Flourishing In Ministry: Clergy, Ministry Life and Wellbeing

Research Insights from the Flourishing in Ministry Project

Matt Bloom, Ph.D. July 2017 Flourishing in Ministry: An Introduction to the Science of Wellbeing

We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Declaration of Independence There is something ridiculous and even quite indecent in an individual’s claim to be happy. Malcolm Muggeridge

The science of wellbeing is young. we scientists also wanted to offer It has been around for about insights about the positive sides three decades--only a short time of living. Wellbeing is about life at in science-years. But the goal its best. It includes experiences of this research is profound: to like happiness, meaning, joy and understand the best, most positive inspiration. When I first began dimension of life. Scientists have my studies of wellbeing nearly learned a lot about how to help 20 years ago I joined a rapidly people who are suffering, which growing group of researchers is good and important work. But interested in understanding the p. 2 Flourishing happens when ministry is a life- enriching rather than life- depleting experience.

p. 3 positive dimensions of human life. wrote Bright-sided: How the My interest arose from my core Relentless Promotion of Positive life values: I believe in the intrinsic Thinking Has Undermined America value of all people and I believe to convey her concerns about the that human wellbeing is an intrinsic pursuit of happiness. good. I believe human wellbeing is Some of this disagreement about good in and of itself, not for what it happiness might derive from can lead to (although it can lead to different understandings of what many good things), but because I happiness actually is. Socrates believe all people should be able to admonished that “the beginning of flourish. I was familiar with Thomas wisdom is the definition of terms.” Jefferson’s claim that happiness is As scientists, my team and I agree. a fundamental human right and I We want precision in our terms so agreed with Mr. Jefferson. I still do. we pinpoint what we are studying. Once I started giving presentations Precision helps to ensure that on my research, however, I soon our research produces verifiable became familiar with people like knowledge and useful insights. A Malcolm Muggeridge who have more precise definition will, I think, sometimes grave concerns with help non-researchers understand happiness. Muggeridge was a their own wellbeing better and also famous satirist and curmudgeon help explain why researchers think so it is hard to know if he really that happiness and other forms of considered happiness to be wellbeing are so important. ridiculous or indecent. His The Four Building Blocks sentiments, however, seem to of Wellbeing strike a chord with some people. Almost every audience has at least I want to begin with a quick one person who has apprehensions comparison of wellness and about research on wellbeing. Top- wellbeing. Wellness is typically selling author Barbara Ehrenreich used for our physical health p. 4 while wellbeing is used for our example comprises a number of psychological, social, and spiritual different dimensions including health. Wellness is about a healthy cardiovascular health, respiratory body and mind; wellbeing is about health, musculoskeletal health, a flourishing life. Wellness and and digestive health. Each of these physical health provide a nice wellness dimensions has particular starting place for understanding health-related capacities. wellbeing. Our wellness, for Cardiovascular health, for example, p. 5 comprises our capacity to rapidly dimensions or health systems. move oxygen, carbon dioxide, Wellbeing is similarly made up of nutrients, hormones and other major dimensions. There are four: important materials efficiently • Happiness--the emotional throughout our body. Our dynamics and the subjective respiratory health is our capacity quality of our daily lives. to bring sufficient oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from our • Resilience--our capacity to body. Our musculoskeletal health adapt, change, and respond to is our body’s capacity to move life’s challenges, and also our and its ability to provide physical capacity to grow, learn, and to space and protection for all of the develop new capabilities and other health systems. Our overall capacities. wellness, then, is composed of the healthiness of these major • Self-integrity--our identity or

p. 6 self concept which includes the wellness we know there are complex beliefs we hold about who we connections among the major are as physical, psychological, health systems. For example, when intellectual, social, and moral/ we engage in physical exercise, we spiritual beings; our self-image, not only strengthen our muscles self-esteem and self-worth; and and bones, we also strengthen our sense of respect and dignity. our cardiovascular and respiratory systems. In turn, healthier • Thriving--the meaning and cardiovascular and respiratory significance we experience in systems increase the health of our lives; our sense of having our muscles and bones, as well as values and beliefs that inspire the health of our brains and other us, create purpose, and provide organs. These are just a few of the moral guidance to our lives; many important interconnections experiencing deep and positive that work together to create connections with others. our overall physical health. The These dimensions are also same is true of wellbeing: There referred to as the “building blocks are important interconnections of wellbeing” to emphasize that among the building blocks. In fact, our wellbeing is an aggregate of all they build on each other so when four dimensions. My team and I one dimension goes up it tends use the term flourishing to describe to boost or build up the others. when someone is experiencing Unfortunately, the reverse is also high levels of all four dimensions. true: weakening in one building We flourish when we experience block tends to cause declines in happiness, resilience, self-integrity the others. I will describe how and thriving. In the pages ahead these interconnections among I provide a richer description of dimensions are important for each of these building blocks. restoring and sustaining wellbeing.

