Search

The mindful state is commonly characterized by an elevated awareness of the present moment. An intriguing and rather widespread phenomenon that requires the attention to the present moment is Synchronicity Awareness. This phenomenon refers to the sense of a profound psychological connection between an internal event (e.g., thought, image, or dream) and external events. Whereas mindfulness and its underlying cognitive processes have been well documented, synchronicity awareness, despite its deep roots, has been scarcely examined empirically, and little is known about the cognitive mechanisms underlying it. The present study aimed to further validate the recently developed Synchronicity Awareness and Meaning Detection (SAMD) scale and explore its potential relationship with various mindfulness measures. To this end, 572 participants engaged in an online survey, incorporating the SAMD, Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, Mindful Awareness and Attention Scale, Langer's Mindfulness Scale, and Encoding Style Questionnaire. The results revealed that synchronicity awareness, meaning detection, and mindfulness are distinct constructs. A significant association between synchronicity and core facets of mindfulness was observed, indicating that participants with higher SAMD scores were more sensitive to inner sensations, more novelty-seeking, and engaged in their actions. Additionally, SAMD scores were linked to internal encoding style, suggesting a top-down processing of experiences. However, synchronicity was not associated with outwards-directed mindful awareness, suggesting that it might involve an intrinsic attentional process, influenced by internal cues. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaning in life is considered one of the cornerstones of human existence. The construct of meaning in life is currently conceptualized as composed of three dimensions: coherence, purpose, and mattering. Studies assessing the relationship between these dimensions and other personal attributes are scarce. This study aimed at assessing the levels of these dimensions as a function of age, gender and country using a large group of participants. The sample included 23,641 adults across ages and countries, that were recruited online. Overall, participants rated the dimension of purpose highest, followed by coherence, and then mattering, however these differences interacted with age, gender, country and income. The most prominent effect of age was in coherence, with a steady rise throughout life. Men were higher than women in coherence, while women were higher in mattering. The Philippines, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates showed the highest scores in the three dimensions, while Japan, the United Kingdom, and Finland showed the lowest. The sample studied was not a global representative sample, rather it was a global convenience sample. The study only involved those who could write/understand English (those coming to take the VIA Inventory of Strengths), there was much larger representation in English-speaking countries (namely U.S., Australia, Canada, and U.K.). Despite this limitation, this study extends existing literature by offering new insights into the developmental, cultural, and gender-related aspects of meaning components. These insights serve as potential avenues for further exploration and validation, thus making a valuable contribution to the field of meaning in life, both in theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to experience life as meaningful is fundamental to human nature. Recent years have witnessed a growing sophistication in assessing meaning in life (MIL) and new conceptualizations regarding its place within general models of well-being and coping. As part of this surge in research, increased attention has been given to the understanding, assessment, and practice of MIL in numerous arenas and contexts. However, despite these advancements, further knowledge is needed to explore the application of meaning interventions across more diverse contexts and non-clinical populations in the general community. The purpose of the present paper is to expand the existing knowledge on meaning-oriented interventions by introducing a community-based initiative that is directly responsive to this need. This includes describing its approach to meaning-making on multiple fronts: (1) Socratic Questions in the Public Sphere; (2) the Tribe Intergenerational Life Stories Project; (3) Literature, Arts, and Museums as Meaning-Making Sites; and (4) Education for Meaning. Each of these initiatives is described to propose more context-sensitive interventions that are applicable to everyday life in general society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two areas that have scientifically erupted in the last two decades are the sciences of meaning and of character strengths, yet the integration of these areas has been minimal. Some studies have drawn significant connections between character strengths and meaning in life; however, the samples have been limited, the measures have not measured or separated the types of meaning, and/or the studies have not gathered data from participants on the nuances of meaning. We conducted a large-scale, mixed methods study with 23,641 participants, spanning more than 100 countries. We measured the 24 character strengths using the VIA Inventory of Strengths and the three components of meaning—coherence/comprehension, significance/mattering, and purpose—using the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale. Participants shared their observations on how their chosen character strength was helpful for coherence, purpose, and significance. Meaning scales were significantly correlated with all character strengths. The strongest predictors of overall meaning were hope, spirituality, zest, curiosity, and gratitude. We found gender differences for character strengths and types of meaning, as well as age trends. Finally, we qualitatively analyzed the answers explaining the selections of character strengths, and assessed differences between gender and age. We discuss the findings within this intersection as well as ramifications for the scientific synergy of character strengths and meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasingly large body of research in social psychology has underscored the power of brief situational interventions