What is flourishing?
Barbara Fredrickson has described flourishing as follows: "Like any other living thing, you too may either languish, barely holding on to life, or flourish, becoming ripe with possibility and remarkably resilient to hard times. People who flourish function at extraordinarily high levels -both psychologically and socially. They're not simply people who feel good. Flourishing goes beyond happiness, or satisfaction with life. True, people who flourish are happy. But that's not the half of it. Beyond feeling good, they're also doing good -adding value to the world. People who flourish are highly engaged with their families, work, and communities. They're driven by a sense of purpose: they know why they get up in the morning. Striving to flourish, then, is a noble goal. It's not just about making yourself happy. It's about doing something valuable with your day and with your life. Although flourishing is noble, it need not imply grand or grandiose actions. It simply requires transcending self-interest enough to share and celebrate goodness in others and in the natural world."
When does flourishing happen?
Researchers have discovered that human flourishing works like a nonlinear dynamic system. The so-called positivity ratio is the ratio of people's experiences of positive to negative emotions. Barbara Fredrickson's and Marcial Losada's research has shown that there is a tipping point above which flourishing starts and below which it doesn't. This positivity ratio tipping point is 3-1. When there are three times or more as many positive experiences than negative ones, flourishing will start with all of its beneficial consequences. There also turns out to be a second tipping point, by the way, of 11-1, which is the upper bound of flourishing. Above this upper bound it seems that there is too much positivity. In other words, there will always remain a useful role for some negativity. Fredrickson has found that most people have more positive than negative experiences but are below the 3-1 tipping point. Fortunately, there are many known ways to raise your positivity so that flourishing seems to be attainable for anyone.
Question
Can you describe someone who often flourishes? Please don't mention the person's name but describe vividly what the person does.
8 comments, click here to add your comment:
He focuses on present with a future flavor. He prioritizes his actions and actually does what he wants. He is independent (self-employed).
He does his job for the ethos of the job rather than for the money that comes. He seeks to challenge himself in his line of work (acts courageously)
Hi Peter,
Thanks! I like this; it sounds very good.
So there seem to be the follow aspects to his flourishing: 1) temporal aspect: focus on now and future, 2) autonomy, 3) purpose driven, 4) growth orientation, 5) courageousness.
I was actually describing my best friend. :)
Two separte posts in one: (1) He gets up every morning and runs then takes a shower. Afterward, he cooks breakfast while listening to his favorite music. He smiles at people he meets on his commute into the office. He tries to take a few breaks throughout the day and laughs a lot. He makes a good living as a lawyer. He makes sure he spends time with his grown sons weekly. He takes time to paint and play the drums. How he fits it all in, I don't know. I am describing my boyfriend. My conclusion is that you have to have balance to thrive. (2) My mother is a gardener. She always taught me that some plants are robust by nature and some are not. They use the same garden bed, get the same sun, water, and nourishment, but some thrive and some die. She compares the plants to a litter of puppies. You have the big strong pups and the runts. To her, it is a matter of DNA. As a child, I was a "runt" in some ways, so I always had compassion for the skinny little runts. I would love on them and play with them and just sit with them. Through love and nourishment and friendship, they thrived.
dear anonymous, thank you for your interesting post. I believe that runts under the right conditions, with support, encouragement and even the right type and amount of challenge can develop wonderfully and really get to flourish.
The description of (1) is interesting too, when we flourish we can radiate friendlyness and positivity
I like how 'catchy' it is. When I'm around (my mentor) I just feel good. It's has been such a lengthy relationship I've begun to internalize and exemplify operationilize that mind set in a beginning way.
Hi Chad, I think that catchy is what it is, indeed. When the other person radiates positive energy and does useful things it provides an attractive example
The person I am referring to is someone who does not seem to work, but to amuse and enjoy the 'business' actions she takes. She is not in for the money, but connects people with other people, has a drive to invent and reinvent stuff.
She not only looks healthy but shows a great amount of energy without becoming exhausted.
She does not want to outperform others, but really acts in a 1+1=3 mind of state.
She starts with giving and in the end can receive without 'taking'...
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