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E  D  I  T  O  R  I  A  L

How to Overcome Your Fear of Shame!

Photo by Tomas Sobek on Unsplash

Greetings from the New Editor

I’ve just come on board as the INPM newsletter editor, and, for this issue, we’re keeping to the regular format. We will, however, be making some changes for future issues.

One planned change is to devote each issue to a theme. Our theme for the next newsletter, for instance, will be a PP 2.0 interpretation of trauma. Another planned change is to have regular columns, such as a column on addiction and a therapist’s column. We also plan to make the newsletter more readable for those who may not have expertise on a topic or even in psychology as a discipline. The plan is to create a writing style that appeals to a broader audience.

Finally, we invite you to help. We’re looking for a new name for the newsletter, something with a little more pop and sparkle. If you have a suggestion, please send it to geoff.inpm@gmail.com. Thanks!

In This Issue

Paul Wong’s president’s column discusses vulnerability as a natural condition of being human, which can be transformed into a personal strength—depending on how we choose to interpret and use it!

An aspect of vulnerability can be shame, and Elisabeth Vanderheiden and Claude-Hélène Mayer introduce us to “The Double Spell of Shame.” Although Westerners typically associate shame with something negative to be avoided, research suggests it can have positive influence in life. Claude-Hélène also discusses “From Shame to Well-being” (see the “Call for Papers” section below) and invites readers to join with her and Elisabeth for their book project on shame and a roundtable discussion at the 2020 Meaning Conference.

One new feature of the newsletter is my column on addiction. I’m interested in the phenomenon not only because it can tell us a great deal about what it means to be human (a topic for future newsletters), but also because it is a case study in how psychology makes sense of a healthcare issue. This issue’s column suggests that a meaning-focused approach to addiction is capable of integrating the 24-plus current approaches to making sense of and treating the problem.

One newsletter feature that will continue is introducing you to members of our INPM community.

I hope you find the newsletter both interesting and stimulating!

Geoff Thompson, Ph.D.
Editor, Positive Living Newsletter

P R E S I D E N T ' S   C O L U M N

Let Your Vulnerability be Your Strength

Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Are you worried about being vulnerable? “Vulnerability” is derived from the Latin word vulnerare (to be wounded); it describes the potential to be injured physically and/or psychologically. Generally, people consider vulnerability as weakness and the opposite of resilience.

Deep down, we are all inherently vulnerable to being injured physically and psychologically. Our core psychological vulnerability is our ancient emotions of shame, guilt, and fear. In addition, we also face the fear of making the wrong decision, trusting the wrong person, choosing the wrong career, or being inadequate for the task, resulting in failure.

There is nothing philosophical or abstract about such existential anxieties—it is just a part of being a finite human being in a huge world with so many unknowns, risks, and dangers. Paradoxically, it is this deep-seated sense of inadequacy that drives us to reach out to others, to God, and to the path of developing our potentials to pursue something worthwhile, resulting in faith, relationships, and meaning, the three pillars of positive mental health.

This alternative view has been proposed by Brené Brown (2007). She sees vulnerability as a double-edged sword. One the one hand, vulnerability puts us at risk for physical and/or mental harms; on the other hand, vulnerability could be the gateway to resilience, creativity, and personal transformation. The challenging question is: How can we make vulnerability work for us rather than against us?

Read more
F E A T U R E D   M E M B E R S

Niki Glanz


My involvement with INPM actually began when I realized something was missing from popular psychology forums, namely the spiritual dimension. After searching the web for a more inclusive organization, I presented at INPM’s 2014 Meaning Conference. Dazzled by the breadth of knowledge and perspectives shared there, I repeated my involvement in 2016. In fact, I visited a number of New England colleges and universities to promote participation by other researchers and...

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Claude-Hélène Mayer


She is a Full Professor in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Adjunct Professor (PD) at the Europa Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, and a Senior Research Associate at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. She holds Master degrees in Crime Science, Investigation and Intelligence (MSc) and in Cultural Anthropology (Magister Artium), a Doctorate in Cultural Anthropology, a PhD in Psychology and a PhD in...

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F E A T U R E D   A R T I C L E
Photo by Eugenia Maximova on Unsplash

The Double Spell of Shame

Elisabeth Vanderheiden & Claude-Hélène Mayer

Most people interpret shame as a negative thing: an extremely stressful experience, an instrument of individual or group oppression, or a humiliating experience of exclusion and exposure. Increasingly, however, understanding shame in different cultural contexts (Vanderheiden & Mayer, 2017; Mayer & Vanderheiden, 2019) and, especially, from the perspective of positive psychology, has shown that shame can be a resource. Research has shown that shame can stimulate self-reflection, which may lead to decisive personal growth, regulates relationships, and initiates social or collective processes of change...

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Elizabeth Vanderheiden


She is a pedagogue, theologian, intercultural mediator, managing director of the Catholic Adult Education Rhineland-Palatinate, and the federal chairwoman of the Catholic Adult Education of Germany. Her publishing focus is in the context of basic education for adults, in particular on trainings for teachers and trainers in adult education, as well as vocational and civic education, text collections on intercultural opening processes, and intercultural mediation...

