ARE YOU FLOURISHING?

Flourishing refers to an optimal state of well-being characterized by an individual’s ability to experience positive emotions, to engage in meaningful daily activities, to nurture supportive relationships, and to prioritize self-care.  The familiar statement, “Time is precious,” sums up the essence of the flourishing process.  While some people have characteristics or upbringings which make it rather easy to flourish, others have a very difficult time even entertaining the optimistic idea of self-growth and positivity.  Individuals who flourish are willing to learn from life’s challenges and to open up their hearts and souls to new experiences.  To flourish requires courage to confront the tough situations, emotions, and thoughts which are inevitable in life.  To flourish means to be resilient when encountering hardships and is much more than just “positive thinking.”  Flourishing is not a constant state and can coexist with difficulties and challenges in life. 

REMEMBER THIS ACRONYM:
“FLOURISH”

FLOW EXPERIENCES

     Flow experiences refer to being deeply absorbed in what you are doing, often to the point of losing track of time and being immune to external distractions.  Flow experiences can play a crucial role in promoting your emotional and mental well-being.  Flow experiences evoke positive emotions, increased dopamine production, and a sense of fulfilling your potential.  Some examples of flow experiences are creative outlets, work activities which you truly enjoy and are aligned with your interests, and new pursuits which test your intellectual and/or interpersonal capabilities.  Psychological researchers have found that flow experiences correlate with lower levels of anxiety and depression.

LIVING WITH PURPOSE

     Your “purpose” refers to the actions, values, goals, and passions which define what your life will represent.  Living with purpose also means that you are staying true to who you are in the present and who you aspire to be in the future.  Purpose is about tapping into your unique strengths and acknowledging what you have already accomplished, in spite of your pain and hardships in life.  Purpose is an inner guiding force which propels you to pursue ideals related to spirituality, career, academics, relationships, and an authentic lifestyle.

OPTIMISM

    When individuals are confronted with adverse social determinants of health like poverty or lack of access to healthcare, their ability to thrive may be compromised. Negative thinking patterns pose a significant barrier to flourishing.  When you allow yourself to get caught in a cycle of negative thoughts, it can impact various aspects of your life, particularly your self-confidence, your connections with significant others, your physical health, and your career performance.  By identifying these debilitating thought patterns, you can then boldly move forward in your personal growth and can devise specific plans for overcoming your internal and external obstacles.

UNDERSTANDING ALL OF YOU

     The two most difficult aspects of the flourishing process are (1) embracing uncertainty and (2) accepting that you have past painful experiences which can be triggered at any point in your present and future.  The flourishing process requires an ongoing commitment and an openness for experiencing ALL emotions. You must accept the moment-to-moment self-awareness which life offers, The concept of flourishing does not focus on your symptoms or weaknesses.  Self-awareness is the foundation for pursuing and maintaining a flourishing life path.  When you avoid or distort self-awareness, you may struggle with managing daily stressors.  Understanding all of you is a key component in personal growth.  Without self-awareness, you are unable to set meaningful goals, to navigate through life’s obstacles, and to make empowering decisions, all of which are essential components of well-being and overall mental health.  A lack of self-awareness can be a barrier to flourishing, often because you are “stuck” in a past mindset which is not productive in your current and future life. Remember that facing your internal pain, regret, fear, or insecurities IS a key aspect of the flourishing process.

 To flourish or not is a choice.  Flourishing is not an easy process and requires a strong commitment toward directing and re-directing your attention on growth and problem-solving, rather than on toxic emotions or on toxic people. 

RELATIONSHIPS

     This aspect of flourishing focuses on maintaining long-term relationships, provided that these individuals are supporting and appreciating your personal values, needs, and goals.  Maintaining and nurturing your meaningful relationships can also refer to those in the social media environment, provided that you do not base your sense of self-worth or purpose too heavily on the social media world.  For instance, you can derive much joy and meaning from online dating, posting blogs, or being a Tiktok or Youtube influencer, but you must control the narrative and not get undermined by what you think others want to see or who others want you to be.  A final point is that, in order to flourish, you must set firm boundaries with toxic people who can knock you off balance.

INITIATIVE

     Initiative is a superpower in the flourishing process.  Initiative allows you to move beyond your real or perceived limitations and to live freely and authentically through inspiring activities at work, in the home, and in random circumstances.  External factors, such as your social environment and economic conditions, can become overwhelming if you do not take the initiative to create small action plans for changing what you can and for doing the best with what you cannot change.  Initiative is expressed by developing clear, realistic, and time-framed goals which are unique to YOUR purpose and innate strengths, as opposed to societal or familial expectations and standards.  Flourishing absolutely requires you to take the initiative in accepting personal responsibility for your mistakes and to revise your behaviors or thoughts when confronting future stressors or trauma triggers.

SMALL SUCCESSES

     There is a popular saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Flourishing individuals live in a slightly different reality in that they “Fully appreciate the small stuff.”  Flourishing means that you can express gratitude, rather than critiques, toward each personal accomplishment, such as getting your work completed on time at your job, organizing your living space, or resolving an interpersonal conflict.  These “small successes” can also encompass being an emotionally present parent or romantic partner.  Accomplishments occur by identifying small successes and building from them.  Doing your best within your capacity and practicing gratitude, especially during the “not so great” days, are also “small successes.”

HEALTHY HABITS

     Flourishing also involves healthy sleep, nutrition, and leisure habits.  Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive substance use, overspending, overeating, and self-harm, they often hinder their ability to develop healthy emotional regulation skills and coping mechanisms, leading to a cycle of negative outcomes.  Even though it is tempting to choose comfort foods, such as pizza or sweets, over salads, you can learn cognitive restructuring and mindfulness practices to counteract your dysfunctional behavioral patterns.  Remember that only you can clarify the best goals for YOUR LIFE REPERTOIRE.

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