When we think about maintaining One final introductory note. The

p. 7 term “self-care” is used often in but there are also important caregiving professions as a catch- responsibilities each of us has for all for actions necessary to sustain each other’s wellbeing. My team wellness and wellbeing. I find this and I use the phrase “ecosystems word troubling because it is often of wellbeing” to capture the social used in ways that seem to overlook interdependencies that shape or ignore the profound ways our our wellbeing. The people we live health and wellbeing are impacted and work with are part of our by the people and groups we are ecosystem, but so too are the surrounded by. There are certainly groups and organizations that important responsibilities each create and shape the environments of us has for our own wellbeing, in which we live and work.

p. 8 As I describe each building block interested in the topic of happiness. of wellbeing, I will highlight both Historian Darrin McMahon notes the individual and social aspects that one of the first books ever of each dimension. It will be written discusses happiness.1 But important to keep ecosystems of as the epigraphs to this chapter wellbeing in mind. I will begin with illustrate, and Professor McMahon the dimension of wellbeing that confirms, happiness has always has been the focus of the most been a contested idea. Throughout research--happiness. I think a history some people have viewed happy start to our journey through the pursuit of happiness as the wellbeing will be a good start. “highest human calling, the most perfect human state,” while others, Everyday Happiness like Muggeridge, have argued it People have probably always been is frivolous. Some pundits have

p. 9 maintained pursuing happiness is subjective wellbeing or happiness a sure road to ruin and despair.2 arises from the real experiences we Scientific understandings of have in our daily lives and also from happiness show that it is more the way we judge or evaluate our than an ephemeral state. In fact, daily lives. Happiness=experience science says that happiness is + evaluation. essential for our long-term health Our feelings, moods, and emotions and growth. Researchers prefer are the experience part of the the term subjective wellbeing happiness equation.3 There are over happiness because it many kinds of feelings. Positive draws attention to the fact that feelings range from peacefulness happiness is based upon our to cheerfulness to inspiration to personal, subjective experiences awe. Researchers use the term and evaluations of our lives. Our “happy” as a short-hand for

p. 10 any positive mood or emotion. our daily lives, often without Feeling calm? For researchers, realizing we are doing it. When you are happy. Feeling cheerful? we say, “This is a good day” or You are happy. Feeling excited? “This is a bad day,” we are rapidly You are happy. Similarly, there is assessing the quality of our lives a wide range of negative feelings on that particular day. If you meet including boredom, frustration, someone in the hallway at work or irritation, sadness, anxiety, grief, in the aisle at the grocery store, you

despair, and anger. Researchers might ask “How are you?” If they sometimes use the term “unhappy” give you a real answer, something to describe any negative mood or more than a polite “fine,” they will emotion. likely be describing their most recent life evaluations. Our feelings The evaluation part of happiness shape these quick evaluations, is the quick, Gestalt-like judgments but our powerful brains are also we are continuously making about processing a lot of information and p. 11 drawing fast conclusions about It is important to feel grief over a what is happening inside and significant loss, to be appropriately around us in our daily lives. These angry about injustices, to feel fast conclusions are the evaluative afraid when we are in danger. part of happiness. Scientists would be concerned if someone does not feel sadness, We operate on these fast anger, or fear when there are conclusions. In general, this is real causes. Furthermore, people a good thing. Once our minds who face significant stressors at grasp how things are going, we work usually experience everyday can do something about it. When unhappiness, and with good things are going well, we can try to reason. Their judgments that continue that good trend. When work is too stressful are spot on. things are not going well, we can The key insight from research is try to make adjustments to reverse that, in general and on balance, things. In fact, unhappiness is we are better off when our typical usually a warning that is telling us or most frequent experience is that change should happen. An tipped toward happiness rather important purpose of these fast than unhappiness. My team and I conclusions is to marshal our brain call this everyday happiness. There power so we can respond, and are real advantages from everyday respond quickly when necessary. happiness. One reason scientists are studying happiness is to provide information Researchers have found, for that will help us make appropriate example, that we are healthier responses. when we experience everyday happiness. Everyday happiness is What is Happiness Good For? associated with stronger immune Some people have misinterpreted systems, more rapid recovery from the science of happiness as illness and injury, and research asserting that unhappiness is bad. indicates it may be linked to longer p. 12 p. 13 life spans. We tend to make better do not fully understand, everyday decisions when we are happy. This happiness seems to facilitate is true even for the rational, logical building new relationships and decisions we may have been strengthening old ones. People taught are best made without are certainly nicer to be with when emotions. We are more creative they are happy--it is really difficult when we experience everyday to be with grumpy or morose happiness. Our minds are more people. But everyday happiness aware of new information when we seems to open up other as yet experience positive emotions. Our unknown capacities for building thinking is more flexible and we and sustaining good relationships. are open to different ideas. There The main point is that more and are exceptions, like the unhappy more science is showing that but brilliant artist--Vincent Van everyday happiness leads to good Gogh, Earnest Hemingway, Robin outcomes, for ourselves and for Williams--but for most of us the people we love, work around, happiness leads to more creativity. and live with.

