WHAT IS “LIVING WITH PURPOSE?”
A flourishing existence requires a definition of what “purpose” means to you, in terms of leisure activities, spiritual values, career goals, work environment, and overall lifestyle which takes into account your beliefs about what you need regarding socioeconomic and interpersonal situations. The concept of flourishing does not focus on your symptoms or weaknesses. Rather, it is about tapping into your unique strengths and by acknowledging what you have already accomplished, in spite of your pain and hardships in life. You will find that to flourish is to thrive on an emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual level by staying true to who you are and who you are meant to be in this life.
OPTIMISM
Flourishing refers to an optimal state of well-being characterized by an individual’s experience of positive emotions, engagement in personally meaningful daily activities, maintaining supportive relationships while setting clear boundaries within toxic relationships, and acknowledging one’s accomplishments.
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. 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.
UNDERSTANDING ALL OF YOU
The two most difficult aspects of the flourishing process are (1) embracing uncertainty and changes in your present and future and (2) accepting that you have past painful experiences which can be triggered at any point in your present and future. The flourishing process does require an ongoing commitment and an openness for experiencing ALL emotions. You must accept the moment-to-moment self-awareness which life offers, and 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 challenges and is much more than just “positive thinking.”
Growth, well-being, passions, goals and lower levels of anxiety and depression because you are brave in identifying ALL of your characteristics and in developing small action plans for changing what you can and for doing the best with what you cannot change. You contribute to something greater than yourself by following your inner core of what is truly important in your ever-changing life.
RELATIONSHIPS
Satisfying relationships can help you to appreciate or to reevaluate your personal values, needs, and goals. Maintaining 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 solely 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. It is important to prioritize and to clarify your boundaries within your significant relationships. A final point is to explore your communication patterns in relationships and to sort through your “purposeful” behaviors and your past-rooted, outdated interactions.
INITIATIVE
In order to embrace your narrative process, you must first develop clear, realistic, and time-framed goals which are unique to YOUR purpose and innate strengths, as opposed to societal or familial expectations and standards. The byproducts, in your life’s big picture, are a sense of self-control, resilience, enthusiasm, humility, sense of humor, compassion, gratitude, and authentic engagement in creating YOUR narrative. 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.
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 successes.” Flourishing means that you can express gratitude, rather than critiques, with ANY personal accomplishment. When identifying the best goals for YOUR LIFE REPERTOIRE, you must simultaneously identify which actions work best for you in achieving these goals. 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, practicing gratitude, and persevering during the “not so great” days is key to living a flourishing existence.
SELF-AWARENESS
Self-awareness plays a crucial role in identifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself and others. When individuals lack this awareness, they may struggle with managing stress, relationships, and difficult situations effectively. This can result in emotional turmoil, decreased resilience, and lower life satisfaction. Without self-awareness, one may find it challenging to set meaningful goals, navigate obstacles, or make informed decisions, all of which are essential components of well-being and overall mental health.”
Your new narrative comes from a genuine desire to create and to maintain an internal locus of control. Creating and maintaining an internal locus of control requires the motivation to observe when you are having negative thoughts about yourself and when you are becoming stuck in dysfunctional behavioral cycles. You may have felt frustrated and “stuck” in old patterns which are simply not conducive to living as your best self. Creating a new narrative can feel awkward and frightening at times, but you already possess the internal tools to free yourself from old, self-destructive patterns. Your new narrative frees you from the past-oriented thoughts, which may have created a reality of anger, guilt, resentment, disappointment, or insecurity.
Emotional regulation is a common trait among individuals with a strong sense of purpose. Examples of emotional self-regulation are being able to calm your anger and to effectively handle intense emotions, such as frustration, disappointment, or embarrassment. Examples of behavioral self-regulation are impulse control and calm, yet assertive, communication skills. Examples of cognitive self-regulation are refocusing your attention on necessary work or personal tasks and reevaluating your life goals and values. Living a new narrative is largely based on developing these self-regulatory skills, which are demonstrated by stepping out of dysfunctional thought and behavioral patterns and by making conscious choices which are targeted toward an internal sense of control over your environment.