in promoting purposeful change. The present research contributes to the literature on positive psychology interventions (PPIs) by testing a novel volitional intervention that encourages people to engage in activities 'outside their comfort zone.' Participants were randomly assigned either to a condition that encouraged them to engage in an activity outside of their comfort zone over the following two weeks or to a control condition that encouraged them to keep a record of their daily activities. The intervention boosted the life satisfaction of people who were relatively less happy at baseline, with exploratory analyses tentatively suggesting benefits strongest among people who went outside their comfort zone by helping others. Discussion centers on the potential of behavioral 'stretch' interventions to promote positive change and well-being among people dissatisfied with their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For example, while the search for meaning was found to be negatively related to the presence of meaning among U.S. participants, it was positively related to the presence of meaning among Japanese individuals (Steger et al., [25]) and Israelis (e.g., Abu-Raiya et al., [1]; Russo-Netzer, [19]). The new meaning of meaning To understand the new meaning that emerged at this conference, it is important to understand the philosophy behind the conference and the organization itself. Meaning is essential to human health, well-being, and valued living, in general and related to disaster mental health (Finkelstein-Fox et al., [12]; Melton & Schulenberg, [17]; Pavlacic et al., [18]; Schulenberg, [20], [21]; Schulenberg et al., [22]; Weathers et al., [20]). Keywords: Meaning; existentialism; Viktor Frankl; sociology; social justice EN Meaning existentialism Viktor Frankl sociology social justice 129 137 9 04/03/23 20230401 NES 230401 Meaning in crisis The world is in crisis!. [Extracted from the article]

Education is among the most powerful gateways to social change and mobility. It is also a potentially vital backbone for the development of young people's sense of meaning, purpose, and responsibility, enhancing their ability to face the unique challenges of our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. The global scale of the current wave of political and social changes heightens the need for a renewed examination of the educational system and its challenges. This paper asserts the importance of education for meaning and meaningful education as essential ingredients in preparing children and adolescents for the changing and uncertain world of the future. Yet meaning in life, which is almost unanimously recognized as a fundamental component of subjective well-being, has received little attention in education. This paper considers empirical evidence of the importance of meaning to the education and healthy development of children and adolescents and then proposes a heuristic model for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to offer a systematic phenomenological approach to explore existential anxiety, typically defined as the experience of becoming aware of the universal concerns including death, meaninglessness, freedom and loneliness. It focuses on in-depth exploration of Transformative Life Experiences (TLE), events which often induce radical and profound reorganization of one's life. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 150 adults who self-identified and accounted for a TLE in their lives. Data analysis was guided by a hermeneutic phenomenology paradigm that postulates that people account for their experience within the four lifeworld existentials of temporality, spatiality, corporality (embodiment), and relationality. A heuristic model was developed as an attempt to bridge the gap between the theoretical notion of existential anxiety and how it is subjectively experienced by interviewees. Implications of the model for further research and practice are discussed, particularly the ability to identify a dominant universal concern, even when implicit, based on an exploration of one's subjective account of TLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychological research into gratitude has overwhelmingly focused on the benefits of higher levels of gratitude. However, recent research suggests that positive psychology interventions to enhance gratitude are not always suitable and the effectiveness of an intervention depends on psycho-contextual factors, personal characteristics, and boundary conditions. The current study aimed to explore and compare the effect of two possible boundary conditions (prioritizing positivity and prioritizing meaning) on well-being levels, following a gratitude intervention. Replicating and extending the findings of the seminal 2005 study by Seligman et al., the current study explored the complex dynamics of gratitude and well-being in a sample of 448 participants. This study's results replicated Seligman et al.'s finding suggesting a significant increase in satisfaction with life following a gratitude intervention. However, this trend was not significant when eudaimonic well-being was used as the dependent variable. Further analysis revealed that the intervention was most beneficial for people who prioritized both meaning and positivity in their lives, whereas those with different prioritizing patterns enjoyed only short-term gains. In addition, those who prioritize neither positivity nor meaning in their lives did not benefit from the intervention. This suggests implications for practitioners, mental health providers and organizations as consciously integrating the prioritization of meaning and positivity into one's daily routines along with various gratitude activities which are aligned with one's values and interests may contribute to gratitude interventions' efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that meaning in life is beneficial to mental and physical health. Furthermore, having a sense of meaning in work has also been found to generate greater well-being and job satisfaction. However, the literature has paid scant attention to exploring the manner in which meaning in life is experienced among professional care providers such as therapists and counsellors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the experience of meaning in life among counsellors whose work is oriented towards the cultivation of well-being in