We respond better to adversity Happiness (and when we experience happiness Unhappiness) Accumulates before a challenge or crisis. Part of Recall that happiness comprises this is because we can think better many kinds of experiences: the and more creatively during the feeling of accomplishment we crisis and, therefore, can figure out get from a good day’s work, the how to respond better to adversity. enjoyment of working with good But everyday happiness builds colleagues, the excitement we get reserves for dealing with challenge from overcoming a work challenge, and stress. We are more helpful the joy we experience from doing and altruistic, and engage in more work we find meaningful. Likewise positive social interactions when there are many experiences that we are happy. In ways researchers cause unhappiness: anger when p. 14 someone is rude to us, frustration caregiving work is challenging and when we encounter a traffic jam; difficult. Caregivers are face-to- irritation from the guy at the face with human suffering. Their office who always complains, and days are long and their workload dejection from working hard only is heavy. Their work days are to be harshly criticized for failing often full of unhappy experiences. to meet an impossible deadline. Yet caregivers often overlook This leads me to one last research these daily experiences--they are insight: happiness accumulates. focused on caring for others not

So does unhappiness. All of the themselves. Science shows that moments and experiences of these negative experiences may our everyday lives impact our be piling up. The pile of negative happiness, but we may be unaware experiences gets bigger as one of that impact. difficult day follows another. As a consequence, their health declines, Someone once described being a their decision making suffers, they caregiver as sometimes feeling like are less effective in their work and “death by a thousand paper cuts.” less capable of dealing with the The point she was making is that challenges and difficulties. When p. 15 the pile gets too big, it collapses on back from the rush of life and them. This is when exhaustion and pay attention to your everyday burnout set in. experience.

