Almost six months ago, as we hurriedly sequestered ourselves in response to the spread of COVID-19, finally succumbing to the fact that we were indeed in the midst of a pandemic, I would never have guessed that we would still be under its shadow as we now roll into August. What started as an enthusiastic effort to muster my courage and make the best of the lockdown has spiraled into a deflated resignation to ride out this strange time for the long haul, tabling plans and becoming used to a global and diffuse ambiguity about the future. And in the midst of the pandemic, we as a nation have been shaken to our core by glaring evidence of racial and social injustice that has been with us all along, but has finally risen to our collective consciousness, demanding that we make long-needed changes to our assumptions, values, beliefs, behaviors, policies and practices to make the rights and freedoms promised by our Constitution a reality for everyone in our community. Not to mention that we are experiencing the crippling effect of the pandemic on our economy and its impact on millions of individuals and families trying to make ends meets. And, oh yes, we’re heading into a national election in the midst of all of this.

These could be times when hope is lost. But now is when our education in positive psychology can be our greatest asset. In recent years, Marty (founder of our MAPP program, Dr. Martin Seligman) has pondered the idea that our ability to imagine alternative futures is perhaps the signature quality of human beings; it is our greatest power. And research by MAPP alumnus Dr. Dan Tomasulo supports that imagining positive possible outcomes can actually influence the future. This is good cause to be hopeful and to consider carefully how we are thinking about our future. In my MAPP experience, I had a “lightning bolt” moment while listening Dr. James Pawelski, Professor of Practice and founding director at MAPP, lecture on positive psychology and the humanities: Here in the 21st century, we as a human community may very well be in the midst of a eudaimonic turn, a fundamental shift in the way we function and the way we perceive, changing our outlook and the direction of our aspirations toward individual and collective wellbeing. Marty has suggested that this shift may be no less important than the industrial revolution of two centuries ago or the agricultural revolution of millennia past.

So if we are, in fact, undergoing a fundamental shift as a human community, I can find solace knowing and understanding that such major transitions are never straight-forward or simple; they are foundation-shaking, uncomfortable, and messy. But out of these challenging times can come new heroes and new causes for joy and celebration, and ultimately a more evolved way of being.

Beloved minister and children’s television host Fred Rogers was known to say in times of trouble, “look for the helpers.” I am just realizing that this simple directive is an action of hope, of positive prospection. And here at MAPP Magazine, we are doing our part to create hope by highlighting helpers. In this issue, we learn about MAPP alumnus Danny Torrance’s innovative approaches to help people with hoarding behaviors and to generally think differently about the “stuff” of our lives. We hear about fellow alumnus Andrew Brady’s case for conscious capitalism and corporate investment in employees, based in evolutionary principles. And alumna Rosie Hancock tells about her experience to educate MAPPsters at the University of East London, connecting us with the larger effort to share positive psychology around the globe. I hope you enjoy these new articles and also take some time to peruse past pieces highlighting more MAPP heroes and their efforts. In the eternal words of early twentieth century psychologist William James, our experience is what we agree to attend to. And so too, we are learning, our futures are, in some part, what we imagine them to be. Let us be hopeful together.