educational settings. Three themes emerged from the analysis of 46 interviews with Israeli counsellors: (a) the development of meaning in life and work, (b) the sources of meaning in life; and (c) the sources of meaning in the counsellors' work. Implications for future research and practice regarding the experience of meaning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that individuals differ in the extent to which they seek activities that promote hedonic or eudaimonic well-being. Prioritizing positivity describes a strategy of pursuing happiness by seeking pleasurable activities or circumstances that can lead to naturally occurring positive emotions, while prioritizing meaning describes a strategy of cultivating well-being by purposefully seeking activities that are conducive to experiencing meaning in life. While these notions have been examined among the general population, little is known about how these prioritizing patterns are linked with well-being in closed religious groups, who often promote the benefit of the collective group in lieu of the individual's personal choices and interests. Based on a sample of 407 Ultra-Orthodox Jewish individuals (mean age = 33.58, SD = 8.89), 55.5% of which were women, the results demonstrated that prioritizing meaning and sense of community were positively associated with life satisfaction. Moreover, a significant interaction of sense of community × prioritizing positivity was found, indicating a positive connection between prioritizing positivity and life satisfaction for individuals with a high sense of community, but a negative connection for those with a low sense of community. Our findings suggest that even in extremely close-knit community-oriented societies, a strong sense of belonging to a community enables individuals to prioritize more hedonic aspects of their lives in order to promote their life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiencing both positive emotions and meaning is fundamental to human flourishing. The present study aimed to build and expand upon recent attempts to assess prioritizing positivity, which involves habitual ways of incorporating positive emotions in daily life (Catalino et al. in Emotion 14(6): 1155–1161, 2014), by assessing the prioritization of meaning in daily life and its associations with well-being. Results from two studies, employing adult community samples (N = 107 and N = 251) demonstrated coherent, replicable factor structure and good internal reliability for the 12-item scale of prioritizing meaning. Prioritizing meaning was positively associated with life satisfaction, happiness, positive emotions, sense of coherence, gratitude and presence of meaning, beyond the effect of prioritizing positivity, thus demonstrating the possibility that prioritizing meaning makes a distinctive contribution to well-being. Process mediation models showed that prioritizing meaning is associated with the experience of meaning which in turn mediates the beneficial effects of prioritizing meaning on a variety of well-being indicators. Prioritizing meaning was also directly associated with well-being indicators underscoring its potential role in affecting well-being. Furthermore, prioritizing meaning was found to significantly mediate the effect of search for meaning on all indicators of well-being other than sense of coherence. The findings suggest the importance of prioritizing meaning and hold significant conceptual and practical implications for understanding processes of meaning making and their potential effects on individuals' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consensus is growing that teacher leadership benefits teaching quality and student performance. Despite the recognition that teacher leadership contributes to teachers' professional development, little is known about how it is developed and how teachers experience the transition to the teacher-leader role. This study explores the internal mechanisms underlying the transition to and formation of teachers' professional identity as teacher leaders. It is based on 60 interviews: 41 teachers who were selected to participate in a leadership training programme, 10 principals and 19 teacher-leaders' colleagues. The findings led to a model with four central components: (1) Overall professional identity; (2) The experience of 'being chosen;' (3) An internal meaning-making process; and (4) External forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prioritizing positivity (PP) has been presented as an effective mechanism to increase positive emotions and reduce negative emotions. The current study sought to explore the role of age as a moderator and identify selected situations facilitating the likelihood of routinely experiencing positive and negative emotions.Methods: This mixed methods study consisted of 604 adults between 17 and 87 years who completed prioritizing positivity (PP) scale, positive and negative affect scale (PANAS), and demographic data. Aside from the study questionnaires, a subsample of 223 participants was presented with two open questions. 1037 responses to these two questions comprised the data for content analysis.Results: PP was found to be associated with increasing positive emotions in old adulthood, but not in young adulthood, and more with decreasing negative emotions in young adulthood than in old adulthood. Content analysis revealed that interpersonal interaction is critical in both increasing positive and reducing negative emotions, across age groups. However, young adults were more likely to prioritize pleasurable activities as triggers of positive emotions. Older adults focused on avoiding unfulfilling situations, due to the negative emotions that they trigger.Conclusion: Integrating both qualitative and quantitative findings elucidates the role of daily routine situations and activities in the management of positive and negative emotions across the lifespan. PP was shown to be of significant emotional value for younger as well as for older adults, though for different reasons. For younger adults, PP serves as a potential 'buffer' to balance negative emotions related to daily stresses and hassles characterizing this life stage, whereas for older adults it serves as a mechanism to boost life's little pleasures on a daily basis based on the acknowledgment of one's limited time ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth following