Mark Hennin Integration 3


In order to pursue a life well-lived, I need to reflect on what my goal’s in life are and what
I believe makes a life truly well-lived. For me, a life well-lived is based on the ideals and virtues
of friendship, doing good for others and the world, and being disciplined in any area of work. In
my eyes, what it means to be successful is to set a high standard for yourself in every aspect of
your life, and then achieve those standards through hard work and dedication. Even if you don’t
end up achieving those standards, the progress made will surely have benefitted you and those
around you. One of the most important characteristics of my mission is relationships. Whether
it’s with family, friends, or God, relationships are the foundation of everything that I do, because
they not only allow you to see the world through others’ point of view, but you are able to
provide your own perspective to others. That comes with the responsibility of having to be there
for others in need, and to allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to ask for help from others.
Doing so allows you to grow as a person, and is integral to my mission as a human being. My
mission also involves having the courage to step out of your comfort zone, while having the
self-realization to know when to take a step back and reflect. By committing to all of these ideas,
you allow yourself to become the best version of yourself you can be and can truly live a life
well-lived, in my opinion.

One of the ideals of pursuing a life well-lived is to have courage. Without courage, you
will never be able to explore and step out of your comfort zone, and you won’t be able to fully
experience all that life has to offer. It reminds me of this quote from the story of Father Moreau
founding Notre Dame. “The same Spirit moved Father Moreau to found the community of Holy
Cross in which we have responded to the call to serve Christ. We live and work as priests and
brothers together.” (“Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross” by The Congregation of
Holy Cross - Moreau FYE Week 12) This quote exemplifies Father Moreau’s courage to found
the community of Holy Cross, and if it weren’t for him, we would not be here now today.

Another way to pursue a life well-lived is by being able to take in information from others.
Nobody has all the answers, and it takes listening to others, even those you might disagree
with, in order to find more wisdom on life. It reminds me of the quote from Dr. Paul Blaschko that
says, “Bubbles become echo chambers when groups give up on tolerating diversity of opinion.”
(“How to Avoid an Echo Chamber” by Dr. Paul Blaschko - Moreau FYE Week 11) By avoiding
these echo chambers, we can allow ourselves to listen to those from all walks of life, and thus
strengthen our understanding for others’ lives, as well as our own. But just listening to others
with differing opinions is not enough, we must also allow for full inclusion of others from all walks
of life in order to live a life well-lived. The quote from Notre Dame’s Student Life Guide said it
best when it read, “Christians have found their life together enriched by the different qualities of
their many members, and they have sought to increase this richness by welcoming others who
bring additional gifts, talents and backgrounds to the community.” (“The Spirit of Inclusion at
Notre Dame” by The University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week 10) Just as Christians have
utilized those with different ideals, qualities, and backgrounds, we as humans must do the same
in our everyday lives in order to pick up on things that we might not have found otherwise.

One of the most important ways to live a life well-lived is to be vulnerable and accept the
fact that there are other people who can help you. No person can do everything themselves,
and it’s important to recognize that and accept help from others when needed. This quote from
Professor Steve Reifenberg states, “A good physical therapist needs to help you get to a
different place, encouraging you to do as much as you can do, at the time you can do it.

https://holycrosscongregation.org/holy-cross-resources/constitutions/2-mission/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s&ab_channel=ThinkND
https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/
https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/


Experience suggests how fast or slow that process might be. There needs to be listening as well
as advice, addressing and strategizing how to overcome obstacles, confronting setbacks, and at
times even prods and cajoles, with the hope and the expectation that the relationship will not be
static.” (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Professor Steve
Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week 9) Whether it’s a therapist, friend, teacher, or family member,
it’s important to accept help from others to achieve your goals. Relationships themselves are
one of the most important things to have in your life because they allow you to share your
emotions with someone else, and doing so allows you to take a weight off your shoulders. The
quote from Tattoos on the Heart said it best when it wrote, “I wish I had a magic wand to pass
over your pain.” (“Tattoos on the Heart” by Greg Boyle - Moreau FYE Week 7) This idea of
sharing emotions with someone else is necessary in order to destress and live your life to the
fullest.

