scholarly journals Character Strengths Beatitudes: A Secular Application of Ancient Wisdom to Appreciate Strengths for Spiritual Happiness and Spiritual Growth

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1000
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Niemiec
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Gospel Of Matthew ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spiritual Journey ◽  
Character Strength ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Sermon On The Mount ◽  
The Individual

A beatitude is a blessing. It is a form of appreciation that can be directed toward others or oneself. Theologically speaking, some frame the original beatitudes from The Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew as pertaining to “spiritual happiness”, and recent scholars have offered a compelling argument that they are a call to flourishing. The focus here involves the creation and description of 24 blessings, or beatitudes, using the lens of one of the foundational and most researched areas in the sciences of flourishing, well-being, and positive psychology, which is the science of character strengths. Recent research has framed the 24 universal character strengths as spiritual strengths, hence particularly aligned for secular and nonsecular contexts of spiritual blessings. Each of the 24 character strengths was created into a blessing using the structure of the original beatitudes—with an opening description of the personal quality or attribute that is blessed and a follow-up outcome or core benefit that arises from the expression of that quality. In this way, these character strength beatitudes or character strength blessings offer an opportunity to appreciate the best positive qualities of others. These blessings are framed as primarily a mechanism of appreciating the character strengths of others, resting theoretically in both the grounding path and the sanctification path, the two types of integration of character strengths and spirituality that researchers have proposed. They are discussed, secondarily, as applied to the individual, for self-understanding, insight, and growth. These two purposes are relevant to the deepening of the spiritual journey, providing support as individuals pursue meaning in life and/or the sacred as they go deeper within themselves, up and beyond themselves, and sideways and interconnected to others. Practical applications, based in science, are discussed and point to avenues by which these character strengths beatitudes might both foster the appreciating of others’ strengths and support one’s own spiritual happiness, spiritual coping, and spiritual growth.

scholarly journals Sensul în viață la vârsta a treia. Stadiu de dezvoltare a personalitatii umane

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-53
Author(s):  
Florin Marius Voicu
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Meaning Of Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Erik Erikson ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
The Individual

Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl is among the first researchers of the meaning of life. His studies demonstrate the importance of living a meaningful life (Frankl, 1963). Meaning in life has become an important psychological concept in the research of emotional balance throughout life and decisive for the feeling of a fulfilled life in old age. Michael F. Steger's research shows that people who have a meaning in life, sense, and purpose generally feel happier and more satisfied daily, less depressed, anxious, and less likely to engage in risky behaviors. The six-factor model of psychological well-being is a theory developed by Carol Ryff (Carol Ryff, 1989). The meaning of life is studied according to age, age dynamics. The stages of development highlighted by Erik Erikson attach special importance to the meaning given to life lived in the developmental stage suggestively called "Integrity vs. Despair". Theories on aging highlight the terms "salutogenesis” and “pathogenesis”(Antonovsky, 1979) that imply different perspectives on life. Theories agree that meaning in life is an important concept in the ontogenesis of the human personality, necessary for the general well-being of the individual (Carol Ryff) being reflected in the state of physical health and the present emotional disposition (status). What is important, as a conclusion, is that all psychological factors are involved in the meaning of this life. To the extent that man has a meaning, his entire psychic structure participates in its realization. The current study highlights the changes that occur in the personality of the individual in old age and the psychological mechanisms with an adaptive role in this regard.

scholarly journals Meaning-in-Life: A Vital Salutogenic Resource for Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 85-101
Author(s):  
Gørill Haugan ◽  
Jessie Dezutter
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Health Science Research ◽  
The Individual

