AFTERGROWTH

This purpose of this website and blog is a goal-oriented commentary about life's journey and making the most of our lives and the relationships that give it meaning.  It represents a curation of information from a variety of sources:  media, academic and professional experts, ordinary people, and the author, with the goal of informing readers about the benefits of living an informed personal and relational life.  

 

Importantly, the title "AFTER GROWTH" is a reflection of a mosaic of the current topics explored in my reserach:  

 

The "AFTER" is in reference an approach to solving problems and change.  We can either wait until issues crop up in our lives and hope we have the ability to adjust...OR learn from the challenges people encounter, mindfully anticipate our hurdles or obstacles, and building their existance into the our plan for ourselves, relationships, and the future.  I'll explore this mindset and how to further put it into action in the blog portion.  I explore this in my research as a "context" for inquiry:  Investigating important life transitions, challenging circumstances, and the experience of life stressors.

 

The "GROWTH" is a tendency in my perspective towards the positive, unifying, and uplifting experiences in life.   Moments of challenge or uncertainty present the objective reality of either success or failure...but we have amazing capacities for framing these moments in larger lifespan, relational, or spiritual frameworks.  Doing so, the fleeting or unpleasant can serve as a catalyst for growth.  Integrating growth-fostering communication means a chance to expand our lives in sometimes uneasy but also very fulfilling ways.  It's also an invitation from your future to never make the same mistake again, or make it the same way twice.  I explore this in my research through positive and growth fostering communication, interpersonal resilience, hope, social support, as well as a host of other behaviors that contribute to positive mental and physical wellbeing.

 

This blog and its content will feature information to help address these ideas.  My goals are to post my summaries of research findings, books I review, and life events in relation to the "AFTER GROWTH" theme.   It is my goal to post weekly starting Fall 2014. 

 

Mass media, friends, and other sources speak to us about the importance of being happy, healthy, and in balance.  Spiritual and religious texts often impart similar messages of balance, acceptance, belief, and forgiveness.  These sources of information are not the only sources however...and finding a way of approaching a complete picture as we can only enhances our understanding of whatever we deem important in life.

 

Please reach out with feedback, questions, and glad tidings:  gbeck@odu.edu.