Symposium 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019

Positive Transformation Through Challenging Times (#146)

Itai Ivtzan 1
  1. Naropa University, Boulder, CO, United States

The ‘dark side’ of life refers to challenging experiences, thoughts, emotions and behaviours, which trigger discomfort in us. Such discomfort is frequently avoided, as it involves an engagement with fear, pain, distress or confusion. However, engaging with the challenge and discomfort has great potential for growth, healing, insight and transformation. In other words, the ‘dark side’ contains the seed for a potential positive outcome, even when the path towards this outcome is testing. As part of this session I briefly discuss Eudaimonia, Mindfulness, and Kintsugi, to offer insights into positive transformation through life’s challenges.