Happiness research shows us that Resilience we need to pay attention to how When my wife Kim was pastoring a our days are piling up. Are we large church, Harold and Lorraine experiencing everyday happiness were among my favorite members or, like too many caregivers, is of that congregation. I suppose our pile of unhappy days getting as the pastor’s spouse I shouldn’t larger? Do you feel like the weeks have had favorites, but I did. They and months of your life are rushing were kind, compassionate, and by? If you feel this way, then step positive, humble and strong, able p. 16 to help others and also able to monitoring system, then resilience accept help for themselves. They is our daily wellbeing response were among the “rocks of the system. Resilience comprises our church,” those rare and valuable capacities to adjust to changes in people who are the foundation the world around us, to achieve for any strong community. Harold our life goals, and to keep growing served on several church boards and reaching toward our fullest and Lorraine was one of the most potential. Wellbeing is not static-- skillful members of the church it goes with the flow of our lives- care team. They were always -and so resilience is, in part, our involved in some activity to help ability to respond to the changing other people. But Harold and and sometimes challenging world Lorraine also experienced more around us. Resilient people are than their share of difficulties in able to respond effectively to life. One of their children struggled challenges and crises and they with drug addiction so they had to are not diminished or damaged care for their grandchildren. Their by such experiences. They may other child was born with mental experience temporary declines challenges that prevented him in their overall wellbeing, but from ever living alone. Lorraine had because they are resilient they a long-term struggle with cancer. can recover quickly and bounce- Even so they were at church almost back to the level of wellbeing they every Sunday, happily greeting experienced before the set-back. people as they walked in for Resilience also comprises our morning worship services. Every capacities for growth and personal week they were doing something development. Resilient people are to care for others. Harold and intrinsically motivated to increase Lorraine are examples of people their knowledge and abilities, with high resilience. develop new capabilities, and learn new things. They have a strong, If happiness is our daily wellbeing internal drive to learn more about p. 17 themselves so they can become a portion of our behavior is beyond better person. our conscious awareness. People with high self-awareness are able Researchers use the term self- to get out of this fog. They have regulating capacities to describe an on-going ability to notice things some of the essential elements of like “I am feeling this particular resilience. They are the basis for mood or emotion,” “I am thinking our ability to adapt, adjust, and about this topic” or “I responded change. They help us control our to that person in this specific impulses, manage our desires, way.” They also take notice of make good choices, focus on what how their words and deeds affect is important, and set and achieve other people. When we describe important life goals. In other someone as being “a bull in a china words, self-regulating capacities shop,” we are describing someone help us maintain equilibrium with little to no self-awareness. in our lives. There are three Likewise self-awareness is self-regulatory capacities: self- not self-consciousness, that awareness, self-reflectivity, and overly-sensitive, uncomfortable self-control. Self-awareness is form of self-attention many the ability to step-back from the of us experienced during our flow of life to notice what we are adolescence when we thought feeling, thinking and doing. It is so much about ourselves we the capacity to pay attention and became ill-at-ease in (and, given to recognize what is happening inside over-thinking about pimples and us and around us. Researchers blemishes, sometimes with) our have discovered that we too often own skin. Self-awareness strikes a live in a fog, unaware of why we do Goldilocks place of not-too-much and say and feel the things we do. nor too-little self-thinking. We can come up with apparently good explanations after the fact, Self-reflectivity is the ability to but for many of us, a significant examine and think about our p. 18 thoughts, feelings and behaviors, Reinhold Niebuhr’s famous especially in terms of whether or Serenity Prayer is a masterful not they are appropriate, good, summary of the third self- helpful, or otherwise positive for regulatory capacity, self-control. ourselves, other people and the “God, give us grace to accept world around us. Self-reflectivity with serenity the things that builds on self-awareness to cannot be changed/Courage to gain an understanding of how change the things which should a particular thought, feeling, or be changed/and the Wisdom response impacted ourselves to distinguish the one from the and others. Once self-awareness other...” Once self-awareness and provides information about what is self-reflectivity have provided us happening, through self-reflectivity with the information about what is we figure out why we responded happening inside and around us, as we did and determine whether and why that is happening, self- that response lead to positive or control is our capacity to respond negative outcomes. Emotional to that information. Self-control intelligence--the capacity to is our ability to change things in recognize and understand our ourselves and the world around emotions and the emotions of us. It includes our ability to set and others--is one example of how achieve goals in life, to change things self-awareness and self-reflectivity about ourselves (e.g., giving up bad work together.4 Self-reflectivity is habits), and our ability to adapt not ruminating about ourselves, and adjust to the world around us working each thought or feeling or (e.g., learning how to work better action into a knotty, messy ball of with a difficult colleague). It also hyper self-criticism. Self-reflectivity includes our capacity to change strikes another Goldilocks place of the world around us to make it noticing what is going on inside more suitable for ourselves and and around us, and what role we others (e.g., saying no to another have played in those goings-on. request from our boss to work p. 19 late). And, as Niebuhr’s prayer that a series of bad days will likely emphasizes, self-control is also weaken our resilience which, in our ability to distinguish when we turn, will diminish our capacity should try to change the world and to deal effectively with more bad when we should change ourselves. days. During that low state, even Self-control is sometimes called simple problems can become willpower or agency. The word insurmountable. This is when we willpower captures our capacities might, for example, say things we to control our urges and impulses don’t mean out of anger or find and our ability to do the right thing ourselves unable to face another even in the face of difficulties. The day of work. word agency captures our abilities A second major element of to take action, to think ahead and resilience is positive life dynamics. be proactive, and to set the right Life dynamics give shape and goals and persist in achieving them. form to our lives and, in turn, they Setting appropriate boundaries shape our everyday happiness. around work and then sticking to They include things like work- those boundaries is an example of life or work-family balance, the high self-control. patterns and qualities of our Researcher Roy Baumeister uses daily social interactions, and the the “muscle” metaphor to illustrate highs and lows--the boosters and how self-control works.5 When we stressors--that typify our daily use a muscle it gets tired; rest is lives. I describe self-regulating required to build-back its strength. capacities as the capacities we Similarly, using our self-control have to maintain equilibrium; temporarily weakens that capacity. life dynamics are the ways that If we have to exert a lot of willpower, other people and groups impact say to continue working in a very our equilibrium. Life dynamics challenging context, our willpower tend to endure over time and so reserves are depleted. This means they form an important on-going p. 20 aspect of wellbeing. My team and I It turns out that work load is one of sometimes call these the rhythms the most important life dynamics. of resilience because life dynamics My team and I find that the work form a cadence that shapes our load of most caregivers creates a self-regulating capacities and discordant, even cacophonous, our everyday happiness. Positive rhythm in their work life. It is life dynamics are more regular, more than just the sheer amount smooth, and harmonious. We can of work that matters. For many adjust to positive life dynamics caregivers, work is unpredictable and sometimes we can even and extremely diverse. Work does adjust the life dynamic itself. Take not come in a well-ordered flow, the experiences of new parents but is more pell-mell, a fast-paced, at home with their first baby as continuous jumble of different an example. The first few days tasks. The extreme diversity of are a chaotic blur, but over time tasks means caregiving work also most parents learn to adjust in has high “switching costs.” When some ways to the baby’s schedule caregivers move from one task and also help the baby develop a to another, the new task requires smoother pattern of sleep, feeding, a very different skill set and work changing, etc. The first days on a approach then the previous task. new job are often confusing, but A pastor, for example, leaves a we learn the culture of our new meeting about church finances to organization, figure out who is care for a family grieving the death who and how people work here. of a loved one. The unpredictability We find the restroom, figure out makes it hard to prioritize and how to get from our desk to the plan work, the extreme diversity boss’s office. Our work dynamic makes it hard to prepare and is better partly because we learn adjust to work tasks. Caregiving how to fit in and partly because we work is also irregularly punctuated figure out how to make ourselves by emergencies--caregivers never more comfortable. know when a crisis will erupt, but p. 21 they know one could happen at almost any time. This kind of work load is not just arrhythmic--it has no cadence or pattern- -it is also often erratic. Erratic life rhythms constantly tax caregivers’ self- regulating capacities making it nearly impossible to adjust or adapt. They also undermine everyday happiness--most people find chaos worrisome and anxiety-producing- -which further humanitarian worker told us that diminishes resilience. he takes time every morning to journal about his life. It is his way Resilient people are, for example, of maintaining a good perspective able to “just say no” to overworking. on his work and it helps him They notice when stress is building deal more effectively with work up and take action to reduce it. They challenges. Another humanitarian also develop ways of rebuilding worker takes a nap everyday. He or maintaining their wellbeing knows a nap will restore and re- that fit well into their life. We find energize him, so it is a priority examples from all of the caring except during emergencies. professions we study. One resilient Several physicians write poetry p. 22 together because it helps them With maps like these in hand, work through difficult issues from you can start to examine what their medical practices. Poetry creates smooth work-life rhythms also helps them experience more and what interrupts or disrupts joy in their practice of medicine. A positive work-life dynamics. number of Catholic and Protestant Self-integrity clergy use St. Ignatius’ prayer of 6 examen at the end of each day. When I was in senior high school They told us that this daily practice I was shy, awkward, and very self- of reflection nourishes their spirits conscious. I always tried to fade and helps them become better into the background at school. I people and better pastors. These waited for the bus a block away are just a few examples of how from the stop just to avoid having some caregivers sustain strong to wait with other students. I did resilience capacities. not feel good about myself. I was probably more like my peers than One way to boost resilience is to I knew, but I remember feeling lost map your life dynamics. If you map with myself and alone in the world. your daily experiences, some of My parents were so concerned that your important life dynamics will they had me work with a therapist show up in that map, but it may in hopes it might help boost my helpful to focus on specific kinds self-esteem. Looking back on that of dynamics. Take, for example, time of my life, I would describe work-life or work-family dynamics. high school Matt as experiencing Map those as well. When are things low self-integrity. tense and difficult between work and the rest of your life? When Self-integrity is the third building is there a nice rhythm between block of wellbeing. Part of having the two, when everything seems self-integrity is knowing ourselves balanced and smooth? Map the well and, on balance, feeling good patterns in your own work load. about who we are. It includes

