Flourishing: in life I want to flourish, not fit in

Flourishing (flourishing) defines a very specific and rewarding emotional and mental state. It is a perfect combination in which the feeling of hope, kindness, growth and also resistance are mixed. It defines an attitude towards life by which one refuses to be trapped by suffering and also by those social determinisms that sometimes slow down our human potential.

It is, after all, about not limit ourselves to fitting into those physical and relational spaces that erode self-esteem, which take away our vitality and the opportunity to shape a life according to our own desires and needs. This concept is in line with many others that we already know, such as flow (flow) that feeling we get when performing a task that pleases, inspires, or psychologically enriches us.

Likewise, it is interesting to know that this term, flourishing, It was defined by psychologists Corey Keyes and Barbara Fredrickson and it enters that chest criticized by many and admired by many more, such as positive psychology. For now, the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation sees it as a valuable resource to curb anxiety states or depressive disorders.

After all, If there is a dimension to which we aspire, it is to flourish, to allow all our assets to develop., to achieve growth in happiness, freedom and balance. We are therefore faced with an interesting concept that is worth delving into.

Flourishing: live fully, achieve achievements

Flourishing is a relatively new term in the field of positive psychology. It was in 2002 when Corey Keyes and Barbara Fredrickson, from the University of North Carolina, published the work The Mental Health Continuum: From Languishing to Flourishing and later, in 2005, the research titled The dynamics of human flourishing.

With these contributions, what they sought was to demonstrate that Mental health is not measured only by the absence of illnesses or psychological disorders. Wellbeing is also knowing how to give shape to that term that we frequently use when we feel that we are going well on the journey of life: flourishing.

That is to say, Each of us flourishes when we feel satisfied with who we are and what we are achieving. Also, when we make use of all our potential and talent to feel good, to achieve goals and at the same time connect in a meaningful way to everything around us.

Later, Martin Seligman himself, pioneer of positive psychology, would also tell us about this term. Flourishing For him it symbolizes the following (2011):

Flourishing: it is not what you are, you are what you achieve with your determination and effort

The ability to flourish is not something innate in us. It does not come from one day to the next nor is it a particular psychological trait that only a lucky few come into the world with. Flourishing It is the result of our effort and requires action. To grow you have to feed that psychological architecture made up of self-esteem, determination, motivation, self-confidence…

Only then do we dare to place objectives on the horizon, mobilize resources, energies and hopes to conquer dreams. That satisfaction elevates us, makes us fly high and understand what we are capable of.

On the other hand, it is necessary to remember one detail: No one flourishes in an oppressive space, in a place determined by other people’s mandates., by emotional relationships that oppress, that extinguish happiness and dignity. It is also not about fitting in a place or among a group of people that is not in tune with our values ​​and needs.

Sometimes, you have to break molds, schemes and relationships to be able to flourish in freedom… And something like that requires courage and effort.

Nutrients that promote internal growth

The term flourishing It is made up of a series of psychological components or nutrients That if we attend to them and enhance them, they will have a positive impact on our mental health. Dunn, D. S and Dougherty (2008) defined these dynamics. They are the following:

Self-acceptance and self-esteem.Have a vital meaning, clarify our values ​​and know what we want from our existence. Feel autonomous, capable of taking responsibility for ourselves. Be free people.Have positive and meaningful social relationships.Being able to manage one’s own emotions and make use of those of positive valence.Commit us with ourselves, with life, with our dreams and people we love.

In turn, psychologist Corey Keyes explains that if we were able to teach children from an early age those strategies that integrate the concept of flourishing we would be able to give the world generations of people not only a little happier. Also, we would achieve the following:

Develop that self-confidence in which one feels worthy and capable of fighting for what they want.Achieve greater satisfaction at work. Feel empowered to handle adversity and flourish again after having suffered it.Build more satisfying personal relationships.Enjoy better physical and psychological health.

To conclude, these types of concepts rooted in positive psychology seek more than just helping us be happy. They aspire to give us life tools to build a healthier daily life, in balance with our goals and needs. Let’s think about it.

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