Acceptance & Well-being: A Meaning-Management Perspective

1. Acceptance & Well-being:A Meaning-Management Perspective Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D., C. Psych Presented at the Australian Positive Psychology Conference 2012 in Wollongong

2. On Overview • The positive psychology of acceptance • Types of well-being • The role of acceptance in well-being • Pathways & adaptive functions of acceptance • Acceptance in psychotherapy • A meaning-management perspective

3. Negative Perceptions of Acceptance • The adaptive value of acceptance not widely recognized in PP. • Not generally perceived as positive emotion • Not considered as a proactive and effective way of coping • Associated with personal weakness, passivity, helplessness, resignation

4. The Positive Psychology of Acceptance • Acceptance and mindfulness • Acceptance, compassion and tolerance • Acceptance as a component of well-being • Acceptance as a coping strategy • Self-acceptance • Death-acceptance • Acceptance and commitment therapy

5. Types of Well-Being • Hedonic well-being • Eudemonic well-being • Spiritual well-being (Chaironic well-being) • Psychological well-being • Physical well-being • Social well-being • Subjective vs. objective well-being • Self vs. others • Short-term vs. long-term well-being

6. Ryff’s Model of Psychological Well-being • Autonomy • Environmental mastery • Personal growth • Positive relations with others • Purpose in life • Self-acceptance

7. Keyes & Magyar-Moe’s Model of Social Well-Being • Social integration • Social contribution • Coherence • Actualization • Acceptance

8. Wong’s (1998) Implicit Theory of the Good Life • Acceptance • Achievement • Relationship • Intimacy • Self-transcendence • Religion/Spirituality • Fair treatment (social justice) • Positive emotions

9. Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model of well-being • Positive emotions • Engagement • Relationships • Meaning • Achievement

10. Keyes and Lopez (2002) Complete Mental Health • Complete mental health consists of emotional, social, and psychological well-being in addition to the absence of mental illness symptoms. • Thus, the ability to prevent, recover or transcend mental illnesses or negative emotions is part of the complete mental health.

11. Pathways of Acceptance and Adaptive Functions Self-acceptance: Authenticity & Eudaimonia 1. Serve as a staging point for positive change. 2. Reflect on self to facilitate unconditional self-acceptance. 3. Develop one’s true self or authenticity. 4. Experience eudaimonia by living according one’s true self.

12. Pathways of Acceptance and Adaptive Functions Accepting Others: Positive Relationships • Accept others based on empathy and the reality that we are all fellow human beings sharing the same boat in a sea of suffering. • Contribute to mutual trust and understanding • Provide the basis for unconditional positive regard • Enhance genuineness & authenticity • Contribute to mindful interactions • Contribute to community development

13. Pathways of Acceptance and Adaptive Functions Death-acceptance: Faith, Authenticity & Passion for Living • Three types of death acceptance: Approach, Avoidance & Neutral • Recognize the fragility and finitude of life • Learn to live with one’s limitations and the existential anxiety • Make the most of one’s brief life by living authentically & passionately • Overcome death anxiety through faith, meaning, & relationship

14. Pathways of Acceptance and Adaptive Functions Accepting What Cannot Be Changed: Wisdom Energy conservation • Learned helplessness or acceptance of reality • Learn when to disengage and let go • Conservation of energy & reduction of stress • Learned wisdom, flexibility & creativity • Serenity prayer • The way of the water

15. Lao Tzu in Tao Te Ching (Chapter 8): "Human virtue, at its best, is like water, which nurtures all things quietly without contenting with anything. It flows to places despised by all, yet by staying there, it stays close to Tao [the Way]."

16. Pathways of Acceptance and Adaptive Functions Accepting the Here and Now • Mindfulness awareness is a state of mind, a mindset • OCEAN: Openness, Compassion, Empathy, Acceptance & Non-judgment • Facilitate self-awareness and self-understanding • Make us more aware of others and connections • Stress reduction, emotion regulation, and relaxation • Transform negative emotions and suffering • Increase inner serenity and subjective well-being

17. Pathways to Well-Being Meaningful Living, Positive Mental Health, Pursuing an Idealistic but Realistic Dream Unconditional Acceptance of Self Accepting Personal Limitations, Weaknesses, & Reducing Frustration Meaningful Relationships, Empathy, Gratitude, Harmony, & Positive Organization Unconditional Acceptance of Others Reducing Conflict, Prejudice, & Misunderstandings Valuing Life, Pursuing What Really Matters, Making the Most of Life Wisely Unconditional Acceptance of Death & the Inevitables Reducing Death Anxiety & Unnecessary Worries Meaning Mindset Rational & Realistic Appraisal, Appropriate & Congruent Coping Unconditional Acceptance of Unavoidable Stress Reducing Frustration, Saving Time & Effort Appreciation of Life, Openness to New Experiences, Increasing Insight Unconditional Acceptance of the Here and Now Reducing Judgmental Attitudes & Reducing Negative Emotions

18. Acceptance in Psychotherapy • Reduce resistance and denial • Increase a sense of personal responsibility • Open opportunities for change and transformation • Facilitate tragic optimism (Viktor Frankl) • Facilitate addiction recovery • Contribute to resilience • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy • Meaning-centered counselling and therapy

19. Meaning-Management Theory (MMT) Definition • Meaning management refers to how we manage meaning-seeking, meaning-making, and meaning reconstruction in order to survive and flourish • Meaning management focuses on the self-regulation of our inner life through meaning

20. Assumptions of MMT • People are meaning-seeking and meaning-making creatures • We live in a world of meaning. • The meaning we attribute to events affect us more than the events themselves • The human capacity for meaning offers them the best protection against threats and losses and the best means to achieve complete well-being.

21. Meaning-Seeking & Acceptance

22. Meaning-Making & Acceptance

23. Meaning-Reconstruction & Acceptance

24. Conclusions • Acceptance is probably the most effective and versatile way of adaptation, capable of repairing the worst and bringing out the best in us. • The five pathways of acceptance cover five major life domains: a) Personhood, b) Relationships c) Existential issues regarding the human condition, d) Stress, loss & suffering; and e) Mindfulness. • It is an important but under-researched area in the positive psychology of well-being.

25. Conclusions • The practice of acceptance enables us to become mature, responsible, positive, and resilient individuals, who in turn contribute to the development of a positive society. • Once we learn the lesson from the Forbidden Fruit, we will appreciate the wisdom and imperative of acceptance. • Our ability to live fully and meaningfully regardless of circumstances depends on learning to accept the negative and unchangeable aspects of life. • Acceptance represents the cornerstone of a balanced positive psychology.