p. 23 what we might call balanced self- having a clear and positive identity. esteem and self-worth--to know Our identity or self-concept is the our strengths and weaknesses, way we understand and think our good sides and our bad sides, about who we are and how we our noble characteristics and our fit into the world around us. Our darker tendencies. Self-integrity identity includes all of the things includes living up to our moral we attribute as being essential standards about how we treat to who we are as a person. Our others and how we show up in talents and skills, our personality, the world. In includes striving to the things we care about and be a good person and to become don’t care about, and our passions a better person. Self-integrity is and interests are all part of our feeling that other people respect identity. So too is our history, us and also treating others so they the important things we did, the feel respected by us. Dignity and key events we experienced, the self-integrity go hand-in-hand. significant people in our lives, and how all those people and things Researchers describe the first part have shaped how we think about of self-integrity, knowing oneself, ourselves. Our identity includes

p. 24 the important roles, relationships, realistic about the light and dark and group memberships in our sides of our personality, being lives. Finally, our identity includes scrupulous about recognizing our our life values and beliefs which noble features as well as foibles define for us what is important, and flaws. A positive identity means valuable, worthy, and noble in life, that, with clarity around all that we what matters most to us, and what are, we see ourselves as on balance we want to stand and live for. So, a good person. Brené Brown my identity includes things like describes this as “the courage to having a talent for learning, a love be imperfect, vulnerable, and to for creating new ideas, being an set boundaries.” Having a positive extroverted-introvert. My identity identity does not mean we think also includes the important roles better of ourselves, but rather we in my life like being a professor, think well of ourselves. We have a Kim Bloom’s husband, Nicholas proper sense of self-worth and self- and Keaton’s dad, and a passionate esteem. Interestingly, research backcountry hiker. My core values- shows that people with a positive -”Honoring and illuminating the identity tend to have far fewer dignity of each person” is one of prejudices and they are seen by them--are also a central element other people as being respectful. of how I understand myself and People with a clear and positive my place in the world. identity think well of themselves and well of others. A clear identity means that we know and claim our strengths, Self-integrity fosters authenticity- talents, gifts and skills, as well as -being able to engage “one’s our weaknesses, the talents we true or core self in one’s daily do not have and the skills we lack. enterprise.”7 Authentic people Clarity is sometimes described as are more comfortable in their fidelity--accuracy about our good own skin. They are confident, but and bad characteristics, being not cocky, self-assured but not

