Flourish: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of Flourish, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Flourishing is more than happiness
Seligman moves beyond his earlier focus on happiness to a broader idea of wellbeing, which he calls flourishing.
He argues that a good life involves several elements, not just feeling good.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Wellbeing has five parts
Seligman describes PERMA: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.
Each contributes to flourishing. Seligman presents these five parts as a fuller picture of a good life than feeling happy alone could give.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Engagement means flow
Engagement involves being absorbed in activities that use our strengths.
Seligman links this to the experience of flow. Seligman suggests that time seems to disappear when we are fully absorbed in doing something we do well.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Relationships matter greatly
Seligman argues that positive relationships are central to wellbeing.
Other people are a key source of meaning and joy. Seligman suggests that sharing good news, kindness and time with others adds a great deal to our wellbeing.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Meaning connects us to more
Meaning comes from belonging to and serving something bigger than oneself.
It gives life purpose. Seligman suggests that people feel more purpose when they connect their daily efforts to something beyond their own small concerns.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Accomplishment brings satisfaction
Seligman argues that people value achievement for its own sake.
Pursuing goals brings satisfaction. Seligman suggests that achievement matters as part of a good life, even when it brings no other reward at all.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Schools can teach wellbeing
Seligman describes positive education programmes that teach students resilience and strengths.
He believes schools should teach wellbeing. Seligman believes that teaching such skills early could help young people face life's difficulties with more confidence.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Resilience can be trained
Seligman describes programmes to build resilience in soldiers, helping them cope with stress.
He discusses the possibility of growth after trauma. Seligman presents this as hopeful evidence that people can grow stronger through hard experiences.
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