletter. Include the author name(s) and As our year serving on the MAPP Alumni Board has come to an a brief bio. -- ed. end, taking a moment to savor the past year only seems appropriate. Everyone on the Board has contributed to our community in valuable ways and because of this, we have created Tip: and accomplished a great deal. In addition to our Board Use full screen mode to best view members, we have also been gifted with help from a number of the newsletter with Acrobat reader. our fellow alumni. Listed below are some of the projects we have begun, achieved, and continue to work toward actualizing on behalf of our MAPP Positive Psychology community:

- Operating Plan: The operating plan is an organizational and content-filled guide that lists the annual events/tasks that the Board needs to accomplish - including, suggestions for when to begin preparing for each task, and date of implementation. This OP will enable future MAPP (Continued on page 3.) Page 1

Editor’s Notes

Aspirations & Boundaries Reflections on the MAPP Summit

by Greg Quinting, Ph.D., MAPP ‘07 search. I decided to attend the Oc- After graduating from the first year tober Summit in Philadelphia and I am so glad I did. The recent film “All is Lost” starring of MAPP, and sitting in as videogra- may first appear to have a title and story that have pher for all of MAPP 2, I felt very WhileGivingWe’re IPositive listened Friends Psychology to the … speakers,Away Call me. met little to do with positive psychology. But it is neither connected to MAPP 1 and 2. When 3 newBy Bobby MAPP Dauman, MAPP friends,‘06 and caught about hopelessness nor especially helplessness. Red- came along, it seemed as if these with my MAPP 2006 friends I felt the ford plays the only character, whom we know only as three classes were quite inter- enthusiasm and eagerness to learn “our man” in the closing credits. The story opens with twined. I attended the first two Sum- that I felt as I participated in the his sailboat gently colliding on the open Indian Ocean with a rogue shipping container, which punches a mits, and felt a sense of closeness program several years ago. I was hole in the boat’s hull. Our man faces a series of es- and intimacy with such a small and very impressed with the incoming calating struggles to survive, the first being repairs to exclusive group. I hadn't returned to MAPP class and very proud of the his boat. The audience is left to wonder throughout campus in easily 4-5 years. So when I accomplishments of the MAPP the film whether our man will live, despite his know- came to this Alumni. It how, resourcefulness and perseverance. Summit, it was was also When is All Hope Lost? Is hope a matter of discern- a bit over- wonderful ment? The film then lead me to the notion that posi- whelming and to see tive psychology goes beyond positive emotion, life disheartening Marty and satisfaction, even beyond “what makes life worth that there were James far more unfa- again and At what point do you miliar faces to be re- keep going and other than familiar minded of people stop? When ones. The inti- the fun the odds are against, macy was lost, times we the odds are impossi- or so I thought. all shared ble, you say, 'That's In true MAPP at the be- it. All is lost. I can't go any further, so I won't.' fashion, those ginning. And other people just keep going for no other unfamiliar fac- reason than just to continue. And that's always I enjoyed es soon be- fascinated me. – Robert Redford, interview with catching came familiar Matt Lauer, Today, NBC Oct. 2013 up with ones, and after the re- the Summit weekend, the intimacy search and the current thinking in living”, to also include consideration of our limits and for me had mostly returned, and I'm the field. I ordered several books as what facing them may tell us about the human condi- re-energized by this community. the speakers mentioned them and I tion and spirit. Do we need to teach people how to Maintaining that sense of intimacy in go on? What do we need to teach? can't wait to read them. Marty's the larger Alumni community that "Top Ten Things" were nothing less I highly recommend all of us in positive psychology each class feels with each other is than inspiring. The posters were see “All is Lost” because I believe it is a vivid portrayal something that we have to actively interesting, the speakers were time- of sisu as Emilia Lahti described in this issue’s fea- cultivate - and it is there. tured article. ly, and the enthusiasm for MAPP Nicholas Hall, MAPP ‘06 continues to be infectious. I'm look- Manager, Behavioral Lab ing forward to attending our annual As we go about our lives we sometimes take on risks, but I hope calculated risks. Despite our calculations Stanford Graduate School of Busi- MAPP Summit more regularly in the we may still find ourselves tested to our limits, physi- ness future. cally and emotionally. We must understand those — Thanks to all who worked so hard to whom we serve who may be so tested, the soldiers, make this event so meaningful and the first responders, those who heal and bring com- worthwhile. fort to the suffering, those we hope who will flourish While I've kept in touch with my even at the limits of their strengths. The science and All the best, Doug Turner, MAPP ‘06 philosophy at our foundation offer us fortitude and MAPP colleagues over the years, I paths to come to terms with our aspirations and had never attended one of the annu- boundaries. al MAPP Summits - until this year. I had been thinking that it was time to — — connect and reconnect with both the MAPP people and the re- [email protected]

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An Open Letter ... Dear Emily:

(continued from page 1) Thank you for your contribution as VP of the Board, and for your thoughtful, com- Boards to work with greater ease and logic. Organized by Lisa Sansom prehensive summary of our work and ad- and Emily vanSonnenberg ventures together! MAPPsters are truly remarkable individuals with an incredible - CPE: The continuing professional education seminars allow us to array of gifts, talents, areas of expertise, continue our love of learning by giving us access to lectures/talks with and beautiful hearts and souls. I am thrilled professionals in and related to our field of Positive Psychology. to have another year working with this Led by the ever-persevering Dave Shearon. great group of individuals!

