A Reflection on a semester of Well-Being

     It's been close to 16 weeks since I began working on this project and this journey. Although I wish I had maybe had some more time to research well-being, to learn about well-being and to share my findings on well-being, I think what I've found so far has been beneficial.
    

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This project has been a very fun experience for me ... I've definitely seen myself grow and flourish as a happy, well human being over the last few months. I've taken my own advice to heart, and I have seen many positive changes ...

Well-Being for the "Youngsters"

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     In my mind, children are the future. And to be perfectly honest, they really are. They will one day be the leaders of this world, holding all control, making all the decisions, choosing how countries will be run and what kind of people will make up this world. Although a scary thought at times, this thought can also be very uplifting and exciting - we have a chance to inspire and influence these children in the best way possible.
     As a camp counselor and a ski instructor, I've seen the innocence of children disappear as the summers and winters have passed, and while it worries me to see how quickly these children grow up compared to how quickly I grew up, I know we all have an opportunity to change that. And why not start by improving children's well-being?

GNH not GDP

    

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christopherbpearman.wordpress.com

     How would you define prosperity? By the amount of money you make or the fact that you have a roof over your head? By the size of your car or the fact that you have food on your table each night? As an American, living in a well-to-do area of New York State, coming from an upper middle class family, I am definitely guilty of measuring my happiness from an economic and materialistic standpoint. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
     But does measuring prosperity economically actually mean anything? Cool you have a nice car. Awesome, you make more than $100,000 a year. But can money and materialistic items buy us happiness? If I've learned anything from this semester of writing these well-being posts, I have definitely learned that the answer to that question is a big, fat "no."

United States of Well-Being - A Call to Action in the Sadness Belt

     Do you hate your job? Get sick easily? Have trouble staying in shape? Smoke excessively? Then you must be from West Virginia. Or Ohio. Or Kentucky. Or any of the other seven states that make up the recently coined "Sadness Belt."

Photo courtesy of Gallup-Healthways

All located in the same general area, the Sadness Belt is made up of Oklahoma, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia - the 10 states with the lowest overall well-being scores as calculated through the Gallup-Healthways report.

United States of Well-Being: Tips From the Top Well-Being States in America

     What do Hawaii, Colorado, New Hampshire and Iowa have in common? Not their climates or tourist attractions, that's for sure. While these states might not offer the same kind of thrilling or relaxing experiences, those who live in them do experience the same kind of well-being - the best in the nation.


Photo courtesy of Gallup-Healthways

According to the 2012 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, the top 10 states with the best well-being include Hawaii, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, Vermont, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Iowa and Massachusetts.
     While these 10 states might not all be located in one central area, they do have their commonalities.

The United States of Well-Being: The Pacific Northwest and its problem with SAD

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Heavy rain and sticky snow aren't necessarily selling points to highlight when advertising the Pacific Northwest, but they happen to be two factors you'll encounter sooner than later if living in that region. And these two factors do play a part in why the states in the Pacific Northwest make up a good portion of the third lowest well-being category discussed in a recent report.

The United States of Well-Being

    Would you ever move to a different state just to be happier? Or choose your vacation spot based on where you might be able to improve your well-being instead of improving your tan?
     While many people might not take these thoughts into consideration, a recent study explained how you might be able to subconsciously improve your well-being simply based on where you live or vacation in the United States.

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     A few months ago, the 2012 well-being index rankings for the United States were released in the 2012 State of Well-Being report with Hawaii taking the lead as the state with the best overall well-being for the fourth year in a row. 

Looking Beyond Religion to Find Spiritual Well-Being

    

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                                                                                I tell everyone I've been a Catholic before I was even born. My parents had me going to church with them at a very young age and most of my education has taken place in a Catholic school. I've always enjoyed Mass and religious holidays - a chance to be with my family, reflecting, contemplating and appreciating all God has given us. But lately, I've been noticing my faith waver. Tragedies, upsets and unexpected events have made me question my beliefs - if it holds any truth and meaning and whether praying actually works. As I try to answer these questions, I have found that faith happens to be much more than just religion and the practices that go along with it.

Let's talk money

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wealthforteens.com

     I have a lot of coats. And shoes. And clothes. And other things. My friends call me a shopaholic. I'm either in denial or have a very different definition of what a shopaholic is. But regardless, there are things I just can't help but be drawn to and splurge on. Has anyone else been in this situation before?
     Sometimes I think as a college student, I have a hard time managing money because I'm in this "limbo" kind of world. Yes, I do have to pay for the townhouse I live in and the food I eat, but I don't have to deal with landlords or the other financial aspects of "being on my own." But of course I want to be prepared for the future because it's going to be here sooner than I realize.

Turning Health Habit Intentions Into Health Habit Actions

     You struggle to drag your half-asleep body out of bed early in the morning to go to the gym. You choke down a bland, leafy salad instead of the cookie you see sitting on the counter. You go to bed before your favorite show comes on TV. You don't like to do these things (or at least I don't like to do these things), but you do them to keep your body in good, healthy shape.
     For me, I always thought I did these things to maintain my physical well-being. As I've dived into this topic of psychological well-being, though, I've found that enough sleep, a balanced diet and an exercise routine all help your mind just as much as your body.
     So how do I, and the many others out there who have good health habit intentions, turn those intentions into actions? Here are some tips to help.

