Flourish
How having purpose in life leads to well-being and longevity.
“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
―George Bernard Shaw
Or watch Jeff Goldblum deliver it:
Kelley and I interviewed Professor Patrick Hill from Washington University in St. Louis this week, and it was a wonderful conversation. Hill studies how a sense of purpose may promote coping with stressors during perceived derailment and how forgiveness can make us whole. He also examines how to help promote positive transitions across the lifespan. We had lots to talk about.
Hill's research touches on one of the themes (or pillars) University of Pennsylvania Professor Martin Seligman covers in his book Flourish, a recommended reading selection from Professor Laurie Santos — as a cornerstone text for her course, the Science of Well-being.
Seligman’s thesis in the book is that traditional psychology has focused too much on alleviating suffering and treating mental illness while neglecting the study of human flourishing and well-being.
In Flourish — Seligman introduces the PERMA model as a framework for understanding well-being. (I mentioned this model/assessment in my last substack).
PERMA stands for:
Positive Emotion (P): This element focuses on cultivating positive emotions in one's life. Positive emotions include joy, gratitude, love, serenity, and other uplifting emotions.
Engagement (E): Engagement is about the concept of "flow," in which individuals are fully immersed in an activity, lose track of time, and experience a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Relationships (R): This component highlights the significance of positive and meaningful relationships in promoting well-being. It emphasizes the quality of social connections rather than mere quantity — that nurturing close, supportive, and authentic relationships with family, friends, and communities can increase life satisfaction and emotional well-being.
Meaning (M): Meaning refers to finding a sense of purpose and significance in life. It involves connecting with something larger than oneself and understanding how one's actions contribute to a greater good. Seligman suggests that individuals with a strong sense of meaning are better equipped to overcome challenges and experience a more profound sense of fulfillment.
Accomplishment (A): Accomplishment involves setting and pursuing goals, achieving them, and experiencing a sense of competence and mastery in various areas of life. Seligman believes that setting and accomplishing goals, whether they are personal, academic, or professional, contributes to a person's overall sense of well-being and self-worth.
From Seligman’s perspective, combining all of these leads to a flourishing human life. He also argues that it is essential that we know and cultivate our strengths as we approach this framework. We all have unique strengths and virtues — and by having introspection and leaning into our strengths, we can build confidence and resilience.
According to Hill's research, the “Sense of Purpose (Meaning)” leg of the PERMA model is both a contributor to a flourishing life and is also protective — keeping us from sinking further when we are low.
Doing
Like most good psychology, the Seligman approach also has a long tradition in ancient wisdom. The Japanese discuss Ikagi — as the secret to a long and happy life.
Here are the rules of Ikigai:
Do what you love,
Do what you’re good at,
Do what the world needs,
Do what you can be paid for.
Ikigai also aligns with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy's focus on engaging in activities that bring enjoyment and a sense of mastery, particularly to alleviate symptoms of depressive disorder.
What we do — our intentional activity — our habits — are what we control. The single most important practice in Stoic philosophy is differentiating between what we can control and what we cannot. The intentional activities that we cultivate for ourselves are the only piece of Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky’s pie chart (see below) that we have control over to shift our direction. We don’t have control over our “set point,” our genetics, or the things that happen to us “circumstances” — the only realm we can affect are the habits we create for ourselves.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Our latest podcast theme on Understanding Grief is out. We spoke with two authors — Betty and Kyle Mertens — who shared their story of transforming a devastating loss into purpose. It is well worth a listen.
Keep looking for connection,
Keep looking for connection,
Recommendations
Because I love a good recommendation, I thought I’d sign off by sharing some with you all. As always, if you have recommendations for me — please send them my way!
What else I am reading:
The Algebra of Happiness by Scott Galloway
Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday
What I am watching:
What I am listening to:
The Focus Group — It’s back with a new season.
Expert on Expert with Amy Edmonson: Organizational Behavior Psychologist
