When the Going Gets Tough, MAPPsters Get Going

Image by Martin Sanchez.

Over the past three weeks, as our world underwent a dramatic, unprecedented transformation to “social distancing” in the face of the COVID19 pandemic, The University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology alumni community, affectionately known to one another as MAPPsters, were mobilizing.  Independently and in teams around the globe, they began to share their professional resources creatively and broadly to address the fear and apprehension associated with the crisis.  On March 21, Lisa Sansom, C’10, Editor of the Penn MAPP Alumni Newsbrief, an email publication, shared an impressive list of efforts undertaken by MAPP alums to help people cope in this challenging time. “This was a group effort on the part of MAPP alumni to aggregate the many efforts underway, and my thanks go out to all who participated,” said Sansom. In the March 29th edition, this list had grown even longer, and the resources are shared below. 

Meanwhile, Sharon Danzger, C‘18 began spearheading an initiative with Sansom, Senia Maymin, C‘06 and Sean Doyle, C‘07) called Strategies to Thrive, a forum for Penn MAPP alums to present a series of webinars, available free to the public. The motivation for the new forum?  “A lot of people are very stressed and very panicked, in both their work and home lives right now,” Doyle observes. “People are hungry for something that will help settle them, point to what they can do, and recognize what is right with the world. We can do a lot of good.”

The Strategies to Thrive series began on Monday, March 30th, with a presentation by Danzger, “How to Successfully Work from Home: Optimizing Work and Wellbeing.”  Other topics will include the exploration of music and wellbeing, defending against loneliness, caring for caregivers, strengthening resilience, and more.  The series is currently scheduled through April, with the goal of hosting daily webinars.  All presenters are Penn MAPP alums, and the series will be hosted via zoom, with recordings available on the MAPP Alumni YouTube channel.

In addition to the Strategies to Thrive series, MAPPsters are busy sharing on topics ranging from work-from-home strategies to building resilience to keeping children healthy and happy.  Newly released books by MAPP authors with timely subjects such as hope, inspiration and joy are also shared below. 

Blogs and Posts:

Alicia Assad has a heart-centered conversation about our resilience as women, mothers and humans during times of challenge on the Life Anyway podcast (Spotify, Facebook).

Sandy Blaine is teaching yoga classes online (website).

Samantha Boardman shares ideas about staying social while engaging in social distancing (Psychology Today). 

Valorie Burton notes that in times like these, we may need to reset our expectations (YouTube) and shares how to practice resilience during the coronavirus pandemic (YouTube).

Derrick Carpenter authors "Managing Stress in Uncertain Times" for Happify - brand new content track specifically addressing the challenges of our current global crisis (Olean Times Herald).

Jen Cory introduces "LivingWithHEART" (YouTube), interviews Cory Muscara about mindfulness (YouTube) and talks with Emily Esfahani Smith about meaning in the midst of the storm (YouTube).

Sean Doyle writes about seven things you can do during the pandemic (Psychology Today).

Paula Davis-Laack is posting short Stress Relief in a Minute videos on her Instagram page @stressandresilience (Stress & Resilience Institute)

Jordyn Feingold is part of The Mount Sinai Health System’s award-winning Road to Resilience podcast special series exploring what it takes to be resilient during the pandemic (Newswise).

Margaret Greenberg has halted her "work from anywhere" year to hunker down in Maine (YouTube). Margaret also writes for Verizon on having productive virtual meetings.  

Stella Grizont offers a free webinar for Happify on "How to Stay Positive and Resilient While Working From Home," at 1:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 7th (Yahoo).

Cathrine Gyldensted discusses why you need to integrate solutions journalism to your covid-19 reporting now (Journalism.co.uk).

Lucy Hone shares how to stay resilient during a pandemic (Stuff.co.nz) and is listed on 5 TED talks that will help you manage anxiety and build resilience (Inc).

Renee Jain’s company GoZen! is offering discounted programs, free student licenses and expert videos on helping kids manage coronavirus anxiety. 

Louisa Jewell talks about how to protect your health and happiness (Louisajewell.com) and how to keep your children healthy and happy during the coronavirus crisis (registration link).

Faisal Khan asks Why do we behave the way that we do during a crisis and how can we lean on the science of well-being? (Vimeo) and the importance of recovery breaks during the work day (Vimeo).

Vanessa King talks about how happiness is contagious and what we can do for others in this time (Guardian).

Emilia Lahti reflects on how graceful is our courage, and how deep is our love (Medium).

AJ Levan shares on a free 5-session workshop Living by Faith - built upon scripture and offering science based resilience skills (Living By Faith 2020).

Jeremy McCarthy writes about practical optimism for difficult times (Medium) and terror management in the age of coronavirus (Medium).

Michelle McQuaid is hosting an event to share the latest positive psychology research in workplaces (MichelleMcQuaid.com). Michelle and Peggy Kern launch the new and improved PERMAH survey (website). Michelle also wonders if you are struggling with your well-being at work (MMQ).

Caroline Adams Miller offers a free webinar on cultivating compassionate grit on April 1 (CarolineMiller.com) and shares 5 hacks to help you accomplish your goals at home (CarolineMiller.com).

Cory Muscara shares how to panic while remaining calm in his daily podcast PracticingHuman and this downloadable resource PanicWhileRemainingCalm.

Suzie Pileggi Pawelski and James Pawelski write about How Social Distancing Can Strengthen Our Relationships (Psychology Today).

Tom Rath writes about job crafting from the outside in (HBR).

Nico Rose writes about psychological growth in the times of the corona crisis (MAPPalicious) and 10 well-founded Tips and Tricks to Cope with Bad Moods in times of the crisis (MAPPalicious).

Marie Josee Shaar shares relevant positive psychology research about positive emotions and your immune system (Facebook).

Pax Tandon shares how to stay centered during the coronavirus crisis (NBC Philadelphia).

Giselle Timmerman writes about the positive leader pulse check (LinkedIn).

Dan Tomasulo shares new research on ways that hope improves our health as we age (Psych Central).

Shaen Yeo started a new Facebook group "Positivity, Hope & Resilience Amidst COVID-19 with Veronica Yap and Simon Leow" - learn more and join here.

Emiliya Zhivotovskaya is interviewed sharing positive psychology with executives and business owners: Execunet - How to Be Positive In Challenging Times and Vimeo - Communication in Crisis Situations and discusses using positive psychology communication in times of crisis (Flourishing Center). Emiliya is also providing a Better Than Before: 30 Day Corona Countdown (Flourishing Center).

Books:

Jen Grace Baron's book Dare to Inspire (Amazon) receives a very positive review on Small Biz Trends.

Renee Jain launches Get Superpowered! (getsuperpowered.com) featuring real-life stories, interactive exercises and illustrations to teach kids and tweens how to live life to its fullest (Facebook community).

Cory Muscara’s book Stop Missing Your Life: How to Be Deeply Present in an Un-Present World can help you build a deeply connected and meaningful life (Amazon).

Carin Rockind has authored Wonderful You! (Amazon) Carin writes on Facebook: It’s so beautiful, so inspiring, so fun, and such a PERFECT pick me up that we ALL need right now!!

Dan Tomasulo’s book Learned Hopefulness: The Power of Positivity to Overcome Depression, due out June 1, 2020 (Amazon), offers the tools you need to start living a life of happiness and vitality.

Keep the news coming!  Share what you are doing in your home, workplace and community to help during this time.  Days such as these are exactly the time to put the science of positive psychology into practice.  We are well-equipped, and there is no time like the present to act.