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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     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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     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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               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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               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.