Editorial: COVID-19 and Existential Positive Psychology (PP2.0): The New Science of Self-Transcendence

Abstract

Editorial on the Research Topic COVID-19 and Existential Positive Psychology (PP2.0): The New Science of Self-TranscendenceCOVID-19 has changed everything. It has brought devastations and disruptions (Gallup, 2020; Harvard University, 2021), but in the midst of devastations there is transformation and innovation. This special issue of Frontiers provides an introduction to the new science of flourishing through suffering (Wong, 2021a) and a new vista of meaning-centered global wellbeing (Batthyany and Russo-Netzer, 2014;Wong, 2017a;DeAngelis, 2018). The transformative power of suffering can be seen at various levels.At the individual level, the adversity and lockdown from COVID-19 provide opportunities for business growth (Valinsky, 2020;Peek and Casarella, 2021) and personal transformation (Weir, 2020;Williams et al., 2021; Kim et al.). In short, it is possible that the worst of times can become the best of times for any individual with the necessary inner resources such as meaning, faith, courage, and creativity (Wong and Worth, 2017;Marano, 2021).At the institutional level, the ever-evolving coronavirus has laid bare the inadequacies of the current medical model and the need for change in government policies in funding and mental healthcare (Wong, 2021b). For example, we may need more grass-roots mental health education (International Network on Personal Meaning, 2019) and more accessibility to different kinds of qualified mental health providers which are currently not supported by governments and insurance companies. We may also need to consider a more humanistic-existential orientation toward mental health as advocated by Rollo May (Schlett, 2021) and Victor Frankl (Wong, 2021c,d).At the cultural level, the pandemic represents a wake-up call to the weaknesses of an individualist and pleasure-seeking society like America in combating the coronavirus (Friedman, 2020). More specially, the anti-vaccination movement in the name of personal freedom and liberty reveals the fault-line in democracy: freedom without personal and social responsibility may endanger public health in terms of rising COVID cases (Gerson, 2021) and new waves of the pandemic (Aiello, 2021). The freedom to pursue happiness and pleasure without responsibility may be killing Western democracy because democracy without responsibility may degenerate to nihilism or succumb to authoritarianism.

Riding the wave into wellbeing: A qualitative evaluation of surf therapy for individuals living with acquired brain injury

“…Over time, poor psychological wellbeing and isolation ensues [ 7 , 8 ] reinforcing persistent barriers to social integration even after 10+ years post-injury [ 9 ]. Despite the pervasive impacts of ABI [ 10 – 12 ], developments in existential positive psychology have emphasised tremendous capacity for wellbeing despite suffering [ 13 , 14 ].…”

The Life Crafting Scale: Development and Validation of a Multi-Dimensional Meaning-Making Measure

“…For example, Gleick (1988) proposed that we are living in a chaotic world; therefore, our plans are consistently changing because of disruption by external, unplanned events. A typical example is the Covid-19 crisis which hindered our life in various ways yet made us rethink the value and purpose of suffering, the meaning of our lives, and how these affect our mental health or wellbeing ( Wong, 2020 ; Wong et al, 2021 ). Positive existentialism indicated that the pandemic also resulted in people adopting new strategies to form-, search for or create meaning through reframing the purpose and function of suffering ( Wong et al, 2021 ).…”

“…A typical example is the Covid-19 crisis which hindered our life in various ways yet made us rethink the value and purpose of suffering, the meaning of our lives, and how these affect our mental health or wellbeing ( Wong, 2020 ; Wong et al, 2021 ). Positive existentialism indicated that the pandemic also resulted in people adopting new strategies to form-, search for or create meaning through reframing the purpose and function of suffering ( Wong et al, 2021 ). These approaches could also be seen or interpreted as life crafting strategies, which reframes how people view essential life events or create meaning from suffering ( Wong et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Positive existentialism indicated that the pandemic also resulted in people adopting new strategies to form-, search for or create meaning through reframing the purpose and function of suffering ( Wong et al, 2021 ). These approaches could also be seen or interpreted as life crafting strategies, which reframes how people view essential life events or create meaning from suffering ( Wong et al, 2021 ). Therefore, we urge future researchers to expand upon life crafting theory by approaching such from different philosophical traditions.…”

Mental Wellbeing and Boosting Resilience to Mitigate the Adverse Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Critical Narrative Review

“…Facing some adversity as opposed to none or extreme levels of adversity actually appears to improve coping ability, functioning, and happiness (Seery et al, 2010). Positive Psychology 2.0 (Wong, 2011), Existential Positive Psychology (Wong, 2020; Wong et al, 2021) and salutogenesis (Antonovsky, 1979; Rajkumar, 2021) may all contribute to boosting resiliency, positive wellbeing, and possibly even flourishing during these times of ongoing adversity. In fact, proactive coping with “suffering can enhance our resilience” (Wong et al, 2021, para.…”