- Fete: This group put a great deal of time, effort, and heart into With gratitude, creating a space for our alumni to gather and celebrate our shared Marsha interests while at the 2013 Summit. Led and organized by Marsha — Snyder and her amazing crew of dedicated alums: Sara Bartels, Mark I would like to capitalize on Emily and Mar- Tolmachoff, Jennifer Moore-Walker, Jenny Brennan, & Sherry Tsen. sha's savouring. I really wish that each of you could have been in the meeting room - Christopher Peterson Memorial Fellowship: The first MAPP when I presented on our achievements as a scholarship has been created, and will be awarded to a MAPP student Board. There were so many wide-open each year to help with the cost of education expenses. Beginning in eyes, truly impressed by all we have done. 2014, this scholarship will enable greater ease while pursuing this important education. Kathryn also was able to call in to talk more Led by Shannon Polly and with the help of her passionate crew, about the website mappalum.org, and it including: Susan Hwang, Adam Mussell, Marsha Snyder, Kathryn was pretty clear that many people present and Emily vanSonnenberg. had no idea about the wealth of MAPP knowledge that exists on the members- - MAPP Magazine: Our MAPP Magazine (as it is now known) took only part of the site. shape this year - highlighting news in our community and profiles on various MAPPsters and their contributions to the field. James presented about the Chris Peterson Thanks to our exceptional Secretary, Greg Quinting for all his time, care, Memorial Fellowship since Shannon wasn't and precision in this creation. able to be there at that time, and there was a very encouraging round of applause - this is something that the Alumni Commu- - Facebook: Thanks to Caroline Miller for her diligent management of nity has worked towards for eight years!!! our online Facebook page

- MAPPALUM.ORG website: Our alumni website is alive and kicking, The support and appreciation from our and has undergone much care and attention. Check it out regularly to MAPP community was tremendous, and I do think that we shared some great com- stay updated on our community and the UPenn MAPP program. pelling reasons for MAPP alum to get more Thanks to Kathryn Britton for her continued dedication, willingness, and involved. expertise in giving our community a space to find relevant information.

A special thanks to our President, Lisa Sansom, for leading us this We have created enormous value of both the head and heart variety for our class- year. Lisa, you are a delight to team up with. You always brought your mates and MAPP friends. Thank you all. It's enthusiastic spirit, and your progressive, practical ideas are matched so important that you were part of this, only by the respect you give to others. What a President you have and I am grateful to you all for your service. been!

Thank you. Thank you, Lisa

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Above and Beyond Perseverance – Introducing Sisu

By Emilia Lahti, MAPP ‘13 that sisu is a quality that can be self-defined, known capacity, The nuts and bolts of Sisu 2.0 cultivated and developed through stretching the existing conscious effort, and the of psychological strength. respondents also showed interest Debut of Sisu as Psychological in engaging in such activities. The Strength The large number of respondents majority expressed a need for more (over 1,800 out of which 1,060 discussion around sisu in the media, took the entire survey) was an Finland has a cultural construct as well as in the context of encouraging indicator of known as sisu, which interest in the subject. The refers to the enigmatic study, advised by Dr. power of individuals to Angela Duckworth, gained push though unbearable interest in both Finnish challenges and take and American media extraordinary action to (including the Running overcome mental or Times magazine). The physical challenges. Sisu study’s results were also as a term dates back presented and discussed hundreds of years and is at the 3rd World Congress an integral part of the on Positive Psychology in country’s cultural Los Angeles in June 2013, discourse. Consequently, and further research on it has been usually sisu is planned to begin studied as a cultural 2014. component but as a psychological construct sisu has remained under- education and the workplace. Sisu Compared to Other Related researched and poorly defined. Overall, the most commonly held Constructs view of sisu is that of a powerful In the Finnish media and My recent MAPP capstone in the psychological strength capacity mainstream discourse, sisu is spring of 2013 was the first study to (62%), rather than the ability to be occasionally used to describe explore the term from a persistent and stick to a task (34%). persistence and ability to pursue psychological perspective, and a long-term goal. This would, seeking to describe sisu in a more Sisu seems to contribute to what I however, make sisu essentially accessible language. A related on- have named the action mindset; a the same as persistence, or even line survey tracked the cultural consistent, courageous approach grit (if passion is involved). It was representations of sisu among toward challenges that first seem to interesting to examine whether 1,060 contemporary Finns and exceed our observed capacities. sisu, as a psychological strength, Finnish Americans. The majority This mindset leads to action to would render itself somehow (83%) of the respondents believed reach beyond a person’s previously Continued next page ...

