The “Broaden-and-Build Theory” of Positive Emotions for Resilience and Well-Being

• How making positive emotions habitual (like a daily diet) can help us be more resourceful in tough times.
• Why we tend to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones, even though negative experiences are less common than positive ones.
• The cyclical nature of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how positive emotions feed into that.
• Explains her theory in relation to toxic positivity, and how learning to value positive emotions is different from the process of cultivating them

Barbara L. Fredrickson, PhD, is a Kenan Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC-Chapel Hill, she directs the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory (a.k.a., the PEP Lab, www.PositiveEmotions.org). Dr. Fredrickson is most known for her “Broaden-and-Build Theory” of positive emotions, foundational within affective science and positive psychology for providing a blueprint for how pleasant emotional states, as fleeting as they are, contribute to people’s resilience, well-being, and health. She has published 140 peer-reviewed articles and her general audience books, Positivity and Love 2.0 have been translated into dozens of languages.

Among the most highly cited scholars, she was recently identified as in the top 0.01% of scientists (across 22 scientific fields) in terms of career-long scholarly impact. She also teaches a popular and free online course and, through this and other means, her ideas have influenced scholars and practitioners worldwide. Her scientific work has been recognized with multiple awards, and in 2017, she was honored with the Tang Prize for Achievements in Psychology, awarded to recognize exceptional career contributions to the well-being of humanity.

How Embodiment, Awareness, and Self-Compassion are Pathways for Enriching Our Resilience

• How the pandemic presented opportunities to explore our soul’s purpose, and how to gain clarity around that
• How self-hatred is the “poison in the well” that contaminates us on a societal as well as personal level…and how to work with the challenges this presents
• A meditation practice that uses the analogy of a powerful redwood tree, allowing us to root ourselves deeply in an embodied state of self-compassion

Spring Washam is a well-known meditation teacher, author and visionary leader based in California and Peru. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based healing practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founders and core teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA.

She received extensive training by Jack Kornfield, is a member of the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism for the last 20 years. In addition to being a meditation teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices for over a decade. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom. Her writing and teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications such as Lions Roar, Tricycle, and Belief.net. She has been a guest on many popular podcasts and radio shows. She currently travels and teaches meditation retreats, workshops and classes worldwide.

The Power of Love: A Meditation and Reflection

• The importance of having people in life you can call upon to shine light into your darkness
• Discovering the power of manifesting that rests deeply in connection with the love inside you
• Reflecting deep within our hearts allows us to access our inner light and be the best version of ourselves that planet Earth needs so much right now
• Recognizing that each person is worthy and stepping into your self-worth takes confidence, trust, and courage
• Why your gifts are meant to be poured out into the world in connection and friendship

Agapi Stassinopolous is a best-selling author and speaker who inspires people to lead fulfilling lives. She was born in Athens, Greece then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Agapi received her Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Agapi has led meditations at many prominent organizations, including L’Oreal, Google, Nike, Starbucks, among others. Today, she conducts workshops for Thrive Global to help change how we work and live. 

Agapi’s newest book, Speaking With Spirit: 52 Prayers to Guide, Inspire, and Uplift You, presents a non-denominational guide to harnessing the power of prayer to find connection, peace, and gratitude. Her website is WakeUpToTheJoyOfYou.com.

Tapping Into the Power of Community

• Recognizing that connection is at the center of well-being, and our environment has a significant influence on our personal growth
• How the ideas and energy we share with others in community go on to shape the way we think, how we feel, and what we do
• Learning to simplify change by understanding how to overcome our brain’s natural resistance to change
• The benefits of connecting to the sparks that lift you and being the spark for others
• Through intentional connection, the commitment to change becomes easier because you find support, encouragement, and resilience

Elisha Goldstein, PhD, is co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living. He is a licensed psychologist who synthesizes traditional psychotherapy with mindfulness to achieve mental and emotional healing.

Dr. Goldstein is author of several books including the bestselling Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion and The Now Effect: How This Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life.

He is the designer of Mindfulness at Work™ for eMindful.com and co-developer of an 8-week mindfulness program for teenagers. He also teaches mindfulness-based programs through The Center for Mindful Living and InsightLA. His website is ElishaGoldstein.com.