Moreau Integration 1




Finding The Best Path to Success and Happiness
I believe that everyone has a bigger purpose in their life, whether it is to fulfill some role,

complete certain tasks, or follow a specific dream. Throughout my whole life, I have been able to
experience all types of pathways that led me in different directions. The best thing about that was
the opportunity to try new things and see which ones really interested me. Those experiences
helped me shape what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be, and how I wanted to live my life. My
root beliefs stem from all of the pathways I have taken in my life, through thick and thin. I
believe that my purpose is to make the world the best place it can be. Although this looks
different for everyone, my vision is that I can do this by being kind to others around me and
trying to keep a positive attitude in the world, even if things are difficult. I believe that I am
made to follow my dreams and pursue things that seem impossible. I want to stretch my limits
and go beyond what I have ever imagined. I believe that people should be open minded about
their lives and encounters even when society tells them otherwise. I also believe that in order to
have and maintain a happy life, we must find things that give us joy, through laughter and smiles.
This embodies balance in my eyes. We cannot possibly be focused and serious all the time to
have an enjoyable life, but instead, we must be focused and disciplined, while having fun, and
pursuing what gives us happiness and joy.

These root beliefs more specifically stem from my values and aspirations in life. I
strongly value hard work, perseverance, dedication, humility, kindness, and leadership. These
values are incredibly important for me to know how to grow as my most authentic self. As said
by David Brooks in David Brooks: Should you live for your résumé ... or your eulogy?
(Moreau FYE Week Two) “No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend
or foe as from our own standpoint.”  Meaning, that in our society, too many people live to meet
others’ expectations and compare themselves to other people around them. This ultimately does
not fulfill their true values in life, and only focuses on living up to the standards of others and
their expectations. I believe that in order to grow as my most authentic self, I need to
acknowledge my true values and goals in life. This allows me to focus on what I truly want and
what values I want to live up to. My life is mine, and it is important to make the most of it. I
value each day as an opportunity in life to get better and to be the best version of myself. I strive
to improve each day and to work towards my goals that help me see the light at the end of the
tunnel, reaching for achievable things that don’t seem so impossible. I am able to go about life
knowing what my end goal is and what I would like to work towards. Overall, growing as your
most authentic self to me is realizing your aspirations and making each day count towards your
true values. In addition, growing involves stepping out of your comfort zone. In Dr. Brown’s
Commentary (Moreau FYE WeekThe power of vulnerability | Brené Brown | TEDxHouston
One), “In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen. Really seen.”
People must be uncomfortable in order to grow. Being vulnerable often makes people feel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0&list=PLmiPsabET-W_hjesjTZaITh2s1WbM-Kd0&index=2


uncomfortable being themselves and often criticize their presence and belonging in the world.
But, it takes courage to undergo any type of change. One of the sayings I have never forgotten
from high school cross country is that “we must all learn to be comfortable being
uncomfortable.” Being comfortable is a place of familiarity where there is little change.
However, once you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, things begin to get harder. So, if
we are comfortable being uncomfortable, we are able to rise up to challenges and take on
uncomfortable tasks through a lens of excitement rather than intimidation. This allows us to step
out of our comfort zones where we think we may belong, to find a new sense of belonging in a
more challenging environment. These new ways of learning and thinking have helped me
progress in my life and become the best version of myself.

Being kind to others around me and trying to keep a positive attitude in life can help me
in all aspects of my life. This belief creates a positive environment and an optimistic view of the
world which is extremely important to staying adverse through difficult times. This can also help
me forge strong life-long relationships. Positivity is the stem to forging strong relationships,
where “the best kind of friendships are the ones where you leave with a smile on your face,
knowing you’re both growing to be better people and that you’re helping each other get there.”
("5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship" (Olivia T. Taylor, Grotto) (Moreau FYE Week Four))
The results and benefits of a healthy friendship help each person grow and become better. Each
person is able to feed off of each other's positive energy and help each other stay grounded to
become the best version of themself. Positivity plays a strong role in this because it shows that
each person is there for the other through the bad times, and helps make our world a happier
place when there are nice people to help in times of need. Being able to interact with people in a
positive way is something that is so powerful to improving someone’s mood and overall
happiness. Sometimes if I’m stressed or something, a positive gesture by someone showing that
they care or asking about my day can completely change my mood. These kinds of relationships
come from a strong foundation based on trust, similar interests, and companionship. Being a
genuine and kind person to people around you helps foster a strong community. Negativity has
no place in our world because it simply just makes people feel bad. There is no point in making
people feel down or mad if we are all trying to coexist in this environment and give it everything
we have to offer. There is truly room for everyone in our environment and everyone to bring
their own strengths to our world.

