The Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab Newsletter Issue#9

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND WELLBEING RESEARCH LAB

N E W S L E T T E R

"Every moment is a fresh beginning".-T.S.Eliot

"The always stunning hydrangea symbolises gratitude for being understood. They represent anything that is sincerely heartfelt and so perfectly represent that feeling of gratitude".

LETTER OF GRATITUDE

What an amazing adventure it has been!

5 years ago, I started the Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab with three of my students with the mission to raise awareness about mental health and teach positive psychology techniques so that people could live their best lives. I am grateful to all the people I have encountered on this journey and everyone who has encouraged and supported us. I feel fortunate that we were able to make a difference in the community.

Over the years the PPWR Lab has held many events such as the Mental Health Day, National Day celebrations and anniversary conferences and seminars These events were a melting pot of contributions from talented artists, speakers, psychologists and students. The events were designed to be interactive and conducive to having open dialogue about topics ranging from mental illnesses, therapy and self-improvement techniques to Islamic psychology and research We also invited therapy and counselling centers so that attendees can learn about services available in the country

Research is a crucial component of identification, investigation and solution of the issues facing a society. That is why the lab was set up as a research lab We are proud to have published different studies relevant to the Saudi society and have even published a chapter in a book. We also have ongoing research projects on thought-provoking topics related to student mental health, gratitude, technology and family dynamics. Our efforts have been recognized by the community We were awarded an honorable mention by the Mac Jannet award in 2021.

“Even the greatest was once a beginner. Don’t be afraid to take that first step.”

- Muhammad Ali

I was also awarded the community service award by Effat University and have been selected to be one of the content developers of the Positive Psychology Division of the MEPA (Middle East Psychological Association). My most prized reward, however, is the positive and encouraging feedback I have received from people about the impact our activities had on them.

This has been a very rewarding journey I have met many wonderful people along the way and learnt a lot. However, with a heavy heart I must announce that my tenure at Effat University has come to an end Effat has been my home away from home and my association with the Effat family will not end here. While this semester will be my last at the PPWR Lab, my journey goes on My mission is to shed light on, share and develop interventions to improve mental health based on beliefs, culture and community values I am excited to publish research papers and start writing a book this year. All upcoming work will be posted on the Instagram account.

I am most grateful to Allah for giving me the courage and guidance to establish this lab, the first in the country. HRH Queen Effat was a true leader in the field of women's education in Saudi Arabia Effat University's progress is a testament to her vision. I have no doubt that her legacy will continue to flourish

and contribute to the mental health and wellbeing of the youth I am grateful to Effat University for giving me this opportunity. Dr Haifa and her team have supported me throughout these 5 years. I am fortunate to have been acquainted with many talented and amazing academics, artists and professionals during this time and cannot thank them enough for their active support I also want to thank Afeefah Yahya, Rana Dahlawi and Shaden AlKhalifah, my talented students who worked with me to establish the lab. I am also grateful to my wonderful team members Adeelah Yahya, AlBatoul Al Shaiban, Amnah Yamani, Bashayer khalifah, Joud Altamimi, Lujain Faqerah, Madiha Khayat, Maryam Patel, Sarah Ikhtabi, Sarah Sultan, Shahad Al Sonare, Sundus Fazal ur Rehman and Tamara Gazzaz. Finally, I want to thank all the readers who have shown interest and enthusiasm in our works

I wish everyone the very best!

