The Positive Aspects of Life A Conference held at Beirut Arab University

The Faculty of Arts at Beirut Arab University opened its international Conference entitled  “The Positive Aspects of Life”, which explores the skills and values that can be acquired towards a better life. The conference deals with various themes in positive psychology, the impact of positive psychology on all aspects of human and social life, as well as the engagement of the individual with surrounding crises and pressures. The conference which was held from the 10th till the 12th December  2013 , tackled the  issues of mental health, resilience, positive discipline, the impact of the media and the internet, self-management, as well as social, psychological and medical care. Participants were researchers and experts from Lebanese, Arab and foreign universities.

The opening session was attended by Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, President of BAU, Mr. Issam Houri, BAU Secretary General, Mr. Ashraf Hamdy, the Egyptian Ambassador, Mr. Maher Mshayel, representing the Palestinian Ambassador, the Dean and staff members of the Faculty of Arts, in addition to a crowd of students and guests.

After the Lebanese National Anthem and the BAU Anthem were played, Dr. Laila Helmi opened the conference, pointing out that its aims are to enhance the positive aspects of life and explore the impact of happiness on all aspects of life. She also highlighted that this conference comes in response to BAU’s keenness on fostering researches and innovativeness.

 

Prof. Dr. Mayssah El Nayal spoke next, calling upon everyone to look at the brighter side of life. In her word, she stressed on the necessity to throw light on these positive aspects especially with the events sweeping through the Arab World. She pointed out that this conference, the first of its kind, seeks to provide a future strategy that would inform research aiming at exploring the positive aspects available to humans when confronting challenges.

Dr. Olfat Mahmoud, Director of WOH, delivered the civil society’s speech, stressing that NGOs need to complement the role played by the state, and to disseminate the values of taking the initiative, team-work and self-reliance in the light of the developments witnessed by Arab societies.

Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, President of BAU, emphasized in his speech the urging need to identify the positive skills to face the pressures and stress of daily life. He added that the credo of the conference derives from the interdisciplinary nature of psychology which has become part of all cultures, sciences and daily life.

There were also words delivered by the representatives of the Swedish civil society, APHEDA and KTK Organizations.

The conference concluded on Thursday with a lecture delivered by an expert in stimulating governments, politicians, the media, organizations, students and citizens to think and interact positively, namely Dr. Leo Bormans, Ambassador of Happiness. The title of the lecture is “World Happiness”. Dr. Bormans who lectured about happiness on the 12th December, 2013 spoke of Lebanon’s rank on the ladder of happiness according to UN statistics. Lebanon’s rank is 97 of 160 countries, and thus he called upon the Lebanese to make progress in terms of happiness, since they enjoy the characteristics and merits that empower them to attain top rankings.

The Ambassador of Happiness pointed out that contemporary psychology focuses on optimism and aspects of strength. He highlighted that 50% of happiness is genetic, 10% depends on the circumstances we live in, and 40% depends on the mind-set and the frame through which we perceive things. In other words, 50% of our happiness is controllable by looking at things through a different perspective.

Bormans invited the audience to enjoy a more engaged and active life. He pointed out that there should be meaning to everything we do in our lives, that we should be trusting, hopeful and enjoy equality, and that money should be a means to attain basic needs and not an aim in itself. 

Prof. Bormans concluded his talk reiterating that the feeling of satisfaction and happiness reflects positively on our lives and health. We become more optimistic and open-minded, and develop a greater ability to change for the better, interact with others, inspire and achieve the goals we set ourselves.