AbstractBased on evidence and theory, we state that facilitating and supporting people’s meaning-making processes are health promoting. Hence, meaning-in-life is a salutogenic concept.Authors from various disciplines such as nursing, medicine, psychology, philosophy, religion, and arts argue that the human search for meaning is a primary force in life and one of the most fundamental challenges an individual faces. Research demonstrates that meaning is of great importance for mental as well as physical well-being and crucial for health and quality of life. Studies have shown significant correlations between meaning-in-life and physical health measured by lower mortality for all causes of death; meaning is correlated with less cardiovascular disease, less hypertension, better immune function, less depression, and better coping and recovery from illness. Studies have shown that cancer patients who experience a high degree of meaning have a greater ability to tolerate bodily ailments than those who do not find meaning-in-life. Those who, despite pain and fatigue, experience meaning report better quality-of-life than those with low meaning. Hence, if the individual finds meaning despite illness, ailments, and imminent death, well-being, health, and quality-of-life will increase in the current situation. However, when affected by illness and reduced functionality, finding meaning-in-life might prove more difficult. A will to search for meaning is required, as well as health professionals who help patients and their families not only to cope with illness and suffering but also to find meaning amid these experiences. Accordingly, meaning-in-life is considered a vital salutogenic resource and concept.The psychiatrist Viktor Emil Frankl’s theory of “Will to Meaning” forms the basis for modern health science research on meaning; Frankl’s premise was that man has enough to live by, but too little to live for. According to Frankl, logotherapy ventures into the spiritual dimension of human life. The Greek word “logos” means not only meaning but also spirit. However, Frankl highlighted that in a logotherapeutic context, spirituality is not primarily about religiosity—although religiosity can be a part of it—but refers to a specific human dimension that makes us human. Frankl based his theory on three concepts: meaning, freedom to choose and suffering, stating that the latter has no point. People should not look for an inherent meaning in the negative events happening to them, or in their suffering, because the meaning is not there. The meaning is in the attitude people choose while suffering from illness, crises, etc.

scholarly journals The sweet peace of perfect assurance: On well-being in the hymns texts of Fanny Crosby

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daleen Kruger
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Religious Life ◽  
Religious Involvement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The World ◽  
Positive Sense ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Individual

Well-being is often described as a state of happiness or satisfaction with life, but it is so much more. The influence of religious involvement on a positive sense of well-being of the individual has been well documented. One aspect of religious involvement comprises the singing of hymns. Through the texts and the power of music, the well-being of the singer/believer can be positively influenced. Fanny Crosby (1820- 1915) wrote more than 8 000 hymn texts on various aspects of religious life such as assurance, salvation, redemption, worship and witness. Many of the hymns deal with the difficulties of everyday life, which is juxtaposed to the better life in the world to come. This paper is concerned with the portrayal of aspects of assurance in some of Fanny Crosby’s hymns texts. It is also shown how her hymns touch on aspects of well-being in the way that they stress the importance of having meaning in life and point towards the fact that the believer’s life can be worthwhile.

scholarly journals Gene-by-Crisis Interaction for Optimism and Meaning in Life: The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lianne P. de Vries ◽  
Margot P. van de Weijer ◽  
Dirk H. M. Pelt ◽  
Lannie Ligthart ◽  
Gonneke Willemsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Covariance Structure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Genetic Covariance ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThe corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus has had a large impact on daily life. We investigated the individual differences in the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown on optimism and meaning in life in a sample from the Netherlands Twin Register. Participants completed surveys before (N = 9964, Mean age: 48.2, SD = 14.4) and during the first months of the pandemic (i.e. April–May 2020, N = 17,464, Mean age: 44.6 SD = 14.8), with a subsample completing both surveys (N = 6461, Mean age T1: 48.8, SD = 14.5). We applied genetic covariance structure models to twin data to investigate changes in the genetic architecture of the outcome traits due to the pandemic and the interaction of genes with the environmental exposure. Although 56% and 35% of the sample was negatively affected by the pandemic in their optimism and meaning in life, many participants were stable (32% and 43%) or even showed increased optimism and meaning in life (11% and 22%). Subgroups, specifically women, higher educated people, and people with poorer health, experienced larger negative effects. During the first months of the pandemic, slightly lower heritability estimates for optimism and meaning in life (respectively 20% and 25%) were obtained compared to pre-pandemic (respectively 26% and 32%), although confidence intervals overlap. The lower than unity genetic correlations across time (.75 and .63) suggest gene-environment interactions, where the expression of genes that influence optimism and meaning in life differs before and during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is a strong exposure that leads to imbalanced effects on the well-being of individuals. Some people decrease in well-being, while others get more optimistic and consider their lives as more meaningful during the pandemic. These differences are partly explained by individual differences in genetic sensitivity to extreme environmental change. More knowledge on the person-specific response to specific environmental variables underlying these individual differences is urgently needed to prevent further inequality.