Dr Saddiga Al Ghalib, Founder

A tribute to Professor AbdulManan Barr

Prof AbdulManan was a wonderful human being and a true humanitarian. He genuinely supported our lab and our mission He was soft spoken and kind in his words and actions. Perhaps that is what drew people to listen to him He was humble and modest about his achievements and contributions. Adhering to the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) who was sent as a mercy to mankind, Prof AbdulManan dedicated his life to improving people's lives. His generosity will certainly be missed by many We are grateful to him for coming through for us whenever we needed it. Despite being extremely busy, he took the time to celebrate our 4-year anniversary with us and explained the importance of research in the development of a society Prof AbdulManan was a worthy role model through his wisdom, virtues, and character He treated people with compassion and kindness and Allah blessed him with many talents and blessings. Prof. AbdulManan was a leading academic in the field of Psychology, Positive Psychology and Islamic Psychology in the region with multiple published scientific papers and books He was a keen researcher and insisted that research be relevant to the needs and beliefs of the people so that it can benefit them. His works connecting Islam and Psychology are truly remarkable and impactful. He dedicated his life to serving his people and the development of the Ummah through education We have been very fortunate to have met him and learn from his wisdom His works and words will continue to inspire the generations to come. May Allah bless him with Jannah through His vast mercy. To learn more about his works, please click on the link below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PsDzziETR5fZDs2ps-RXIB9lsp7h_pp0?usp=sharing

- Sunan Tirmidhi

Our Father, Prof. Abdulmanan Barr - The guide to a positive life

-Dr. Abeer AbdulManan Barr

I once wrote a story in third grade about a toy mouse escaping a toy store. When I graduated from high school, I started my undergraduate education as a computer science student At that time, I followed what was known to be the attractive linear path that would make all parents proud I was a science major with good grades After one semester, baba sat me down and told me, remember your writing when you were about eight? It was amazing, I know you will excel and be happier in the English department. I had the best undergraduate experience, Baba taught me to search for my happiness and in doing that my path did not have to be linear I trusted him with all my decisions, he knew me more than I knew myself He taught me to believe in myself, he taught me to enjoy life, he taught me not to be afraid of doing something new, not to be afraid of challenges. All I had to do was call and he would pick up the phone and tell me to stop crying so he could understand what I was saying, he would follow that with so many encouraging and happy words that would calm my fear. He would always end the call with “laugh, be my Abooraty that I know and laugh. Each one of us has happy stories, my mama, us children, grandkids, his bonus son and daughters in law So many stories about his understanding, about encouragement, about appreciation, about positivity and happiness, all about his love and pride for his family His days were energetic. Every day after the sun came up, he would come home from the Fajr prayer after reading Quran at the mosque.

After doing breathing, walking and stretching exercises, he would pick the best flowers from our garden, take a picture or a video, and with it send each one of us an individual message made up of beautiful Duaa and happy words to brighten our day He would then pick some Jasmin flowers and take it inside the house to give mama Then make himself and mama breakfast and then have a funny happy phone conversation with Faten, who was an early riser like him Afterwards, he would sit down and send his voice note messages to his “positive friends” about the topic of the day, with a picture from the garden flowers. He loved growth and wanted to make sure he spread positivity He loved his peaceful family time with sweets and tea at Maghreb time, he never forgot to treat himself.

He loved pizza, celery with peanut butter, nuts and coconut covered donuts (mostly because mama loved it too) He loved to cook meals and make us his famous sandwiches

I remember his Chinese stir-fry, every time he added a new vegetable. He loved to introduce us to strange and new experiences. New foods, new cities, new rides at the entertainment parks He wanted us to see and experience the world

”

Baba was very passionate about education In social media you can read many stories from his students about his support of their academic journey. In our home, that was no exception. My brother Ahmed changed his career aspirations so many times, every time, my baba was patient and genuinely supportive “I want to be a soccer player and have no use of school” he once said, and baba sent a letter to school and took him to the Itihad soccer club for that week “I want to be an imam at the mosque”, baba took him to the mosque and somehow the imam there worked with baba and allowed him to do Azan (it was only heard inside the mosque and not prayer time) There was no limit to his resources or his patience for all of us Each time my brother was fortunate with baba’s guidance and baba’s belief in him He learnt to learn to trust himself by making safe mistakes under my baba’s guidance until he found his passion. Ahmed is now a successful engineer whom graduated from a Japanese university We each have similar success stories because of him