adversity is a well-known phenomenon. Yet studies often focus on specific populations and/or specific types of adversities, thus limiting opportunities to identify underlying common processes of growth. The present study sought to identify shared positive change processes in different samples of individuals each of whom faced life adversities (clinical/nonclinical) and experienced growth as a result. We conducted a secondary analysis comparing in-depth interviews from 2 independent study samples including 27 Israeli adults that experienced spiritual growth and 31 American mental health peer-providers in recovery. Using the grounded theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1998), the findings point to existing shared transformative positive change pertaining to one's way of being and adhering to a generative orientation (Erikson, 1963) in the world. These changes were conceptualized under 3 growth dimensions: (a) strengthened sense of self, manifested in self-integration, self-acceptance, and enhanced ability to face further adversity; (b) development of compassion, acceptance of others, and a deep sense of connection to others; and (c) a prosocial commitment characterized by generativity and active contribution. These findings point to shared growth processes among individuals with a different backgrounds and different kinds of adversities. This change goes beyond mere coping, to an inner transformation in one's self, connection to others, and development of a proactive-prosocial approach in the world. The implications for health care practitioners and the importance of acknowledging the potential for growth following adversity and supporting such growth are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the epistemological and experiential aspects through which we can gather together the fragmented pieces of our reality. I aim to broaden the overarching framework of wholeness in second wave positive psychology (PP 2.0) and argue that healing the growing divide between components of humans, systems, and disciplines must be acknowledged and validated as essential to achieving a more complete wholeness. First, I advocate for expanding our ways of knowing by becoming aware of and embracing multiple dimensions and perspectives. This approach includes listening to the human voice and understanding the human context. It also includes being open-minded and open-hearted in approaching varied ways of knowing. Second, I advocate for broadening the scope of what it means to be human. This includes understanding and validating humans holistically by moving beyond zero-sum, binary categories to consider the value of human paradoxes, limitations, and complexities, as well as appreciating the joining of opposites and the value of brokenness. I then conclude with a few suggestions for future application of these ideas and offer concluding remarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study employed a qualitative phenomenological method to explore how processes of spiritual change were experienced outside institutional religion. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 Israeli adults (13 men, 14 women; age range 25-66; M = 45.3) who experienced such a change. The findings underscored the pervasiveness of the concept of work, which was extensively discussed by all the participants and which reflected the meaning they ascribed to their experience of the change process. Spiritual work was experienced as effortful, demanding, and involving a gradual non-linear process without a clear end-point. Spiritual work on the self was perceived as involving two complementary processes: uncovering and cleansing the self-the Spiritual-Psychological facet-and expanding it and rising above-the Spiritual-Transpersonal facet. The discussion suggests that the interplay of psychological and transpersonal spiritual work makes up an alternative narrative of human personal development where modern values of work sustain a postmodern change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaning in life, which is almost unanimously recognized as a fundamental component of subjective well-being, has received little research attention when it comes to children, presumably due to a lack of suitable measurement tools for this age range. This study provides evidence for the internal consistency, factor structure, and validity of the Meaning in Life in Children Questionnaire (MIL-CQ), a new 21-item self-report measure of the presence and the sources of meaning in life in children, based on Viktor Frankl's concept of the ‘meaning triangle’ (Frankl, 1959). The MIL-CQ was administered to 1957 elementary school children aged 9–12 in two diverse samples from several cities in Israel. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a 3-factor structure (creative, experience, and attitude), representing different sources of meaning in life. Children's level of meaning in life was positively associated with their life satisfaction and positive affectivity (higher positive emotions and lower negative emotions), and negatively with social and emotional difficulties. Girls reported significantly higher overall meaning in life than boys, and lower levels of social, emotional and behavioral problems. Theoretical and research implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our study, we examined underlying human elements embedded in mental health recovery, by exploring shared positive change among peer providers with serious mental illnesses in recovery and a normative sample in spiritual growth following adversity. We conducted secondary analysis based on two independent qualitative study samples consisting of 31 American peer providers and 27 Israeli adults. We identified three shared and two distinct enablers of positive change: peer groups, significant mentor, self-transcendent experiences. Distinct enablers were having meaningful task/role (clinical sample) and deliberate choice to commit to change in face of uncertainty (non-clinical sample). Enablers facilitated positive processes of meaning making and enhancement of agency. Enablers provided opportunities to which the person responded and made use of—thus, enacting a positive reinforcement of change processes. The findings highlight the value of examining mental health recovery in a broad holistic perspective and have implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the