p. 25 arrogant. Truly authentic people for what they believe in. do not foist themselves on the A piece of advice that is often given world--authenticity does not mean to people new to a job is “fake it saying or doing whatever we want until you make it.” This may not be whenever we want--but rather it good advice if faking it means we means being able to act and behave are trying to act in ways that are in ways that are more consistent contrary to our identity. Of course, with our clear and positive identity. in some new situations we have Authentic people have higher self- to figure out how to do things--

that is learning, not faking it. Of regulatory capacities because they course, to be respectful of others, are able to spend less time and we should be careful about what energy trying to be a different kind we say and what we do. But we of person than they truly are. They should also be able to behave in are prudent but not prudish. They ways that are true-to-ourselves. know how to be respectful of others We should live out our core and respectful of themselves. They values and stand up for what we are adept at social discretion and believe in. Self-integrity is being willing to stand up appropriately p. 26 truthful to ourselves and prudent- Thriving -”wise, discerning, knowledgeable; judicious, sensible”8--toward Thriving has very ancient roots, others. To flourish we need to going back at least to the Greeks feel we can be our true selves in in the fourth century BCE. Aristotle the important domains of life, is regarded as the first person to including work. When we fake it, we formally study and write about rarely feel good. When we can be this dimension of wellbeing and so true to our selves, we feel honest researchers have adopted his term and natural. Self-integrity is part eudaimonia as our technical term of experiencing life at its best. Our for this dimension. Unpacking the research shows that self-integrity word eudaimonia provides some frees people to be at their best, important insights into thriving. helps them to develop and sustain The Greek daimon refers to our strong and positive relationships, state of being, our soul or spirit promotes adaptability, and and the prefix eu refers to good or increases resilience. well. So, more literally translated eudaimonia is having a good p. 27 indwelling spirit, but practically (3) experiencing strong, positive understood it is living a meaningful connections with other people, and purposeful life, a state especially those with whom we Aristotle thought was essential. share common beliefs and values Researchers are still searching (positive connections).9 A deeper for more precise answers to what look at each of these elements will thriving is, but there is strong help us gain a richer understanding consensus that it includes at least of thriving. three elements: (1) an overarching Meaning system system of beliefs, values and virtues that provides structure In the 1950s, Edward R. Murrow and guidance to life (meaning hosted a radio show titled This system), (2) a sense of contributing I Believe in which he explored toward important aspirations or “the personal philosophies of goals in life (purpose in life), and thoughtful men and women in

p. 28 all walks of life...will talk out loud philosophers and theologians about the rules they live by, the have asserted that all people need things they have found to be the answers to questions like “Why am basic values in their lives.” Pearl I here?” and “What should I do with Buck (“My faith in humanity stands my life? Modern research concurs firm”), James Michener (“I believe with ancient wisdom: we need that all men are brothers”) and a meaning system. A meaning Jackie Robinson (“I believe in the system provides core life values power of free minds and free and beliefs that gives direction to hearts at work”) were among those our lives and sets ideals for the who shared their beliefs on the kind of person we should strive radio. This program was recreated to become. Our meaning system in 2005 on National Public Radio.10 operates like our life GPS: it points Once again, famous people shared us toward what is most significant from their meaning system. and consequential in life, provides Novelist John Updike believes us with a path we can follow to live “most instinctively...in the human a life of value and worth, sets life value of creative writing,” Colin goals we can use as milestones to Powell shared “I believe in America keep us on that path, and provides and I believe in our people,” and motivation that keeps us moving Sister Helen Prejean believes in the ever closer toward an ideal, importance of turning our beliefs virtuous life. into meaningful actions. People vary in terms of the clarity The popularity of these radio and strength of their meaning shows points to a fundamental system. Some people know what insight about human nature: they believe, why they believe We have an innate need to find those things and they strive to live meaning in our lives and our those beliefs in their daily lives. core life beliefs are essential to Their meaning system is clear and fulfilling that need. For centuries strong and, therefore, it shapes

p. 29 how they view themselves, how teaching would be meaningful for they interact with other people, me. One of my core life values is to and how they live and act within pursue truth and wisdom that will the larger world around them. serve the wellbeing of others. I see Other people seem lost in a world teaching as a way I can guide other of conflicting or poorly-defined people toward new knowledge and beliefs, unsure of where they stand insights that will benefit them. The on matters of importance. They are subjects I select for my teaching adrift in life without a clear sense are also chosen with this value in of direction in life.. They follow mind. For example, I teach classes one set of values at work, another about innovation, but I always cast set of values at church and still the class around social innovation, another when they are out with creating new ideas that will enrich friends. Their life lacks direction the lives of other people and make and purpose because they do not the world a better place. Clarifying have a clear and coherent meaning my core values was and still is an system. important part of my thriving.