Baba had ambitious beliefs at how far we will go, “you will become the president of a university, you will become a minister, you will head a hospital, you will be the president of Aramco, you will be the president of the Itihad club”. (He was a passionate Itihadi). He was our guiding light, our solid support, he was the Diamond of our home After Allah, he was the reason behind our growth, our happiness and satisfaction in life He was persistent and understanding, he was tough and kind, he pushed us and calmed us, he listened and he directed, he laughed and was firm, he brought us opportunities and he watched us walk our own path He was so proud of us, introduced us to all his friends, he would smile and hug us in front of anyone and say “this is my daughter, this is my son she is a master yogi, she is a professor, he is a dean, he is an engineer….”.

He was so proud of our mama, he would boast and say “she has clinical experience, very few have the kind of experience she has” He supported her doctoral academic journey and was with her every step of the way He would call us to let us know that she was studying and we shouldn’t call or complain about anything “your mama needs to focus”. He would bring her meals and snacks, read, edit her papers and discuss her point of views and thoughts He would recommend theories and introduce her to experts Mama always said “Your father is brilliant in his field ”

We found mama’s degree next to Baba that day, like all his life, it was Baba’s last act of support and encouragement of her growth. He was working on sending mama’s credentials to ensure they work together in a counseling office

So many stories and examples of his greatness He was the diamond of our home; he shined his radiant positivity in all of us. After Allah, we are good people because of him. We are blessed that Allah chose him for us.

AlhamduliAllah Allah yirhamak ya almas albayt

Dealing with loss – Perspective of Islamic positive psychology

Life is full of ups and downs. We cannot avoid or prevent every loss. Some things are beyond our control. However, we can control, to a certain degree, how we react to it and deal with it. Loss can come in many forms, loss of a loved one, career, friendship, health etc. It can also mean shattering of the life we imagined, our dreams and ambitions. Loss is inevitable. One of the most difficult times a person can go through is death of a loved one. In the moment a person may believe that they will never feel any positive emotions again. We may feel powerless because there is nothing we can do to prevent death. The uncertainty of its timing and certainty of its occurrence can be a source of anxiety. While speaking and thinking about death may feel morbid to some, Muslims are encouraged to always be mindful of the certainty of death and prepare for it accordingly. Death is not the ending in Islam, it is a transition to the Afterlife which is the ultimate abode for us. Religious beliefs can be a source of comfort to people. The belief that we can eventually meet our loved ones in Heaven, If Allah wills, consoles us that all is not lost forever. Muslims also feel bonded to their loved ones through dua

,i.e., praying for them and are encouraged to perform good deeds in their name. This practice makes us feel connected to their memories. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better’ – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” Any loss that occurs especially the death of a loved one, forces us to ponder over the finite nature of life on Earth and our everyday actions. It causes us to focus on living our lives connected to Allah and without any regrets. Thus, this becomes a blessing that expiates our sins and brings us closer to Allah. Muslims also believe in Allah’s promise that with every hardship and suffering come ease and that Allah will not burden us more than what we can bear. While grief is natural with every loss, we should not become hopeless. Through patience, resilience and belief in Allah’s mercy we can overcome hardship and become stronger.

Resilience network

Resilience is an important trait that everyone should strive to develop. It helps us to cope with difficult situations and bounce back from adversity. Resilience is the ability to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances, while maintaining a positive outlook. It can be developed through various strategies such as self-care, mindfulness, problemsolving, and positive thinking. It is important for individuals to develop resilience in order to cope with life’s challenges and build a strong foundation for mental health. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the importance of resilience and how it can help them in their lives.

Raising awareness for resilience to foster a more resilient society

Resilience is an important concept that needs to be discussed and understood by everyone. Raising awareness about resilience is essential in order to help people understand how to deal with difficult times and build their own resilience. Raising awareness about resilience can be done through different platforms such as social media,

message of resilience and its importance in our lives. They can also provide resources for people who are looking for ways to build their own resilience. By raising awareness about resilience, we can create a more resilient society that is better equipped to handledifficult times.