What's well-being got to do with your New Year's resolution?

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www.iheartpublix.com

     The New Year has now been upon us for 51 days. How are those New Year's resolutions coming?

     Nearly 40 percent of Americans make New Year's resolutions each year. Out of that percentage, though, only 8 percent of Americans actually achieve their goals.

     I am not part of that 8 percent of Americans Scranton University suggests who keeps their goals. My determination to go to the gym every morning at 6 and to give up excessive amounts of sugar has slowly begun to wane as life and the usual pressures of school begin to set back in. As much as I want to be part of this exclusive group, I always have trouble sticking to my goals. So how do I and the other 32 percent of goal-making Americans keep those good-intended goals?

What would you do for better well-being?

     What defines success or happiness in life? A high-paying salary? A warm, cozy house? A family to care for? A successful, fulfilling career? While we all may be looking to gain these things, or something similar, throughout our lives, they all influence one important part of who we are - our well-being.

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     While the study of psychological well-being has been a fairly recent phenomenon, the concept has been one people have been aware of for centuries. Well-being, simply put, is a state of happiness and satisfaction based on certain aspects of one's life.

     For the next few months, this blog will feature a series on well-being - what parts of our lives influence our overall well-being, and how can we improve our own well-being? Using research and information found on various websites along with information from leading well-being researchers, the posts will work to help readers become aware of their well-being and improve it within their own lives.

Altruism 2: The power of social media

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thomascrampton.com

               How do you connect over social media sites like Facebook?

                Birthdays?

                Hometowns?

                Colleges?

                Work experience?

                What about organ donation?

                As of Tuesday, May 1, Facebook users can now connect with others by posting their organ donor status on their timeline.

Live: Make a bucket list

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imdb.com

               What’s the best way to get the most out of your life and live for each and every moment?

                Make a bucket list and stick to it.

                No, these lists are not just for the elderly dying of cancer or some incurable disease like Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in the movie The Bucket List. These lists are for anyone who wants to be able to look back at the end of their life and be surprised at all they accomplished.

Purpose: Define your life

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transformleaders.tv

         Do you know what your purpose in life is?

         Speaking out for those who have no voice?

         Bringing justice to those who have been falsely accused?

         At this point in life, you might not know what you will do – I know I don’t.

               But I do know people in this world inspire me by defining their lives through their purpose.

                TIME Magazine recently released its 100 Most Influential People in the World list. Each person on the list has found his or her purpose. They have chosen to dedicate their lives to promoting some kind of goodness.

Honor: Recognize the unnoticed deeds

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licensingbook.com

                When you hear the name Derek Jeter, what comes to mind?

                The poster child for baseball?

   The New York Yankees captain?

                My future husband?

                While not all of these thoughts or images might have popped into your head, did you ever consider him as the founder of the Turn 2 Foundation?

Awe: Take some time to slow down

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undergroundwellness.com

             Did you watch the sun rise this morning?

             How about inhale a deep breath of fresh air?

             When did you last see a child’s eyes light up in awe?

             Has it been a while since you slowed down and noticed the little things?

             It has for me. I am probably the guiltiest of all when it comes to rushing through life. I juggle way too many things at once, always saying yes and never relaxing.

             I do not know if I am like this because I like being in control of everything that affects me or because I do not want to waste one moment of my life.

Loyalty 2: A dog's best friend

                Last week, I wrote about loyalty and used, “Dogs sleeping at the foot of their masters’ beds” to exemplify this quality.

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foxnews.com

                But what about a dog staying by the side of another dog that lay injured in the middle of a California highway?

                Watching the morning news on CBS today, Charlie Rose reported on a viral video taken by a man who found a stray black Labrador that would not leave the side of a yellow Labrador that had been hit by a car.

                Although the yellow Lab unfortunately died, the black Lab, eventually named Grace because of her actions, would not budge even as cars whizzed by and passersby stopped to help the poor dog.

Loyalty: Define your actions

                Actions define loyalty.

                Children running into the open arms of their parents.

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                Dogs sleeping at the foot of their masters’ beds.

                Young wives waiting at airport terminals for their husbands to return home.

                Each act shows a specific trait: trust, friendship or love.

   Loyalty is a sense of trust.

   Every vacation, I drive six hours across 314 miles of New York State to see my family. The process of going home never changes.

Spontaneity: A chance to learn something

In the last two weekends, I have driven 2,556 miles, spent 44 hours in the car, slept for a total of 20 hours, traveled through eight states and finished no homework.

What a good looking crew!
PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.

I spent the other hours covering the St. Bonaventure University men's and women's basketball teams throughout their phenomenal and historical NCAA journeys.

If you know me at all, you know I would never say yes to an unexpected trip to Nashville, Tenn. three days beforehand. And I would never say yes to a trip to Raleigh, N.C. that next weekend.