Engaged Living

4 ways to face the transition to independence like a champ

4 ways to face the transition to independence like a champ

Being a freshman in college opens up many new opportunities and experiences. You are finally on your own, and now are considered a full fledged member of the adult world, even if you don't feel like one. However, in many cases this transition into independence can seem more like a monstrous moth hatching when instead you were hoping for a beautiful butterfly. Research has shown that, “6% and 12% of transition-age youth, defined as young adults ages 16-25, struggle with a serious mental health condition.” (Fosbenner & Al-Mateen, 2019) Change is hard. Especially if you are just moving out from home and wanting to make your own place in this world. It can be scary, overwhelming, and exhausting. You have to work to pay for college, housing, groceries, bills, transportation, and so on. All while making sure to get good grades, and maintaining a social life. Which, don't even get me started on the stress of also juggling a love life. I would know, I am experiencing it first hand. However, I believe that even amongst this growing anxiety and problems we are all capable of rising above it and living a much happier/healthier life. It all comes down to these 4 key points that can make all the difference.

Navigating Physical Injury for an Engaged Life

Navigating Physical Injury for an Engaged Life

Dancing was my favorite social outlet and my go-to coping mechanism to combat stress or sadness; however, after my injury, I could not turn without my knee painfully giving out. I was devastated. To combat this life challenge, I decided to use the strategy of engaged living. Engaged living is the practice of identifying and living by personal values despite obstacles (Shearer & Warren, n.d). You may not be recovering from an injury like me; however, we all experience unexpected changes. When you experience obstacles or unplanned paths in your life, remember that you still have control to live by your values. The beauty of values is that they can apply to any situation. As you realign your actions to your values, satisfaction will follow. Engaged living is an effective strategy to cultivate happiness and overcome challenges. 

Joy in the Journey-A Cliché Gimmick or Powerful Words to Live By?

Joy in the Journey-A Cliché Gimmick or Powerful Words to Live By?

I was on my way to the Dominican Republic—a journey that required time away from my family, friends, and the privileged American lifestyle I was accustomed to. Over the course of the next year plus, I was expected to learn a new language, adapt to an entirely foreign culture, and take on a new persona. To put it mildly, I was terrified. Totally and utterly petrified.


While I nervously sat in the JFK Airport in New York during a layover, a quote on the wall written in big bold letters captured my attention. It read, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” I read over it a few times, trying to digest its implication and apply it to my particular situation. 

As cliché as it is, “finding joy in the journey” really is essential to your overall well-being. (Lyubomirsky, 2010). Huge life events don’t usually deliver the blast of joy we expect them to—and even if they do, it’s likely short-lived. (Harris, 2015). Additionally, these spurts of joy are so few and far between that we’d spend most of our lives in anticipation rather than enjoying the process.

The Vulnerability and Grit to Try New Things

The Vulnerability and Grit to Try New Things

When I was a sophomore in high school, I ran for the student council to be in the activities committee as a junior. A year before in middle school, I had been the student body president, and I was running against three other people for a three-person committee, so I felt pretty confident that I could earn a spot. I ran a hard campaign. I talked to lots of strangers, handed out all sorts of flyers, and I even lit myself on fire on accident while making my campaign video (I was ok). For me, it would all be worth it to earn an opportunity to do something I loved for the second time. I wanted to spend my time doing something I was confident and familiar with. I gave my best effort and felt incredibly confident when I went to hear the results of the election. But, as you may have guessed, I found out that I had lost.

Although I was really sad as a result of this and learned a lot about self-acceptance and moving on from disappointment, this isn’t a story about failure. It’s about trying new things.

Engaged Living: The Potential Solution to Your Lack of Motivation

Engaged Living: The Potential Solution to Your Lack of Motivation

Motivation is a fundamental driving force that pushes people towards achieving their goals and fulfilling their aspirations. However, staying motivated can be challenging, especially when faced with life's everyday struggles and distractions.Today I wanted to talk about how to become motivated, flourish, and live with engagement by utilizing the resources found in MyBestSelf101, 10 Overlooked Truths About Taking Action, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Befriending Your Pain Like Wim Hof

Befriending Your Pain Like Wim Hof

What if I told you that your very resistance of pain and discomfort might increase the amount of suffering that you experience long term? It’s true. Research has found that our unwillingness to remain in contact with distressing emotions (such as sadness, anger, loneliness, grief, etc.) intensifies negative psychological symptoms (Dindo et al., 2017). Sometimes, even psychological treatment can backfire if we try to use it as a means of escape from our tough feelings or expect it to take all the pain away.

So, I know what you’re thinking. “You’re crazy! You want me to feel bad?!” Well, sort of, yes, but mostly, no. The goal isn’t necessarily to enjoy feeling bad but to befriend your pain rather than resisting it.

Learned Hopefulness: A New Approach to Hope

Learned Hopefulness: A New Approach to Hope

    We often use the word hope to express wishful thinking. We often use phrases like, “I hope it doesn’t rain today,” “Hopefully, I don’t get sick," “I hope my test goes well,” or “Hopefully, I get the job.” When we say things like this, the unspoken belief is that nothing else we do will influence how things turn out. However, hope is a unique positive emotion that can help us recognize our ability to take control and move toward our goals despite setbacks and challenges. 

Affirmations: Words to Live By

Affirmations: Words to Live By

Positive affirmations are often referenced in circles of self-improvement, encouraging Pinterest boards, and health magazines, but they aren’t often discussed in the realm of positive psychology. Affirmations are just statements about oneself, but the public view is split on whether affirmations are good or not; some people view them only as wishful thinking, while others recite their affirmations daily like a spiritual mantra. The scientific view of positive affirmations, however, depends on which type you’re talking about; there are a couple of different theories about affirmations, and it turns out that we affirm ourselves in different ways.

Engaged Living: What to Do if You Are a Side Character in Your Own Life Story

Engaged Living: What to Do if You Are a Side Character in Your Own Life Story

Because of the complexity of modern life, along with the constant pressures we experience, it is no wonder that the plague of our day is being unhappy and unsatisfied with our lives. Fortunately, all hope is not lost. It is possible to take back your position of “main character” in your life and feel good about the way you are living. Among the many ways one can aid with this goal, Engaged Living, or “consistently moving in the direction of one’s values” (Shearer & Warren, n.d., para. 1), is a great place to start.