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Above and Beyond Perseverance – Introducing Sisu (continued) ... different from other similar Grit may be especially useful when constructs and therefore add Sisu differs from grit in at least two working with people who have something useful to the current fundamental ways. Firstly, while grit undergone trauma and endured research (beyond being merely an is perseverance injected with zeal extreme adversity. examination of a cultural and passion for a long term goal, construct). In the following, sisu is sisu is about going on even if Resilience briefly compared to some of its passion is lacking. Often, there may Resilience refers to positive equally tough peers. not be a glorious reward in the end adaptation to a trauma or of the trial but simply the gift of adversity. It is the ability to Perseverance bounce back Perseverance is from hardship the ability to keep and begin anew. on going and stick According to to a task through most research, frustration, resilience is not boredom and entirely a hardship. Though genetic trait but sisu sometimes is considered a has this long term dynamic process component to it, on which our its most learned coping pronounced methods, beliefs element, and attitudes according to the have an impact. survey results, is Sisu begins where perseverance ends. I see sisu as a the ability to take subcategory of action against the odds and display waking up to see a new day dawn. this process of resilience, and as a extraordinary courage in the face of Secondly, though ‘being gritty’ pathway to it under extreme adversity, rather than the ability to means to keep on going despite hardship and adversity. Perhaps persist on a task long term. adversities along the way, it does sisu contributes to resilience as it Perseverance is indeed an integral not require a singular critical enables a response to a crisis or part of the DNA of sisu, but it is by incident to initiate it (unlike in the adversity that is conducive to no means the only component. case of sisu). Sisu is accessed when positive adaptation (one of the Sisu is about pushing through when individuals reach the end of their many intriguing hypothesis for there seems to be nowhere to go perseverance and therefore it future research). but you simply must get the job always involves facing a higher done. Sisu can be said to begin degree of adversity. Because of this, Continued next page ... where perseverance ends. sisu (more than for example grit)

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Above and Beyond Perseverance – Introducing Sisu (continued) ...

Hardiness the vocabulary for describing the contributes to our understanding Dr. Salvatore Maddi describes good life.” Sisu is an example of a of the determinants of resilience, hardiness as a combination of powerful untapped potential achievement, as well as the ‘the attitudes that provide the courage waiting to be unlocked for deeper good life’. Ludwig Wittgenstein and motivation to do the hard, understanding and application. once said, “The limits of my strategic work of turning stressful More study is needed to unearth language mean the limits of my circumstances from potential the possible means for its world.” Only through having the disasters into growth opportunities. cultivation, and to ensure a words and constructs to describe Hardiness is a generalized style of culturally rich and diverse the world and the phenomena functioning which vocabulary of ‘the good life’. around us can we strive to incorporates commitment, describe it, and therefore, to control and challenge (the understand more and to be three C´s) and is believed to more. This indeed is the main help an individual tolerate prerogative of this present stress. Of all the other research and work around constructs, hardiness seems to sisu: to expand the realms of come closest to sisu. Sisu has our language and thinking, strong courage and and to thus transform the determination components to ways in which we perceive it and therefore may very well our abilities and potential. contribute to hardy attitudes — Sisu Offers Potential for Positive Adaption to Crisis (especially to control over one’s reactions). You can find more information Finland may have the initial and contact Emilia at Significance of Sisu to Positive monopoly on sisu as a cultural www.emilialahti.com and construct, but it is a universal Psychology facebook.com/inspiresisu. capacity and the potential for it One of the eminent figures of exists within all individuals. Sisu is a positive psychology, the late Dr. new term in the field of positive Chris Peterson wrote that, “the psychology, and I propose that it Japanese term ´ikigai` (belief that one´s life is worth living) is a valuable reminder to positive psychologists in the that the science should not simply be an export business. There are lessons to be learned in all cultures about what makes life worth living, and no language has a monopoly on

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MAPP Alumnus Photos from Reports on her Teacher Training in India. Summit & Fete Last year during MAPP I was an October 2013 employee at the Positive Psychology Center where I worked as a research assistant for Alejandro Adler, one of Marty’s PhD students. As part of this work I helped to develop a well-being curriculum for three schools in Nepal in conjunction with Supathya, a NGO in Kathmandu. This work took us to Nepal last February to present and train teachers as well as measure baseline well-being in schools. Since graduation, I have taken the year to apply what I learned in MAPP in Nepal and India. Alejandro and I spent the month of September in Nepal training teachers in the curriculum I developed which includes four components: mindfulness, gratitude, active constructive responding/positive relationships, and strengths. During the last week in Nepal, Zubin Sharma, a recent Penn. graduate and founder of SEEKHO, joined us to learn more about the partnership Alejandro and I formed with the organization to bring well-being principles to India. My role is of Director of Well- being for SEEKHO and come January I will be spending four months in Bihar, India alongside Zubin to train teachers and other SEEKHO fellows. Our work has materialized into multiple partnerships, and potentially many more, in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Zubin has Go to mappalum.org/Fete2013 published a few articles on what we for resources from the presenters are doing in the Huffington Post . Furthermore, last month our work was mentioned in the weekly Penn newspaper. I would love to share this work with the broader MAPP community. Let me know if you are interested in sharing this or learning more. Emily Larson, MAPP ‘13

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