Beyond boarders

The passing week has been an emotional roller coaster. 
We have been attending the World Congress on Positive Psychology in Philadelphia, sharing the newest research within human strengths, resources and well-being; at the same time witnessing the cruelty and evil one man can create through fear and hate. We have moved in and out of almost every kind of feeling there is. Engagement, interest, happiness; sorrow, frustration, and even hate. We have cried endless tears in mourning the loss our Nation has suffered.

If Jesus ever came to Earth, this must have been the devil visiting.

However, we have also witnessed aspects of the human being that is in the very spirit of positive psychology, and that reminds us that the knowledge we produce and communicate is more important than ever. Humanity, compassion, love, understanding, support, hope, faith, connection and the like. And we have witnessed how traumatic events foster a kind of love and humanity that crosses beyond individual, social, national and even cultural boarders. Strangers noticing “Norway” on my badge gave me a big, warm hug telling me how sorry they were. Americans, Asians, Russians, Italians. Nationality, and even culture, didn’t seem to matter. They all showed the same affection, caring and empathy.

I find this very powerful. We know it by heart, but in situations like this, we are reminded of its boundlessness. It must be the strongest of good, deeply rooted in human beings, evolutionary based.

Again to quote the Norwegian girl interviewed on CNN, “If one man can create that much hate, imagine how much love we as a togetherness can create”. Our nation has faced this cruelty with more love, more openness, more democracy, and more compassion. And I have re-committed to my personal promise, that I will spend my time researching, practicing and communicating the field of positive psychology.

Make a change, make magic moments, and make a better world. 

Lisa