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David Stefan


I have served most of my professional career in higher education administration and instruction and as a therapist. After completing a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Master of Arts in Theology at Asbury Seminary, I continued on with my Ph.D. in Counseling, Education and Program Development at the Union Institute and University. During the first part of my career in higher education, I helped launch a private college in the New York metro region called Pillar College, where I served as Vice President...

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A D D I C T I O N   C O L U M N
Photo by Fancycrave on Unsplash

Integrating Addiction Research

Geoffrey Thompson

Psychologists Brent Slife and Richard Williams (1995) pointed out that if you asked six psychologists why your neighbor was rude to you this morning, you’d likely get six different answers.
 
The field of addiction is a case study of the struggle Slife and Williams described. A handful of addiction psychologists have proposed that we need to integrate the sprawling variety of theoretical and practice models in the field. Integration is necessary, they argue, to provide guidelines for theory development, research, and practice...

Read more
C A L L   F O R   P A P E R S

From Shame to Well-Being

Claude-Hélène Mayer, with Elisabeth Vanderheiden and Paul Wong (Editors)

Shame and its related negative emotions, such as guilt, disgust, anger, and fear, are deeply rooted and existentially-based emotions. They arise from our inherent vulnerability and felt inadequacy in meeting the demands of life, coping with traumatic events, or meeting the standards imposed by the self and society. Our suffering often comes from our unconscious defense mechanisms against shame.

As such, shame is related to several disorders, such as PTSD, addiction, aggression, anger issues, narcissism, anxiety, and depression. From the perspective of meaning therapy, shame is almost always related to self-handicapping meaning and the story we have attached to traumatic events, our inferior social rankings and our inability to coping with the demands of life, or the expectations from others. It is also always related to the brain, because of the interpersonal nature of brain development.

At the same time, the acceptance and transformation of shame is important to facilitate recovery from psychological disorders and transform negative experiences into emotional resilience, character strengths, and human flourishing. In overcoming the self-deceptions and emotional lies, we become mentally healthier, stronger, and happier. 
In addition, this topic is also relevant to numerous shame-based social and political issues, such as racial tensions, polarization, black lives matter, me-too movement, and men’s movement.

The theme of the 2020 meaning conference is “Vulnerability, Resilience & Wellbeing: Advances in Existential Positive Psychology.” In this context, we are planning a round table talk on shame, as well as a book project. If you are interested in participating and getting involved, please see the call for papers below.

Important Dates

  • Abstract submission deadline (1 August 2019)
  • Notifications to authors (1 September 2019)
  • Chapter submission deadline (max. 7,000 words) (1 January 2020)
  • Review process (1 January - 1 February 2020)
  • Revised chapter submission deadline (1 March 2020)
  • Roundtable on Shame & Well-Being at Meaning Conference (30 July - 2 August 2020)
Call for papers (PDF) »
Submit abstract »
E V E N T
Early bird ends April 30. Register today »
P U B L I C A T I O N

An Inspiration a Day


“An inspiration a day keeps the doctor away” has been a motto for Paul T. P. Wong since his high school days. In order to cope with depression, poverty, and distresses (see his autobiography), he read widely, extracting inspirational statements, as well as composing his own, and writing his way out of depression.

Paul has kept this writing habit all his life. You can find his inspirational statements everyday on Facebook and other social media, with more than 390,000 “Likes” and growing. What makes Paul’s inspirations different from most other inspirational quotes is that he is keenly aware that life is full of suffering for most people. His hope and joy and his wisdom and strength come from confronting the darkest hours of his life and emerging with faith, confidence and compassion to spread the light in a dark world.

If you love Paul’s insights and wisdom, purchase a copy for yourself and send a copy to someone who is fighting a desperate battle with cancer or loss.
Lilian C. J. Wong, Ph.D., R.P.
Editor, Inspirations for Difficult Times




Review from Leslie Lyle, MAPP


“This is the book we need to support us in difficult times.
 
Dr. Paul Wong speaks about the things that the scared and frightened parts of us choose to deny or ignore. Existential Positive Psychology helps us accept the inescapable facts about life and realize that we can learn better ways to cope and find happiness in the darkest places.
 
This is a book that has long been missing from the shelves of modern psychology and philosophy. If you only take away one new thought, behaviour or belief, it will enrich your life and increase your potential happiness. It is the ‘go to’ book for when ‘real’ life hits you hard and that veneer of happiness you wear begins to crack.
 
Life would be easier for all of us if we first understood the concepts so beautifully written about in this book. Dr. Paul Wong teaches us that we have to fully experience all aspects of ourselves in order we can live our best lives to the full.”

Support Meaning Research and Receive Inspirations!


Donate to support meaning research and its applications through Dr. Wong's and INPM's projects, including online training for Meaning Therapy, research on PP 2.0, the IJEPP, the Meaning Conferences, and more.

Donate CAD $100, receive free e-book!
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*After your donation is received, you will be sent an email confirming your mailing address. For inquiries: info@meaning.ca
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The INPM is dedicated to advancing health, spirituality, peace and human fulfillment through research, education, and applied psychology with a focus on the universal human quest for meaning and purpose.

If you are interested in becoming a member of INPM, please email info@meaning.ca or click here.
Copyright © 2019 International Network on Personal Meaning, All rights reserved.


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