What does it mean to flourish?

Flourishing sounds like an ambitious goal, maybe it feels like an unattainable state or something that’s possible for others but not for you.

Flourishing, a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good, can feel out of reach if it’s viewed as an all-or-nothing goal or a “perfect” state of living and being. I think it’s helpful to think about flourishing as a process rather than a state. It’s something to work toward with the knowledge that most of us pendulate between states of flourishing, languishing, and the messy middle. Depending upon the season of life, we may find it more or less challenging to flourish. 

I  find it helpful to understand more about how psychologists and sociologists who are researching flourishing define this state. Corey Keyes was one of the first researchers to study the concept of flourishing and he defined it as the pinnacle of good mental health. He found that flourishing is associated with resilience, sense of purpose and meaning in life, sense of belonging, high levels of relational connection, and low levels of perceived helplessness (Keyes, 2007 & Westerhof & Keyes, 2010). According to Keyes (2007), flourishing comprises both the experience of positive emotions (emotional well-being) coupled with positive functioning (psychological and social well-being). He also described flourishing as emotional vitality (Keyes, 2003). 

Tyler Vanderweele (2017) at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program describes flourishing as comprising six distinct dimensions:

• Mental and Physical Health
• Happiness and Life Satisfaction
• Meaning and Purpose
• Character and Virtue
• Close Social Relationships
• Financial Stability

Vanderweele’s research has identified four primary pathways that cultivate flourishing: family, education, work, and religion.

This is a new area of research, so it is likely that there are many other pathways that are yet unidentified. I suspect that supportive community, movement and exercise, and contemplative practices may be other pathways that catalyze flourishing. 

It is estimated that less than one-fifth of adults are currently flourishing (Provencher & Keyes, 2011), and that number may have declined since the pandemic. The good news is that we know a lot about the practices that lead to flourishing, and they are habits and skills that can be developed and implemented by anyone. If you’re interested in elevating your flourishing baseline, consider trying some of these practices based on Vanderweele’s (2019) work:

• Gratitude: Try identifying and articulating one to three things you are grateful for on a daily basis.
• Savoring: When something is going well, or you experience a moment of joy or awe, try to step back and notice the moment. Imagine taking a photograph in your mind: what are the elements of the moment that you want to remember later? What are the colors and textures you notice? What are the feelings, sensations, thoughts? How would you describe this moment to someone later?
• Imagine One’s Best Possible Self: Imagine that your life turns out exactly the way you would like. What are the elements of your best life? How do you show up for that life? What are the characteristics, traits, habits, and skills you need to live your best possible life?
• Identify your Character Strengths: What are your unique strengths and talents? You can learn more about your character strengths by taking the VIA Strengths Inventory.
• Acts of Kindness: Get outside of yourself and your particular situation by helping others. Think about someone who may be having a hard time and offer them a kind word or gesture. Consider volunteering at a local organization. Doing good for others is good for us!
• Job Crafting: Does work contribute to your sense of meaning and purpose? Do you feel energized and engaged by your work? If not, you might consider redesigning your relationship with work. Check out Designing Your Work Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.