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 Robert Redford 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 up 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] Page 2 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.