The field of psychology is built on faith. Not in the sense of a formal religious faith for every psychologist, but a foundational belief that there is more possible. As a field, we believe people can experience flourishing around the world. Every research study, college lecture, consultation meeting, and therapy session is built on this belief in possibility beyond the present.
I’m grateful you stepped out on faith by either voting for me to be your APA president or by hoping something good could come from this year. I started the year challenging us to come home to authentic truth and wholeness. Over the year, we have explored the mandate of solidarity across identities, cultural enrichment, eradicating oppression, healing trauma, and pursuing growth and thriving.
As we close the year, let’s revisit our roots of psychology as the study of the soul. We cannot be intimidated by the appearance of things. If we are honest and aware, we will have to admit there are multiple storms raging. They are designed to dismantle human rights, not only on a global level but also specifically the rights of those who are marginalized across identities. As a Black woman and student of human history, I understand the urgency of these times. With that understanding, I would like to issue three calls for our collective faith.
First, let us have faith that we can be a part of necessary systemic change. We need to intentionally apply our science to address the social issues of our day. While some stand on the sidelines observing history, we need to continuously strive to be a field that believes in the possibility and responsibility to ethically inform and shape history.
Second, let us have faith that we as a field can be better. If we want different results, we must be willing to be different. Transformational leadership requires vision. We have seen some inspiring results this year in association impact, opportunities, initiatives, convention attendance, and membership. I challenge you to imagine where you want to see a change then show up differently in your occupational settings to usher us into collective liberation.
Finally, I encourage you to include an awareness and respect for faith, spirituality, and religiosity in their diverse forms as central to many people’s individual and collective experience (see Can religion and spirituality have a place in therapy? Experts say yes). At the end of the year there are many religious holidays that people honor as part of collective aims to enrich humanity. There are also cultural holidays that remind us to believe in the strength of our communities to give us faith. Justice and liberation are still worth pursuing. And for those who may be spiritual but not religious, this time of year is also when many resolve to live better lives than perhaps they have been able to manifest in their past. As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and we remember the empowering “I Have a Dream” speech, let us have faith to continue dreaming and to eventually live a fuller dream.
