4 Spiritual Practices
While there are a variety of practices that can protect and nurture our spiritual health and well-being, finding the ones that will sustain us throughout our journey is imperative. These 4 simple, everyday practices can help you get started in your journey towards thriving. (Hover each practice to learn more.)
Readings on Spirituality
The Search for Meaning during Holy Week
Easter is time of great hope and joy as we celebrate the miraculous. It is a time to reflect on the triumph of God’s love, light, and life in the world, and on the power of forgiveness. The story of Easter brings meaning to suffering and provides hope even in the most turbulent times. The…
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What’s Love got to do with it?
I I am often asked about strategies for thriving. “How do I thrive?” “What practices help with thriving?” Thriving is complicated, and individuals thrive differently. However, I have a simple answer to the question of how to thrive. Offer more love. Love provides heart and motivation for the growth and contribution so essential for thriving – the love of…
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What is Thriving and Why is it Important?
Thriving is living life on purpose. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10b) Psychology and theology come together to provide a vision for the good life What is the fuss about thriving? From Kaiser Permanente to Petco, everyone uses the word. It’s an appealing idea, the…
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Accessing the Transcendent: How might we practice something that seems so existential?
Dr. Cynthia Eriksson reflects on rituals and to help us connect to the transcendent – something beyond ourselves.
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The Power of Transcendence and Spirituality in a Modern World
Pamela King reflects on the church of her youth and considers lessons from her current research findings about spirituality for the future.
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Moments of transcendence
According to psychologist and executive director of the Thrive Center, Pamela Ebstyne King, transcendent experiences are emotional responses, often profound, that inform how individuals see themselves in relationship to God, others, and the world. Transcendent experiences give our lives meaning, and shift our focus from ourselves, connecting us with something more – whether that be…
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Rethinking Traditional Church for a Modern Age
Pamela King reflects on the church of her youth and how it deeply formed her identity, sense of purpose, and belonging.
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The 5 B’s of Thriving: Accessing God’s Love
Our research-based framework will help you develop and strengthen your thriving “muscles.”
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The Promise of Easter: Thriving in a Difficult World
Dr. Pamela King discusses how tapping into our faith and contributing to a flourishing world can help us thrive through difficulty.
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Cultivating Spiritual Practices for the New Year
As we enter a new year, Dr. Pamela King invites us to find daily spiritual practices that will draw us closer to ourselves, others and God.
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An Invitation to Thrive
Dr. Pamela King invites leaders to reimagine and lead in new ways in order to enable all people and communities to thrive.
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Finding Anchoring Practices in Times of Disruption
Fuller alumna, Esther Tan shares her COVID-19 experience and how anchoring rituals, such as prayer, have helped her find resilience.
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Planting Seeds of Healing Through Spirituality
Postdoctoral Researcher, Stephanie Trudeau provides ways spirituality can be resource for healing within ourselves and our families.
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Staying Grounded, Connected, and Directed through Disruption
Dr. Pam King discusses how spirituality can help us stay grounded, connected, and directed throughout challenges.
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On the Road to Healing: Meaning-Making and Beliefs During COVID-19
Dr. Stephanie Trudeau continues her discussion on loss, and how meaning-making and beliefs can guide us toward healing.
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Light in Darkness: Not a Wholly Unprecedented Holy Week
Dr. Pam King explores how our beliefs can bring hope and light to our lives during dark times like COVID-19.
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Homebound: Protecting Our Spiritual Health
Guest blogger, Dr. Angela Gorrell emphasizes the importance of nurturing our spiritual health in order to thrive during COVID-19.
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Orienting Ourselves Through the Holi-daze
Dr. Pamela King reminds us about the significance of the holidays and orienting our lives to what matters through the holiday craze.
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The 3 Religious and Spiritual Assets of Youth Thriving
Pamela King shares the 3 dimensions of religion and spirituality that promote positive youth development.
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Adolescents and Spirituality: Do Mountaintop Spiritual Experiences Really Make a Difference?
Learn 3 ways caring adults can stimulate spiritual experiences and growth in teens.
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Installation Address: An Invitation to Thrive
In her installation address, Pamela King speaks on thriving as an invitation to embrace our purpose in God’s ongoing story.
+ Read MoreWhat Research Says
Decades of research affirm that being engaged in our religious traditions and having a sense of spirituality can enable us to thrive. Often overlooked as potential resources for thriving, religion and spirituality are key to understanding our psychological development through:
Ideology (Beliefs, Values, Morals)
These are the beliefs, values, and morals made available through religious and spiritual traditions. These inform what is right or wrong and what’s of most importance. It allows us to find meaning, to make sense of challenges, and to forge an identity and purpose.
Social Connections
These are the relationships available through religious communities that support one’s faith development. They provide social capital and service and leadership opportunities.
Transcendence
This is a cognitive and emotional experience where our beliefs, values, and morals are connected to something greater than ourselves. This shapes our identity, virtues, and actions/behaviors.
Dig Deeper
The Telos Project
Dr. King uses teleology to further understand the ends and means of human development and thriving.
Measuring Spirituality Among Adolescents
Dr. King tests the psychological viability of the MDAS scale among diverse youth.
Spiritual Exemplars II Project
A continuation study, Dr. King follows up on the spiritual journeys of elected youth exemplars.
Study of Spirituality in America
Our team uses cutting-edge structural model analysis to understand diverse spirituality in the U.S.
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