Another important way to live a life well-lived is to realize when you are struggling and
make a plan to do something about it. Often times, people can tell when they are in a bad state
of mind or stressed, but they don’t do anything to fix it.  “But to my astonishment, our data told
the exact opposite story. The people who scored high on self-reflection were more stressed,
depressed and anxious, less satisfied with their jobs and relationships, more self-absorbed, and
they felt less in control of their lives.” (“The Right Way to be Introspective” by Tasha Eurich -
Moreau FYE Week 6) This quote from Tasha Eurich exemplifies this idea. In order to live your
best life, you have to not only identify when you are struggling, but also come up with a plan to
fix it.

One of the most important ways to live a life well-lived is to come up with a plan for your
life early on. In Week 5, we had the chance to complete the Irish Compass Activity, which
allowed students to network with alumni and figure out early ideas for a career path. This is so
important because it gives some sort of a structural plan for your stages later in life, and even if
it isn’t exactly what you might end up doing in the future, it gives a good baseline. However,
before you are able to come up with a plan, you have to know what your interests are in life first.
The quote from the Notre Dame Undergraduate Career Services said it best when it wrote, “You
have to know yourself first - your values, interests, personality, and skills (VIPS) - before you
can make effective career choices. The only way to know more about yourself is to test the
waters - just get out and experience life!” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Notre Dame
Undergraduate Career Services - Moreau FYE Week 4) Without testing out different things, you
will never know what it is you truly want to do in the future. One way that you can help discern
what it is you want in life is by asking for advice from those who are close to you, because they
know you almost as good as you know yourself. The quote from Father Michael Himes
exemplifies this idea when it reads, “Look for the task that will continue to stretch you. That’s all
important in discerning that really vital vocation in one’s life. Are you continuing to grow? To help
us discern what our talents and gifts are, we need a circle of friends (parents, teachers,
coaches, etc.).” (“Three Key Questions” by Father Michael Himes - Moreau FYE Week 3) By
having those close to us give us advice on life, we can discern what is truly best for us.

The result of living a life well-lived is by doing something that fits within your life goals
and is something that you truly enjoy doing. In Week 2, we had the chance to look at some of
the Domer Dozen Nominees who are doing great things within their lives. One of them, Jessica
Pedroza, really stood out to me. “Now, as a legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Ruben

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit?usp=sharing
https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39639/files/523844/download?download_frd=1
https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/
https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/
https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39639/files/472889/download?download_frd=1


Gallego (AZ), Pedroza works to help advance just national K-12 educational policy that ensures
students have access to a high quality education, fully funded schools, and diverse teachers.”
(“Notre Dame Alumni Association’s ‘Domer Dozen’ ” by Notre Dame Alumni Association -
Moreau FYE Week 2) Pedroza has utilized her education not only to do something that she
enjoys, but also something that helps those who need it. This is something that exemplifies a life
well-lived in my opinion.

Lastly, one of the most important steps to living a life well-lived is to take a step back and
reflect. Often times, we get so caught up in our work and life that we forget the importance of
relaxing and reflecting. The quote from Pico Iyer exemplifies the importance of this reflection
when it says, “To me, the point of sitting still is that it helps you see through the very idea of
pushing forward; indeed, it strips you of yourself, as of a coat of armor, by leading you into a
place where you’re defined by something larger.” (“Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives” by
Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1) By taking a step back and reflecting, you allow yourself to take
a break and prepare to come back even stronger.

To conclude, the idea of a life well-lived is different for everyone. For me, it means
following the ideals of my mission statement, that being utilizing relationships, identifying what I
want in life, taking time to relax and reflect, and having the courage to step out of my comfort
zone. By following these ideals, I feel that I can live the life that I have always wanted.

https://domerdozen.nd.edu/
https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/