During my early adult years I had Researchers have consistently a sense that teaching would be found that a strong and clear meaningful to me, but for a long understanding of what is time I ignored those thoughts. I meaningful and important in had never taught a day in my life life is one of the most powerful so I dismissed those thoughts as predictors of health, longevity and baseless. After I finished my Ph.D. I happiness.11 When we have such spent several months clarifying my a meaning system, we can invest core life beliefs and values. It was our lives in things that we know an important, but difficult process are important. A meaning system for me. One of the many positive inspires us to strive to become our outcomes of that experience best selves and it helps us through was that I finally understood why the darkest moments of life. My p. 30 team and I have found that people to reaching our fullest potential. who have a strong meaning Purpose is meaning in action. system, one with clear life values Purpose is particularly important and beliefs, are much more likely at work. Given the hours most to thrive at work. Their work is of us spend at our jobs, we need meaningful because the have to know we are using that time chosen work that allows them well. We need to feel that all of to express some of their most our hard work and effort are cherished values or most deeply making a positive difference in held beliefs in and through their the world. Common among the work. stories we heard from physicians Purpose in life was their dedication to caring for each patient as the unique person Philosophers, theologians and they are, bringing science and researchers all believe that, in compassion together to advance addition to finding meaning, healing. Teachers often expressed we also have an innate need their purpose was helping children to do something with our lives understand their personal that we think is important and value and potential through the useful. We need to know that our transformative experience of time on earth has mattered in education. Humanitarian workers some positive way.⁠4 We need a often spoke of their passion for purpose (or several purposes) in social justice and the sense of life. We can think of purpose in life purpose they experienced from as a set of overarching goals we working to honor and uphold the strive to achieve and toward which dignity of all people, especially we can direct our best selves. those who have been marginalized, Purpose creates the milestones exploited, or victimized. Clergy in our meaning GPS, guiding us to spoke about their aspiration to help make a positive difference in the people find meaning and purpose world and leading us ever closer p. 31 in their own lives. People who feel and unconditional acceptance. called to their work often speak In a positive relationship we about something bigger and more feel accepted for who we are, important beyond themselves supported in the triumphs that inspires and motivates them and sorrows of our life, and in their work. They are speaking encouraged to grow and develop about their deep sense of purpose- our fullest capabilities. When -they know their work contributes we have positive relationships, to something they believe really we can be our authentic selves, matters. sharing our deepest concerns, fears and weaknesses, and feeling Positive connections supported and uplifted as we A final element of thriving is to strive to live a life of meaning and feel connected to others in bonds purpose. Positive relationships are of care, respect and love. We are mutual: we create that space of fundamentally social beings. This is care, support, respect and love for a scientific fact. Scientific research those who offer it to us. clearly shows that positive We need positive connections in relationships with other people all of the spheres of life, including are essential for our wellbeing.12 work.14 There is often a sense that For example, research shows “appropriate” relationships at work that isolation from others can are all about work, nothing more. be devastating to our physical Anything “personal” is off-limits at and mental health, often having work. Of course there are some an impact greater than chronic aspects of our lives that should smoking or obesity.13 not be shared at work; positive Positive connections have connectedness does not require many important characteristics oversharing. It does require including mutual care and engaging people beyond their compassion, emotional support, work role. Positive connectedness p. 32 means we feel respected for who all my goodness, weirdness, and we are, accepted and validated for annoyances. The care they show our strengths and talents, as well as me opens up ways for them to for our idiosyncrasies, uniqueness, help me harness my creativity in and even our oddities. I can be more helpful and focused ways. very scatter-brained and often Flourishing requires positive poorly organized. Sometimes I relationships. We need people flit from one thing to another. In who can help us deal with the ups conversations, I often venture off and downs of work life. We need a to explore new ideas. The upside boss we can trust, one who cares of this is that I am creative and able for us and for the work we do. We to see new insights in our research. need friends and mentors rather

than just business associates. The down side is that I can derail We need a caring community of an important conversation, leaving people who will support us in the my team mates uncertain of where joys and sorrows of our work and I am taking the conversation. people we can support in their joys Nevertheless, I know my team and sorrows. mates accept and respect me, with p. 33 for maintaining the other three domains. Self-integrity helps us feel like whole, valuable, worthy people and allows us to make meaningful contributions in our work and life. And thriving helps us know life has meaning, that our life has a purpose, and brings us that essential care, respect, and love we need from others.

Final Thoughts These are the four building blocks It is important to remember of flourishing. Equipped with this that wellbeing includes all four knowledge, we encourage you to building blocks. To flourish, we explore our other research insights need to experience everyday and the ideas we provide about happiness, have high resilience, how to promote flourishing. We experience self-integrity, and find also hope pastors, denominations meaning, purpose, and positive and seminaries will share ideas connectedness in all of the with each other and with us. There important spheres of our lives. is much we can learn through Many people overlook everyday collaboration. Please let us know happiness. The days and weeks run how we can continue to support together in a blur of unhappiness. you in your ministry work, whether Taking time to map our days can you are a local pastor, a minister help us understand how to boost serving inside the church, in our daily happiness. Resilience ministry beyond the local church es helps us adapt to challenges, or a leader. but even more important it helps us grow ever closer to our full potential. It is also essential p. 34 p. 35 Our Research Program

The Flourishing in Ministry Program is a major, long-term program of research designed to understand and support the wellbeing of clergy and ministers. We study the lives and ministries of women and men spanning Christian religious traditions including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Mainline, Evangelical, and Historically Black. As part of our on- going research project we have gathered surveys from thousands of pastors and conducted life-narrative interviews with several hundred clergy. We are gathering daily life information from pastors to learn more about how ministry life unfolds day-by-day.