Working together across the Middle East, we can foster awareness for resilience and inspire individuals, families and groups in support of their own resilience. This is an initiative to bring knowledge and interested people together in an open network. This initiative aims to provide a platform with five functions:

·Research

·Stories

How many colors do you find in your meal? More than one or two, or even colorless? Didn't you know that based on some research, the color from vegetables and fruits can influence your health because the pigment from those natural colors is effective as an anti-cancer, for example

·Assessments

·Quotes and

·Tools

I bet that the most common vegetables weknowarethegreenones.But,thereare also beneficial and special merits we can get from orange vegetables, such as carrot,pumpkin,paprika,etc Why?

Topics that may be addressed include resilience challenges at school, family, and workplace resilience in mental illness, resilience and positive psychology, and resilience and Islam

Our initiative in a nutshell: the Middle East Resilience Network

This initiative is in collaboration between the Division of Positive Psychology of the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA) and Positive Psychology & Wellbeing Research Lab at Effat University.

Creating a platform to connect people

PPWRL and MEPA as a team came together to raise awareness for resilience on social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, with a link to the MEPA PP Division page. The two social media platforms will share content that educates people on resilience and its importance, how it can benefit us in our daily lives and encourage people to take action and build their own resilience skills. Through such mediums, we can create a more resilient society where everyone has the tools they need to succeed in life. These platforms, moderated by volunteers from PPWRL, will provide resources, tips, and advice on how to cope daily life adversities and traumas while being resilient. Longer-term, it will also offer support from professionals who can provide guidance on how to best manage your mental health. The page will also include links to helpful websites, research findings and resilience tools. With this initiative, we also hope to create a safe space for people to talk about their struggles,

easily find resilience tools or links to professionals who can offer professional support as required.

"The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties). And an impiouswickedpersonislikeacedar tree that stays hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes"

Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5644; Sahih Muslim,no.2809.

Prophet MuhammadThe role model for positive psychology

The PPWR Lab makes a conscious effort to support initiatives, projects and works that aim to improve mental health in the community. We are extremely proud of Numerah Bazme and congratulate her on the publication of her book.

My name is Numerah Bazme and I have graduated in BSc. Clinical Psychology from Effat University, Jeddah. One of the courses I was passionate about was Positive Psychology taught by my respected Professor Dr Saddiga Al Ghalib. She has always encouraged and motivated me to broaden my interests in various projects of Positive Psychology and Psychology in general. Here I have worded my journey of authoring the book entitled, “Prophet Muhammad (ﻢﻠﺳوﻪﻴﻠﻋﷲﲆﺻ): The Role Model for Positive Psychology”. In my undergraduate years, I was keen to learn about the Islamic Perspective of Psychology since our program was devised from the Western Perspective. Albeit all credits are duly given to all researchers from various backgrounds in psychology, being a Muslim, I just had the urge to delve more into Islamic Perspective.

Fortunately, I was given the most relevant book by our acquaintance, ‘Psychology from the Islamic Perspective’ By Dr Aisha Utz. Upon reaching the brief chapter on positive psychology, I came across the character strengths listed by the modern researchers in positive psychology. Divinely, it crossed my mind that all of the character strengths without an exception were thoroughly set as an example by Prophet Muhammad (ﲆﺻ ﻢﻠﺳو ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﷲ(. At that instant, I had intended to elaborate this subject into a book. My intention was boosted while reading various articles on character strengths online through popular websites related to positive psychology. The authors would mention practical examples of people fulfilling the respective character strength, however, to my disappointment and surprise, there was not a single Muslim/ Islamically-inspired individual [let alone Prophet Muahmmad (ﻢﻠﺳو ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﷲ ﲆﺻ)] set as the role model on any website even though they deserved that recognition in all respects for students and researchers to benefit from.

Consequently, this book came into being slowly and gradually as I identified its need to be so.

Ms. Numerah Bazme, Author