essence and meaning of the lived experience of spirituality outside institutional religion among individuals who experienced spiritual change. Based on a phenomenological analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with 25 Israeli adults, 12 men and 13 women between the ages of 25 and 66 years (M = 45.3), the findings indicate that the developmental process experienced by the participants yielded the establishment of a new identity—a clear and committed spiritual identity different from the modern (e.g., identity statuses) and some of the postmodern (i.e., hyphenated or hybrid) customary conceptualizations of identity. Within this general sense of spiritual identity, three major themes were identified that can be seen as dialectic dimensions: (1) self-centeredness and authenticity together with self-dissolution and surrender, (2) “being there” together with becoming, and (3) alienation together with a sense of mission. The similarities and differences between this spiritual identity and other forms of identity are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a case study of an undergraduate course in positive psychology taught by Dr Tal Ben-Shahar. The course has been taught three times between 2004 and 2008 in the Department of Psychology at the Harvard University. It is currently being taught at the School of Psychology, ‘Interdisciplinary Center’, Herzliya (one of Israel's leading colleges), in both English and Hebrew. The course's main emphasis is on transformation rather than information, while exploring the main question: ‘How can we help ourselves and others – individuals, communities, and society – to become happier?’ The course was innovative in its content as well as in its teaching methods. When taught, it was the most popular course at Harvard with the largest attendance in the history of the psychology department – with enrollment reaching over 855 students (about one out of every seven undergraduate students). Understanding the uniqueness of this course could contribute to the development of teaching the popular and broad field of positive psychology at the undergraduate level and to varied populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a case study of an undergraduate course in positive psychology taught by Dr Tal Ben-Shahar. The course has been taught three times between 2004 and 2008 in the Department of Psychology at the Harvard University. It is currently being taught at the School of Psychology, ‘Interdisciplinary Center’, Herzliya (one of Israel's leading colleges), in both English and Hebrew. The course's main emphasis is on transformation rather than information, while exploring the main question: ‘How can we help ourselves and others – individuals, communities, and society – to become happier?’ The course was innovative in its content as well as in its teaching methods. When taught, it was the most popular course at Harvard with the largest attendance in the history of the psychology department – with enrollment reaching over 855 students (about one out of every seven undergraduate students). Understanding the uniqueness of this course could contribute to the development of teaching the popular and broad field of positive psychology at the undergraduate level and to varied populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Adolescence is a critical and formative stage of life characterized by the development of interests, values, long-term goals, and social affiliations that serve as the foundation for more mature identity formation. Growing evidence supports the importance of meaning in life and of positivity as protective factors during adolescence that facilitate coping and thriving. The present study builds on previous research to explore the relationship between adolescents' authentic inner compass (AIC; having self-directed values, aspirations, interests, and goals that are experienced as authentic), well-being, and the prioritization of positivity and meaning. Findings from a sample of 677 adolescents (50.7% girls; mean age = 13.88) indicate that a higher AIC score is related to higher prioritization of meaning and higher prioritization of positivity, which are positively related to subjective well-being (SWB). Furthermore, having an AIC was found to contribute to adolescents' ability to intentionally seek out activities and contexts and make choices that are conducive to experiencing meaning and positivity, which in turn predicts increased well-being, greater life satisfaction, and fewer maladaptive symptoms. Having an AIC was also found to contribute to a decrease in emotional and behavioral problems. • Adolescents' AIC is positively associated with subjective well-being and lower levels of emotional and behavioral problems. • Adolescents who have greater levels of authentic inner compass are more engaged in positive and meaningful life experiences. • Higher AIC scores are related to higher prioritization of meaning and positivity, which in turn predicts well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored the structure and correlates of meaning in life (MIL) among an Israeli sample. The sample consisted of 559 adults. The average age of participants was 48.24 and 61.3% of them were females. Participants provided demographic information and completed measures of MIL, satisfaction with life, and depressive symptoms. The MIL Questionnaire showed a very good fit for the proposed 2‐factor model (i.e. presence of meaning, search for meaning) to the data collected from the current sample. Presence of meaning correlated positively with both search for meaning and satisfaction with life, and negatively with depressive symptoms. Search for meaning was positively and weakly tied to satisfaction with life, but was unrelated to depressive symptoms. Religiousness appeared as a significant moderator between the two meaning factors, and between them and life satisfaction. Specifically, as religiousness became stronger: (a) the link between presence of meaning and search for meaning became weaker; (b) the link between presence of meaning and life satisfaction became stronger and (c) the link between search for meaning and life satisfaction became weaker. The findings suggest that there are differential implications of presence search for meaning on the health and well‐being, and the important role religiousness plays in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]