Comments on: Responding Well

By: Jon Hansen

Jon Hansen — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:38 +0000

I knew Doug personally for several months before learning about his wife’s illness. Even before learning about the trials in his life I was amazed with his positive attitude and willingness to help anyone with whatever problem they were facing. After learning about his challenges I couldn’t help thinking what an amazing man he must be to handle his problems, his demanding position at his company and manage a congregation of 400 people. I’m grateful to have someone as strong as Doug as an example to lean on when I have trials in my own life.

By: Editor K.H.B.

Editor K.H.B. — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:36:57 +0000

Doug,

Your wife published a remarkable article in the Washington Post about this experience. I wanted to post a link here in tribute.

Kathryn

One Woman Out of Nine, Starting Again At the Finish Line

By Laurie Snow Turner
Special to The Washington Post
Monday, July 23, 2007; Page C08

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/22/AR2007072201069.html

By: Positive Psychology News Daily » Is Mandating Positive News Good for Us?

Positive Psychology News Daily » Is Mandating Positive News Good for Us? — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:27:38 +0000

[…] On the other hand, if you are the owner of a radio station, and you decide to run a “positive news only” radio station, then you are on solid moral ground. It’s when the government steps in to voice its position and forcibly requires new rules that change the content that it’s a violation of principle - the news staff was forced into this new arrangement. On this site, we cover positive stories (such as great schools, praise and performance, and savoring) as well as non-positive stories (such as the Virginia shooting, cancer, and the Holocaust) I happen to be a big fan of the Good News Network and of HappyNews - those sites are positive by editorial choice, which is entirely different from this news story about the new Russian mandate. […]

By: Doug Turner

Doug Turner — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:02:01 +0000

Jen: Thanks for your nice comments. We just arrived from our Celebration trip. We went to the Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic and had a blast! You should plan a trip there immediately. Beautiful weather there everyday, but we arrived home tonight to 45 degrees here in Washington, DC! All the best, Doug

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:36:12 +0000

Hi Doug, I got goosebumps reading this. You are so amazing and this was so well written…I loved your touches of humor and willingness to share…What a wonderful way to incorporate all we’ve learned about positive psychology into a situation that thousands of people have to face every day.

By: Positive Psychology News Daily » Blog Archive » Calendar Cross Reference to March Articles and Authors

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:54:05 +0000

[…] Mar 15 Responding Well by Doug Turner […]

By: Positive Psychology News Daily » Blog Archive » Highlights March 1-17, 2007 on PPND

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:25:45 +0000

[…] Responding Well by Doug Turner (3-15-07): Turner says, “In the end, responding well to any challenge means getting real about what is happening and then choosing to adopt the strength and perspective that comes through positive interventions like the ones discussed here. He describes his family’s personal and real journey in which he gets called “Mr. Positive Psychology,” and realizes that the way the family responds well may include exercises such as “Positive Explanatory Style,” “Positive Portfolio,” “Three Blessings Exercise,” and “Best Future Self Exercise.” Margaret, in the comments, also suggests that they enjoy their upcomign vacation with “Savoring!” […]

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:46:40 +0000

Doug - no need to “forgive the personal nature” of this article. You wrote from the heart and it stirred such emotion in me — not sadness for Laurie’s cancer, but admiration for her strength and yours and all the wonderful friends & family you have in your life. I am honored to know you. Here’s one more PP exercise: Practice “savoring” on your celebratory trip. Sending you a BIG HUG, Margaret

By: Christine Duvivier

Christine Duvivier — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:16:56 +0000

Doug,

I just received your article and found it deeply moving and inspiring. Thank you for writing it. I was especially taken by your use of explanatory style in this context– ingenious!

Best wishes for your family vacation,
Christine (MAPP 2)

By: Jeff Dustin

Jeff Dustin — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:44:39 +0000

Doug,

Your story was moving and I think it reflects the fragility of interventions and also their promise. I wonder if responding well could be applied to a very special population. Let me explain.

When I was 20, I joined the military to have health insurance for myself and my family and a stable career. I’m not ashamed to say there really was nothing patriotic about it.

Unfortunately I came to know what the term military-industrial complex meant. Without going into detail, I saw some heinous acts done by our finest. I guess putting people under extreme stress is not a recipe for success. My mission was counterdrug and every night I’d go to bed with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just hated seeing poor people going to jail for years because they were between a rock (drug lords threatening their families) and a hard place (International authorities).

To get to the point, I saw a lot of depression in the service. A lot of the nasty side of human nature. So I am wondering, what kind of intervention or strategy would be broadly applicable to reducing the suffering and bolstering the good side? What can we give to our troops so that they prevent PTSD and suicide? I counted my blessings and followed Authentic Happiness to the letter, but with an unflinching bureaucracy of hostile leaders I found myself depressed.

What can we do to help our troops who are in a Vietnam in the sand?