The Science of Flourishing
Understanding the Nine Pillars of Well-Being
At Paving the Way, our mission is to create a positive media outlet that helps individuals lead longer, more positive, and fulfilling lives. To do this, I believe we need to spread the knowledge, vocabulary, and science of flourishing to provide you with the best, empirically-based information available. This is your guide to understanding personal and social well-being.
“Well-being refers to a state of overall happiness, fulfillment, and optimal functioning”
According to Marty Seligman, a leading psychologist, and author of Flourish, well-being encompasses more than just the absence of mental illness. It involves flourishing and experiencing a life of optimal psychological functioning. Positive psychologists have constructed the PERMA +4 framework that provides us with valuable insights into the nine building blocks of well-being. By understanding and integrating these pillars into our daily lives, we can pave the way for personal growth and collective well-being.
The Nine Pillars of Well-Being
Positive Emotions
"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey
Positive emotions, such as happiness, joy, contentment, and gratitude, have transformative effects on our well-being. They broaden our perspectives, enhance our resilience, and foster a positive mindset that enables us to navigate life's challenges with grace and optimism. As we cultivate our positive emotions, we not only uplift ourselves but also spread positivity to those around us.
Vital Engagement
Vital engagement involves fully immersing ourselves in activities that align with our strengths, interests, and values.
When we experience flow, the state of complete absorption in a task, we unlock our potential and tap into a source of intrinsic (self) motivation. Engaging in activities that bring us joy, but equally challenge us intellectually, allows us to cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Positive Relationships
Meaningful relationships form the cornerstone of our well-being.
Connecting with others, feeling valued, and offering support creates a sense of belongingness and connects us to every other pillar of well-being. By nurturing genuine connections and practicing empathy and love, we strengthen the ties that bind us together with family, friends, and the human community.
Meaning and Purpose
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." - Pablo Picasso
Discovering meaning and purpose gives our lives direction and infuses us with a sense of significance. When we have a clear sense of meaning, we align our actions with our values, contributing to personal growth and a greater good beyond ourselves. Exploring your passions, reflecting on core values, and engaging in activities that align with your purpose enable us to lead more fulfilling lives.
Accomplishment
“Setting, pursuing, and achieving our goals provides us with a sense of mastery and satisfaction by accomplishing meaningful tasks and overcoming challenges.”
By setting meaningful objectives and persisting through challenges, we experience personal growth and build self-confidence. Celebrating our achievements, both big and small, reinforces our belief in our abilities and fuels our motivation to continue striving for success.
Physical Health
"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn
Physical well-being is a vital component of overall well-being. Nurturing our bodies through exercise, nutrition, and self-care practices promotes vitality, boosts energy levels, and enhances our resilience. By prioritizing our physical health, we lay a solid foundation for personal growth and flourishing in all aspects of life.
Mindset
"The mind is everything. What you think, you become." - Buddha
A growth-oriented mindset is essential for well-being. Embracing a belief in our ability to learn, adapt, and grow fosters resilience and enables us to navigate life's challenges with a positive outlook. By cultivating a mindset that embraces opportunities for growth, we empower ourselves to overcome obstacles, embrace change, and unlock our potential.
Flourishing Environments
"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." - Jim Rohn
Our environment plays a significant role in shaping our well-being. Creating a supportive and nurturing environment that aligns with our values cultivates a sense of belonging and facilitates personal growth. Surrounding ourselves with positive influences, fostering connections with nature, and engaging in sustainable practices contribute to a sense of harmony and well-being.
Economic Security
Economic security recognizes the practical aspects of well-being, emphasizing financial stability and a sense of security for a fulfilling life.
Meeting our basic biological needs (food, water, and shelter) and achieving a level of economic security provides a sense of stability that allows us to focus on personal growth and contribute to the well-being of others. Many people struggle with this pillar of well-being, and Paving the Way is currently creating tools and resources to guide our readers towards financial independence.
Cultivating Your Well-Being
By nurturing positive emotions, engaging in meaningful activities, cultivating relationships, finding purpose, achieving your goals, prioritizing physical and mental health, embracing a growth-oriented mindset, creating a supportive environment, and aiming for economic security, we pave the way to a life of fulfillment and flourishing. As you integrate these nine pillars of well-being into your lives, remember that by nurturing ourselves, we are better equipped to uplift and serve others.
As you think about each of these pillars of well-being, I encourage you to reflect on where you are and where you want to be in each of these domains of your life. As an exercise, identify three of these pillars that you excel at -- write them down and ask yourself “what have I done to get here?” Now, which areas of your life do you feel like you are lacking in? What is the path out?
Here at Paving the Way, we are here to guide you on that path by uncovering the most common roadblocks people experience for each pillar and revealing how the most flourishing individuals find success in their lives. Follow our lead by sharing this post with someone who can use positive direction in their life.
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Really succinct and clear article on how to live an amazing life! As someone who has also studied PERMA, I’m always curious to know how spirituality and religion plays into the model. I think it definitely fits into positive emotions and meaning, but I also think it could be interwoven amongst them all
Very detailed and insightful article! After reading, I have some key self-reflective questions to better understand my own goals, interests, and purpose, as well as understanding the intertwine between the pillars. I really appreciated the Pablo Picasso quote, it reminded me of the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30! Also a firm believer in everything in life starts with your mindset and your actions second. Your actions follow your thoughts, beliefs, and ideas, and exemplifies how important the Mindset is in unlocking our potential. Really great stuff, looking forward to the next one!