Faith, Productivity, and the Spiritual Brain in Modern Life
faith, wellness, productivity Shirley Xu faith, wellness, productivity Shirley Xu

Faith, Productivity, and the Spiritual Brain in Modern Life

Contemporary life has quickly become one of the most neurological gambles in human history. With the advent of mobile apps such as Instagram and TikTok, every day our brains navigate nonstop notifications, infinite “doom” scrolling, algorithm-curated content, multitasking and a pace of information that our nervous systems were not designed to handle. The habits we have accumulated today are actively reshaping how our brains function— especially in how we pay attention, experience reward, and regulate emotion.

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A relentless, restless pursuit of God, with Thomas Aquinas
faith Shirley Xu faith Shirley Xu

A relentless, restless pursuit of God, with Thomas Aquinas

What does it mean to be happy? Ecclesiastes talks about the “chasing after the wind”, a lack of satisfaction with the worldly pursuits of money, pleasure, success, and material goods. How can you be happy in a world that is designed to make you exist in a constant state of want? We yearn for something more. But what is that thing we seek in the night?

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The Journey of the Soul: Stages of Salvation
faith Shirley Xu faith Shirley Xu

The Journey of the Soul: Stages of Salvation

Being a Christian does not mean to live in a static state of belief but to journey continually on a path of transformation — a pilgrimage from sin to sanctity, from brokenness to divine union with God. Along the path of growing closer to God and reforming the self, the soul undergoes several profound stages: justification, affliction, mortification, vivification, glorification, and for some — the purifying fire of purgatory.

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10 Ways to Pray
faith Shirley Xu faith Shirley Xu

10 Ways to Pray

There are many ways to pray. Whether it’s talking to God conversationally to praying the Holy Rosary, there are both spontaneous and structural ways to incorporate prayer into your daily life. Here are 10 ways you can incorporate prayer into your daily life.

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17 Rituals in Christianity - The Sacred Rhythms of Daily LIfe
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17 Rituals in Christianity - The Sacred Rhythms of Daily LIfe

In a world that never stops moving, the rhythm of daily rituals and routines in Christianity can anchor you in your faith. Rituals are not simply repetitions of habits you’ve acquired since childhood; they are sacred rhythms that help shape your soul and draw you closer to God through the ordinary patterns of life. In between the tasks of your todo list and assignments and errands, the Christian habits you perform will help you maintain your faith.

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The Liturgy of the Hours
faith Shirley Xu faith Shirley Xu

The Liturgy of the Hours

Something that I remembered recently from my childhood and that I have returned to is praying the Liturgy of the Hour. Most Catholics are familiar with Mass, Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. But there is also prayer called Liturgy of the Hour that is ancient, rhythmic and deeply transformative.

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The Catholic Life
christianity, faith Shirley Xu christianity, faith Shirley Xu

The Catholic Life

I was baptized in the Catholic Church when I was a baby, and I was confirmed when I was four years old. Usually kids are confirmed in middle school, but I was impatient and wanted to commit and be confirmed. I spent some time in the UK, attending mass at Catholic Church and Sunday school. When I came to the US, I started going to mass regularly with my mom. I stopped in high school but I started going to mass again and taking Eucharist last year.

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