Overview

The Building a Meaningful and Connected Life materials delve into the profound spirituality of meaning-making, resilience, renewal, and life transitions. These resources and exercises invite you to explore the depths of personal growth, connection, and purpose, fostering a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a truly meaningful and connected life.

Credits

The development of this Spiritual Deepening Library topic was made possible through the generous support of the Friends Foundation for the Aging.
Content Collaboration and Development by: Callie Janoff, Susan Hoskins, Jean-Marie Prestwige Barch, Regina Renee Ward, Lori Sinitzky, Rachel Ernst Stahlhut

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Grounding

Introduction to the Topic

Friendly Voices

What do f/Friends have to say about meaning and belonging?
View Friendly Voices Exercise

Introduction

Explore the depths of personal growth, connection, and purpose, fostering a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a truly meaningful and connected life.
View Introduction Exercise

Queries and Questions for Worship Sharing and General Discussion

A query is a question for reflection. Queries can be used in worship sharing, discussions, or to prompt journaling or art activities.
View Queries and Questions for Worship Sharing and General Discussion Exercise

Practicing

Experiential Activities

Ingredients for a Meaningful Life

You are invited to take some time to reflect on your own understanding of what makes life meaningful.
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Range: Elementary (ages 6-11)
View Ingredients for a Meaningful Life Exercise

Embodied Spirituality

Engage in a physical practice that connects you to yourself, your body, and your values
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Age Range: Elementary (ages 6-11)
View Embodied Spirituality Exercise

This Season of Life

While each stage or ‘season’ of our lives brings changes, sometimes we don’t recognize the freedoms and limitations different seasons offer. In this exercise you will look at the present and discover how it has both limited and freed you.
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View This Season of Life Exercise

Growing Older Exercise

This is a thought experiment in imagining ourselves as older than we are.
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View Growing Older Exercise Exercise

The Abundant Benefits of Play

This spiritual practice invites you to play!
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Age Range: Elementary (ages 6-11)
View The Abundant Benefits of Play Exercise

Sharing

Conversation Starters

Pillars of a Meaningful Life

The meaning of life is found in the process of development.  It is the process itself that brings satisfaction and joy.
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View Pillars of a Meaningful Life Exercise

Finding and Practicing Meaning

Explore these stories of Quakers seeking, finding, and practicing meaning and connection. What do they have in common? What can you learn from their journeys?
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View Finding and Practicing Meaning Exercise

Quaker Tools for Transformation & Connection

From the beginning, Quaker faith and practice has been countercultural. This legacy has left us many beautiful gifts that can support our quest for grounded and connected lives.
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Age Range: Middle School and Up
View Quaker Tools for Transformation & Connection Exercise

Renewal

What does it look like to embrace transition as an opportunity for renewal and creative visioning?
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View Renewal Exercise

Navigating Transitions

How can our faith and spiritual practices support us in being resilient and strong through transitions and turning points?
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View Navigating Transitions Exercise

Going Against the Grain

From the beginning, Quaker faith and practice has been countercultural.
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Range: High School and Up
View Going Against the Grain Exercise
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