It's possible that many of us in Oswego, Aurora, Plainfield and Naperville (IL) have paused at moments and noticed how quickly time can seem to slip by.
Modern Chicagoland living can often include any mix of activities and responsibilities. We stay perpetually busy, filling our schedules and moving from one place to the next, believing that what we do constitutes progress and perhaps even meaning.
Yet beneath it all, something elemental is missing.
Life in itself is the state of being alive. It is what differentiates us from inanimate objects or other organisms that are not living. In that aspect, nothing differentiates an American from any other of the eight billion humans who now populate Earth.
Quality of life is a broader concept that reflects a particular person's comprehensive well-being. It is how they think, feel and function within their life's circumstances. It includes their general satisfaction with life.
Quality of life, in other words, isn't just about living – it's about how well we are living at the junction where comfort, health, happiness, freedom and fulfillment intersect.
| Life-Quality Facet | Variables |
| Physical | Personal health, access to healthcare, having proper food & water |
| Mental/Emotional | Amount of stress, depression, anxiety vs. balance & peace |
| Material | Employment, income & financial stability; safe & affordable housing |
| Social | Relationship substance, community connection, safety from crime & persecution |
| Personal Autonomy | Freedom of choice, speech, belief, movement, time |
| Education | Access to learning, the ability to continue developing the self |
| Work-Life Balance | Time to rest, reflect, pursue passions & hobbies beyond making a living |
| Civic/Cultural | Participation in democracy, volunteering, having trust in institutions |
One measure of life quality is the Numbeo Quality of Life Index, which calculates global living according to metrics such as safety, health, purchasing power, cost of living and climate.
If you were to guess where America ranks in the index right now, where would you place it? Hint: It's not in the top ten.
The United States currently ranks behind 13 other countries on the Numbeo Index:
1. Luxembourg
2. Netherlands
3. Denmark
4. Oman
5. Switzerland
6. Finland
7. Norway
8. Iceland
9. Austria
10. Germany
11. Australia
12. New Zealand
13. Sweden
14. United States
While the U.S. appears among the top 15% in the index, we still might wonder how we are on the upper tier's lower end despite being Earth's richest, most powerful nation. The reason is we perform below average in several key categories while excelling in others.
| U.S. High Index Score | U.S. Lower Index Score | Why Lower |
| Purchasing power | Safety | Gun violence, high crime rates |
| Quality of healthcare | Cost of living | Expensive housing and education |
| Favorable overall climate | Traffic | Long commute times in metro areas |
| Pollution | Notable in urban and industrial areas | |
| Healthcare cost | Highest avg. per person in the world | |
| Income equality | Third-highest disparity in the world |
This demonstrates how and why Americans can still face mounting stress, emotional burnout and a spiritual void in spite of our notable national assets.
As it concerns external factors, according to the 2025 CEOWORLD ranking, the U.S. lists as the #8 least stressed among 197 countries. At the same time, another study ranked the U.S. as the world's third highest in emotional stress levels.
The State of the Nation Project determined that the U.S. fared better than only 12% of 114 countries measured for depression. It performed better than just 10% out of 115 countries for anxiety.
Why is this?
The spiritual challenges we often confront in the U.S. – including Oswego, Aurora, Plainfield and Naperville – can arise from diverse factors.
To be human is to struggle, fail and not always be in control. But our condition also includes the great power to learn, heal and adapt. We have within us the light that, once turned on, awakens us to what we might not have yet seen or understood.
A spiritual awakening is the recognizing or internalizing of a connection beyond the self. We experience a shift of conscious awareness away from the confinement of personal problems, unmet expectations and unfulfilled desires. This can take place in any form or place at any time or age, giving us a widening view of our place in the world.
A spiritual awakening can be anything from surviving a near-death ordeal to noticing a butterfly alight on a leaf in a spring-morning silence. Whatever the prompt might be, it reveals to us what we might have been overlooking about the gift of our existence and what can still become of it.
Distorted perceptions fall away, revealing to us the interconnectivity that has been patiently waiting for us. We might feel a rush of forgiveness, love, humility or compassion, including self-compassion. We might become more attuned and sensitive to what others are also struggling through, connecting us directly to them.
Rather than be stuck on autopilot routines, reactions and thinking, we begin a new transcendence. We discover that letting go of the ego clears the way to where we were destined to travel. In addition to granting greater understanding, it ignites the spark for how we can live our lives with new purpose and meaning.
For some of us, this can be the beginning of greater resilience and steady contentment, which differs from circumstance-based happiness. We worry less, welcome responsibility and get along well with others.
We become more mindful, peaceful and kind. Our serenity and warmth are contagious as they grow, and for all we know, we contribute to another's positive psychology.
If this all sounds a bit cinematic, it isn't. Each of us has within the portal to an awakening. Whether you recently discovered yours or are still working toward the heightened awareness of a hopeful heart, Empowered Life Therapy is here to help you or someone you care about continue moving into the light that can shine on you.
Empowered Life Therapy supports individuals of all ages and backgrounds as they take loving care of their mental health and spiritual growth in Oswego, Aurora, Plainfield and Naperville (IL). If you would like to further discuss how therapy can contribute to your quality of life, we welcome you to contact us at (630) 842-6585.
Kasey Huff
