Professor Espeseth
Integration 3
March 4, 2022

"Based on the last seven weeks of Moreau and your own experiences, what is your definition of 'a life well-lived'?"

During the past seven weeks of Moreau, I have learned a lot about what a life well-lived looks like. I have used these perspectives to look back on my life and consider how I have my own definition of a life well lived. In combination with the lessons we’ve learned in class, I think that a life well-lived is centered around the concept of balance. It is unrealistic to believe that everything in life is happy and enjoyable. Rather, it is sometimes the hardships that you endure that make you realize your happiness in those moments. In my perspective, the most important factors in maintaining a life well-lived are your relationships and values, career and leisure time, and method of overcoming hardships. The way these factors are balanced with one another guide the way that I live my life, and plan to do in the future.
In my opinion, the most important factor in living a life well lived is developing and maintaining your relationships with friends and family. If you are the most successful person, but don’t have meaningful relationships, then I believe that you don’t have a life well-lived. As important as your personal relationships with your friends and family are, I have also learned, since being in college, that being a part of a welcoming community that you are a part of is just as important. As said by Pope Francis, “When one realizes that life, even in the middle of so many contradictions, is a gift, that love is the source and the meaning of life, how can they withhold their urge to do good to another fellow being?” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis-Moreau FYE Week 7). This quote reflects how even if everything in your life is not going well, the love that you receive from your friends, family, and community are all that you need to feel supported. My experiences within the Notre Dame community have made me realize that a support system of people is essential in living a life well-lived in college. An important aspect of developing meaningful relationships is finding those who share similar values to you, while being flexible with your values. At the same time, it is important to be willing to change your values after enduring new experiences. As noted by Father Hesburgh,  “Civil rights is not just about black Americans, it’s about all of us, and what we are, and what are our qualities, what are our values as human beings” (Hesburgh Film br Leon Panetta 51:02-Moreau FYE Week 2). Although he was addressing the civil rights movement, his message of the importance of our qualities and values in bringing together diverse communities highlights the process of developing relationships. Especially in college, I have realized how important trust is in my development of relationships with friends and classmates. Although we come from different backgrounds, a supportive environment of individuals who share my values help me to live a life well-lived.
	Another important aspect to living a life well-lived in developing a healthy work-leisure balance. While finding success and satisfaction from your career is essential, this success can not be enjoyed if not balanced with leisure.  Finding satisfaction within your career stems from your experiences in college, and learning what your strengths and weaknesses are. I agree that “the only way to know more about yourself is to test the waters - just get out and experience life!” (Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development-Moreau FYE Week 4). I find that engaging in courses and activities that I had not been involved in before, such as dorm life and courses such as Intro to Entrepreneurship have pushed me out of my comfort since, but have greatly benefited my life. If you don’t push yourself to do things that you are not comfortable with, it will be impossible to experience growth, which is necessary for staying content with yourself. An instance in which my mother identified that I was in the zone with a subject I enjoyed is when she noted, “I was singularly impressed by your ability to apply your innate talents about fashion design and marketing to a project you loved and it was a true demonstration of the belief that you have to love what you do to truly succeed”(Week 5- Kathleen Navas-Moreau FYE Week 5). At the same time, it is important to not push yourself too hard, and take breaks from learning experiences with leisure time. Breaks from productivity are necessary in order for those activities to be productive. As said by Pico Iyer, “the more time I spend away from my work, the better that work will be” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer-Moreau FYE Week 1). During the college experience, I have learned that leisure time, whether it be going on runs around the lakes, hanging out with my friends at Duncan Student Center, and playing the guitar, are important for my mental wellbeing. If I don’t take time out of my day to do at least one of these things, it is difficult for me to appreciate any success I achieve.
	Lastly, a realization I have come to during my time at Notre Dame is that although we can do the best we can to avoid hardships, it is ultimately the way in which we respond to these hardships that define us. If one is able to respond to an obstacle in an appropriate manner, they are able to continue to live a life well-lived despite these hardships. It is especially present at highly-ranked universities like Notre Dame that the students put immense pressure on themselves to be perfect. However, “research suggests that self-analyzers tend to have more anxiety, less positive social experiences and more negative attitudes about themselves” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes There's A Wrong Way” by Eurich-Moreau Week 6). I have learned to correctly respond to self-criticism is to look at all the things that I have put effort into, rather than think about all the things that I could’ve done differently. An instance where this lesson is applicable is when I received a test grade lower than I would have liked to. Rather than thinking of the problems I didn’t review enough, I felt good about all the information I studied for hours and now will remember for the rest of the semester. Although this is a small example, it can be applied to bigger picture hardships, such as relationships. Just because a relationship with someone ends, doesn’t mean you can’t still cherish and appreciate all the time you spent with that person. Similarly, it is important to be able to correctly respond and overcome your fears. A concept introduced by Sister Aletheia is “to intentionally think about your own death every day, as a means of appreciating the present and focusing on the future” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You To Remember You Will Die” by Eurich-Moreau FYE Week 3). Through this concept, Sister Aletheia is challenging people to use your fears as a motivator for other aspects of your life. In this example, she is telling us to use human fear of death as a way to appreciate each day, and to ensure we are able to live a life well-lived each day. I apply this message in my life at Notre Dame every day by looking at the big picture of my life and enjoying the short 4 years that I have heard as much as I can.
	During my time at Notre Dame, I have learned many important lessons that help me to live a life well-lived in a stressful, college setting. However, the support system I gained from this community of similar valued people helps me to feel appreciated and understood by my peers. My prospective career and hobbies that I enjoy help to maintain a healthy work-social life balance that motivates me to perform well in school and engage in extracurricular activities I enjoy. Lastly, methods of overcoming hardships and excessive self-examination have helped me gain more confidence in myself. I am able to act more confidently in all aspects of my life, and will continue to learn during my time at Notre Dame. I am grateful that this institution takes the time to educate its students on the importance of balance, as it produces individuals who will meaningfully contribute to society.