Four Paths to Well-Being
The Emerging Shift in American Jewish Life
The Path of Self-Growth
We all desire the feeling of being engaged. Yet, the temptations of modern life – the easy pleasures of our consumer society and the lure of social media – have led us astray from our true purpose as human beings. We must each remember: You are the project of your life. Recent trends in Judaism – notably “Positive Judaism” and progressive mussar - offer practices that can guide you in cultivating your virtuous strengths (middot) toward a sense of wholeness (shleimut) and help you to fulfill the unique responsibilities that are calling you.
The Path of Dialogue
We all seek positive relationships. Yet, the decline of civic society (along with the rise of social media) has frayed our social bonds and left us lonely. We can still discover friends through the practice of text-based dialogue (havruta), which demands of us to see the Other as a whole being, equal to us, unique, and infinitely interesting. This can happen in formal programs or simply on your own if you choose to notice the opportunities.
The Path of Service
We strive during the course of our lives to create lasting achievements that will make a difference in our world. Yet, the increasingly opaque and complex world in which we live makes this more and more difficult. Engaging in service within your local (religious) community still offers an opportunity to find fulfilling achievements, especially if our aim is to create diverse communities of belonging for all.
The Path of Presence
We long to live meaningful lives. Yet, the traditional stories that helped us to feel at-home in the world no longer hold power. To see the world as a Divine unfolding (through human action) of both continued breaking and repair is the first step toward re-enchanting our world. Becoming present to pre-sense the opportunities in each moment is the next step. Then, telling the stories of our collective actions, embedded in a larger theological narrative, reweaves the cultural fabric that gives our life meaning and returns us to being at-one within our broken world.