I believe that everyone should be open minded in all situations regardless of perceived
notions. This can help break down barriers in our society and help bring our world together.
Being open minded can help us view other perspectives and see the world from a multitude of
points of views. As done in the identifying influences week (six), everyone has different roots
and identifies from different experiences and areas. These shape our identity and where we feel
we belong and where we are from. In Fr. Sorin Letter to Bl. Basil Moreau, December 5, 1842
(pages 1-6) (Moreau FYE Week Five), one of the men wrote, “I am still young, I shall learn their

https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o56woQDq3QrRkziT8eYrvYly5CQaP2Vb/view


language in a long time; in a year I hope to be able to understand them,” showing his initiation to
try something new and step out of his comfort zone. Embedding yourself into another’s culture is
powerful to be able to see how they view the world. When these people are able to go to another
person’s culture and experience it, it makes them see life in a completely different way. They are
able to expand their horizons and learn something new. Stories from other people can be
powerful to help people expand their imagination to possibilities and things that may seem
impossible. Hearing stories can also help people find new ways to do things and can help people
enjoy things they’ve never done before. Being open minded in the world can also help us pursue
truth. Normally things may not be as they seem because of a truth represented by society that
may not be accurate. Being open minded is about making sure that you are giving others room to
shine. “An individual may be dumb, Rauch notes, but the whole network is brilliant, so long as
everybody in it adheres to certain rules: No one gets the final say (every proposition might be
wrong). No claim to personal authority (who you are doesn’t determine the truth of what you say,
the evidence does). No retreat to safety (you can’t ban an idea just because it makes you feel
unsafe).” (“How to Destroy Truth” (David Brooks, NY Times) (Moreau FYE Week Seven))
There are underlying messages in everything that many people may not see or may not know
about. Pursuing the truth means looking beyond what society typically thinks and looking
beyond things like stereotypes and discrimination to see the world without it. In order for people
to truly uncover the truth, they must be open minded and okay with the fact that there is not one
dominant force who is always right. Just because someone may seem to present themselves a
certain way or look a certain way, does not determine the value of their information or insight
they bring. Pursuing truth is difficult in our society with all of the stereotypes and perceived
thoughts that our society has built. Many people hold certain people to higher standards based on
things that are materialistic like race or gender. These can limit the truth behind their true
potential. The only real way to uncover the truth is to break down the perceived notions in our
heads and to see past any type of initial thought our brains go to that make someone seem a
certain way. Being open minded is the key to experiencing the world in its purest form where the
possibilities are endless.

I believe that balance is a powerful way to happiness in our lives. Doing things we enjoy
are crucial to enjoying the things we do. When doing something difficult, it is crucial that it is
also something we want to be doing because otherwise, it will be a lot more difficult to continue
and finish. Everyone has their own ways of looking at balance and has their own form of balance
in their life. For me, balance is within my sports and my life. I believe that sports are all a
process and that greatness takes time, so the important part is to keep showing up every day, and
do the best I can each day. This also means not comparing myself to others, but also focusing on
the little steps forward and building little bricks every day to one day build a house with a strong
foundation and sturdy walls. Balance is about having those times where I am working hard, and
going all in, while also knowing that I can crack a joke at any moment and still laugh, not having
to be completely serious all the time. Having a group of friends around me helps keep that

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/opinion/patriotism-misinformation.html?referringSource=articleShare


balance because I am able to relax and unwind when I need to. Keeping things constantly at full
speed can make things seem harder than they really are, and more difficult to manage. When
there is balance, I am able to make sure that more than one aspect of my life is taken care of. I
can focus on my goals, but also realize to not be so hard on myself all the time, and to give time
for other parts of my life. As Father Pete says in, “The Role of Faith in Our Story” (Fr. Pete
McCormick, C.S.C.) (Moreau FYE Week Three), “Each faith journey is unique. As you try to
sort things out, resist the temptation to compare yourself against what others profess to know and
believe. To the degree you can, find ways to remind yourself that your journey is in the loving
and sure hands of god.” Everyone has their own form of balance and elements that help them
pursue balance. One of those can be including faith into their lives. Each faith journey is unique
and everyone may get different things out of their different relationships with faith. Everyone has
a unique life and always has a place to rely on faith in the process. Whether relying on faith or
not, that sense of hope and patience helps everyone get through the tough times and can be a tool
to help guide them further and keep a sense of balance in their life.

Overall, beliefs help shape why people do what they do and what their intentions are for
their lives. Having strong beliefs and values can help people stay on track and find worth in their
everyday pursuits. I believe that my dreams are attainable and that there are no limits to what I
can accomplish. I also believe that open-mindedness is incredibly important to seeing all
perspectives of life and creating new opportunities. Being open-minded can break down barriers
and pursue truth in our world. Lastly, staying positive in our lives is important to bring the world
closer together, and is important to individual health. Finding things that give us joy and keep us
happy are key to helping us enjoy our lives while pursuing our goals. All of these beliefs are
important to me and help shape my life and how I see the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=UniversityofNotreDameCampusMinistry