In 2018, Dr Laurie Santos introduced a course called ‘Psychology and the Good Life’ at Yale University. It became the most popular course in Yale’s 300-year history. Dr Santos realised that students wanted to explore happiness and how to get it. She now offers a free online 10-week course on happiness called The Science of Well-Being. Our thirst to be happy and choose the best way to live our lives remains a central motivation for us. 

But this thirst also remains strangely unsatisfied. The lululemon Global Wellbeing Report for 2024 indicated that well-being in core areas of our lives (physical, mental and social) has not improved over the last four years. Moreover, a worrying trend that this report highlights is that more and more people are experiencing what is called ‘well-being burnout.’ Of the 16 000 people interviewed for the report, just under 50% reported that they felt a burnout in their well-being initiatives. There appears to be a growing pressure from society to experience ‘well-being,’ but the more we try to be ‘well’, the less we seem able to achieve it. We feel pressured by society to give the appearance of being happy and content, and when we don’t succeed at increasing our well-being, we feel even worse about our lives. 

The solution that the Global Well-being Report suggests is instructive. The report advocates that we try to grow at our own pace, do what works for us at any one moment, and, importantly, invite others into our lives to grow with us. This advice sounds like common sense. We shouldn’t try to force growth onto ourselves that we are not ready for, and we should take one step at a time. Moreover, we should not be trying to do life by ourselves. We need others to walk with us and to be witnesses to our personal challenges and small victories. 

The advice is also notable for another reason. It sounds remarkably similar to St Ignatius' invitation to seekers today. Ignatius cautions us not to move ahead of the grace God gives to each of us to grow. God meets us where we are and invites us to walk with him. St Ignatius would also counsel us to be with others along the way. Spiritual accompaniment, for instance, is an ancient Catholic tradition that takes seriously the need we all have to share our journey with a trusted companion.  

Perhaps the Global Well-being Report is an opportunity to recognise the richness offered by our Christian spiritualities. As we near the end of the year, we may feel tired and more than usually thirsty for renewal. Could God be inviting us—in our yearning for well-being—to return to age-old spiritual practices and a little Ignatian wisdom?