WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FLOURISH?

Jen Thomas, a student at Sevenoaks, and one of the research fellows of the flourishing project explains…

What does it mean to flourish?

How can I truly make myself happy? These are questions I’ve asked myself before, as many have, when I feel that times are tough. I’ve found myself asking these questions more over the last year, wondering what exactly it is that I feel that I’m missing. However, I’m very fortunate to have been able to take part in the Flourishing project. This incredible opportunity truly came at a time in my life when I felt that I was at a loss for how to improve my wellbeing. It was then that I was first introduced to the concept of flourishing.

I learned that flourishing is less of a tangible, physically attainable state of mind and more of an approach to living life. To flourish is to feel contentment throughout the di erent aspects of your life, – happiness and life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, mental and physical health, character and virtue, and positive social relationships (VanderWeele, 2020).

To truly flourish is not about the temporary pleasure that we tend to label as happiness, but to feel fulfilled in all the di erent aspects of your life. Working with Harvard researchers on this project has invited me to reflect on what this means in practice, as well as how I can begin to feel more fulfilled in my own life.

I would suggest to anyone who wishes to be happier (which I think is everyone!) to take some time to reflect on what it might mean to do so. When you approach your own life with an outlook of flourishing, thinking beyond the momentary pleasure to the longerterm happiness and contentment, it might make a real di erence.