Meaning in Life and in Work

2019 ◽  
pp. 207-220
Author(s):  
Michael F. Steger
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Well Being

Work has powerful potential to enrich our lives by providing them with meaning. The idea of meaning in life (MIL) is crucial to almost every measure of human well-being or flourishing, yet there is much less consensus over the idea of meaningful work (MW). Although the two ideas are often used interchangeably, this chapter reviews different conceptualizations of these ideas to see how they are related and takes a “theoretical turn” to consider some shared themes and character strengths, such as “significance,” “coherence,” “transcendence,” “purpose,” and “empathy.” Based on these themes, it proposes two workplace models intended to make it easier for workers to find meaningful pathways in work, and for leaders to create the conditions for the meaningful organization. When these two models work together they can operate to produce social as well as economic value, and personalize work even when faced with dehumanizing effects of robotics.

scholarly journals Displaying character strengths in behavior is related to well-being and achievement at school: Evidence from between- and within-person analyses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Wagner ◽  
Willibald Ruch
Keyword(s):  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Character Strength ◽  
Unique Variance ◽  
School Study ◽  
Daily Behavior ◽  
Additional Variance ◽  
Classroom Level

In two studies, we establish the association between different assessments of character strengths (i.e., traits, habitual and daily behavior at school) with well-being and achievement at school. Study 1 (N = 414, mean age = 14.14 years) demonstrated that habitual strengths-related behavior at school accounted for unique variance in well-being at school and in achievement beyond the influence of the respective character strength trait. Further, the desirability of certain strengths (e.g., perseverance, fairness, forgiveness, and humor) at the classroom level accounted for additional variance in students’ well-being. Study 2 (N = 186, mean age = 14.27 years) used a diary design across five days to replicate the between-person associations and study within-person associations. Results revealed that daily strengths-related behavior predicted well-being on the following day. Overall, the results underline the importance of strengths-related behavior at school and suggest that all 24 character strengths are relevant for well-being at school.

Engaged Study of the Qur'an: Gauging its Effect on the Life of the Individual and of Society

2003 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-207
Author(s):  
Ruqayya Ṭā Hā Jābir al-cUlwānī
Keyword(s):  
Social Conflict ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Social Advancement ◽  
Freedom Of Thought ◽  
The Individual

An engaged and perceptive contemplation of the Qur'an forms one of the most important bases for the cultural and social advancement of Muslims in all walks of life, and the absence of such study is one of the reasons behind the general cultural attenuation in the modern world. Reflection is one of the means of the construction and formation of a civilised society. The applied faculty of intellect creates an environment which allows reflective and considered thought to be developed from a functional perspective for the general well-being of society. Meanwhile the effective neglect of such study leads to the proliferation of superstition, dissent and social conflict. Indeed it can even be argued that it diminishes the significance of the laws and conventions which serve as the backbone of society. This paper reveals a number of factors which can impede the achievement of such an engaged study of the text: thus, for instance, thoughtless obedience to societal conventions; shortcomings in educational systems and syllabi; and a failure to encompass the significance of the Arabic language. Furthermore this paper presents several effective suggestions for nurturing students' potential, encouraging an environment which allows freedom of thought, and its refinement.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document