Groundings is a monthly lecture series offered September through May by Sacred Ground in collaboration with Loyola Spirituality Center and the Ignatian Spirituality Center at Saint Thomas More. Groundings is open to anyone interested in deepening their spirituality, their capacity for deep listening, and their contemplative engagement in our world.
Large longitudinal studies of adulthood now evidence what theologians and philosophers have long espoused: that having a sense of purpose in life is associated with resilience, health, well-being, and flourishing. Even so, science offers relatively little guidance about how we get there, especially amid or in the aftermath of the inevitable life transitions that shake our identity and, often, the future we hoped for. The process of reconnecting with purpose is more art than science, beckoning us to turn inward and perhaps upward to re-find what has been characterized as the “spiritual infrastructure of life.”
In this presentation, we will explore what research tells us about purpose in life and what the art of living on purpose might look like. Using early research on the Compass Course as a framework, we’ll reflect on proposed pillars of purpose renewal (self-knowledge and self-acceptance; everyday purpose choices in the form of doing, savoring, and being). We’ll expand that framework together by sharing our own lived experiences of purpose amid life.
Mary Radomski
Mary Vining Radomski, PhD is a recently retired occupational therapist and rehabilitation scientist. Her research largely centered on cognitive assessment and treatment after brain injury, including a many-year collaboration with the United States Army Office of the Surgeon General – Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division. Informed in part by her research with service members, Mary launched and led a line of research that evaluated a purpose renewal “intervention” called the Compass Course for people with health transitions from cancer, COVID-19, and brain injury. Mary’s research extended her lifelong interest in living on purpose, something she hopes to continue in retirement. In addition to offering the Compass Course in the community, she writes a blog on ChoosingPurpose.com and companion newsletter to share research findings and her own musings on this important topic.
Registration is requested for planning purposes. A $20 suggested donation to help cover costs may be paid at the door or online.
We are happy to be able to offer a live Zoom link to those who are unable to attend this event in person. Please request the zoom link when you register.