This series of reports provides information about current research insights and results. We will continue to publish and share more reports as we advance our research.

The Flourishing in Ministry team is located at the University of Notre Dame. Our research is supported by the generosity of the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

We invite and encourage pastors, judicatories, and denominations to join our project. Pastors can sign-up at our website and receive their own wellbeing profile. Judicatories and denominations can receive detailed information about the wellbeing of their member clergy.

Much more information is available at our website: flourishing.nd.edu

We can be reached directly at: [email protected] 574.631.7755 p. 36 Endnotes

1 Darrin McMahon, Happiness: A history. (New York: 9 The research literature on flourishing crosses disci- Atlantic Monthly Press, 2005). plinary boundaries, and it is growing rapider. Among the important discussions of elements flourishing see 2 McMahon, Happiness, front cover Blake E Ashforth, “Commentary: Positive Identities and the Individual,” Exploring Positive Identities and 3 To more fully understand how researchers define Organizations, 2009, 171–87; Roy F Baumeister, Mean- happiness we should start with our biology. We hu- ings of Life, New York: Guilford Press, 1991); Edward mans have an amazing wellbeing monitoring system Fischer, The Good Life, Palo Alto, CA: Stanford Univer- hard-wired into us. Our brains are constantly scan- sity Press, 2014; Susan Harter, “Authenticity,” in Hand- ning our situations, interactions, and environments book of Positive Psychology, Chris R Snyder and Shane J to determine whether things are going well or poorly Lopez (ends), 2002, 382–94; Alan S Waterman, The Best for our wellbeing and for the wellbeing of the people Within Us: Positive Psychology Perspectives on Eudaimonia, we care about. When our current circumstances seem Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, to bode well for our wellbeing the system sends out 2015; Susan Wolf, Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, positive signals “All is well!,” “Life is good!” But when Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010. things seem to be going wrong the system sends out various kinds of warning signals: “Be careful!” “Take 10 “This I Believe.” Accessed December 1, 2016. http:// cover” “Fight!” This monitoring system is our feelings, www.npr.org/series/4538138/this-i-believe, accessed the moods and emotions we experience during every July 31, 2016. waking and sleeping moment of our lives. We are al- ways feeling something, whether or not we are aware 11 See Anne Colby, and William Damon. Some do care: of that feeling. Even when we sleep. If you have ever contemporary lives of moral commitment, New York: Free woken from a vivid dream, especially a nightmare, Press, 1992; Corey L. M. Keyes, and Jonathan Haidt. you will likely remember waking up full of emotion. Flourishing: positive psychology and the life well-lived, Neuroscientists have discovered that our feelings Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, arise from the region of our brain called the amygda- 2003; Keith D., Markman, Travis Proulx, and Matthew la. This region is tightly connected to our five senses. J. Lindberg, The psychology of meaning, Washington, DC: Our senses are constantly scanning the environment American Psychological Association, 2013. around us, taking in thousands of bits of information each minute, including data on our wellbeing. The 12 Howard S. Friedman, and Leslie R. Martin. The amygdala takes this information from our senses and longevity project: surprising discoveries for health processes it to determine how thing are going for us. and long life from the landmark eight-decade study, When things are going well, our amygdala produces New York: Hudson Street Press, 2011; George E. positive feelings; when something seems to be going Vaillant, Aging well: surprising guideposts to a happier life wrong, our amygdala produces negative feelings. It is from the landmark Harvard study of adult development, a simple, but highly effective system. Boston: Little, Brown, 2002.

4 Daniel Goleman’s widely read book Emotional 13 A wonderful resource on the necessity of positive intelligence (New York: Bantam Books, 1995) brought relationships for human wellbeing is John T. Caciop- the pioneering research of Peter Salovey and John D po, and William Patrick. Loneliness: human nature and Mayer to a mainstream audience. the need for social connection, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2008. 5 Baumeister, Roy F., and John Tierney. 2011. Willpow- er: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. New York: 14 Cacioppo and William, Loneliness. Penguin Press,

6 Loyola Press. “The Daily Examen.” Accessed Decem- ber 1, 2016. http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/igna- tian-prayer/the-examen.

7 Kernis, Michael H, and Brian M Goldman. 2006. “A Multicomponent Conceptualization of Authenticity: Theory and Research.” Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38:283–357.

8 Oxford English Dictionary

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