“Analyzing recent emotional intelligence assessment data from Six Seconds’ SEI assessment, we tested the link between EQ and wellbeing among 56,866 people from 131 countries. We found three competencies are most predictive of wellbeing; all three have to do with taking ownership. For example, one key competency is “Engage Intrinsic Motivation.” […] People with higher scores on wellbeing are around twice as strong in this competency.
The ancient Greeks called it Eudaimonia, a burning ember of “good genius” that marks the best in human aspiration (more). In Japanese, a similar term is “Genki” — an internal force of health. The Japanese character 元気 “genki” has roots in the Chinese characters for “first” and “energy” or “spirit,” the force that permeates all life (more). Positive Psychology guru Martin Seligman describes it as Flourishing. Whatever the word, many of us want more. Where do we get it?” – Daniel Goleman on Wellbeing
What is it to flourish?
Martin Seligman, visionary and elder in the positive psychology research movement, has a recent book about Flourishing. Click the photo to the right to find the book. There is also a helpful commentary on it by the folks at the Greater Good Science Center HERE.

This is comfort, happiness, smiling, being cheerful, being merry. As stated throughout our happiness section, this type of happiness (our “Type #1“) is over-attended, culturally. Seligman believes we have about 15% leverage on this factor and it is mostly genetically determined.
This is about when time stops for you. Engagement is when we experience flow. This is another one of the happiness types in our model (Type #2). Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s landmark book is a comprehensive analysis of this “PERMA factor” or “Happiness Type”.
Good relationships are a skill. We can learn it, and teach it to our children. Here on our site, there are incredible tools and resources for learning relationship skills, including Clean Communication, Gratitude, Forgiveness, 100% Responsibility, and Right/Wrong.
This is “Belonging to and serving something you think is bigger than yourself,” according to Seligman. When it comes to meaning, the self can easily be a hindrance, and thrives in creating meaning by acting through Love, Expression, Service, and Discovery. In our model, these are the four cornerstones of meaning and purpose, and represent “Happiness Type #4“. We believe this type is vastly under-representing and under-appreciated in the world. It is the focus of much of this website.
Achievement, mastery, confidence, self discipline, grit…this factor is easy to measure, as researchers can look to test scores, income, etc. Seligman notes that “Self discipline is about twice as important as IQ for measures of success.”
Links
The below links are primarily about the how of flourishing. Specifically, they are focused on the purpose aspect of flourishing, as is the focus of much of this site.
Just as effective from a productivity standpoint, this article will give you a few well-researched tips for daily habit-forming that begets a life of flourishing.
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To experience a deep sense of flow or ‘flourishing’, your days will need to align with your deepest goals.
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A funny article about how not all dreams make sense to pursue, from the author of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck,” Mark Manson.
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A helpful definition and practical tips for flourishing, from positivepsychologyprogram.com:
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See the Flourishing Scale
Videos
Why Some of Us Don’t Have One True Calling
In praise of “Multipotentialites,” Emilie Wapnick calls into question our assumptions about having one career.
Jay Shetty – How to Find Your Purpose
Jay Shetty, a rebel-turned-monk-turned-entrepreneur, talks about practical wisdom and finding purpose.
Jay Shetty – How to Find and Pursue Your Passion
Another video from this inspiring speaker, this one is an interactive workshop in which the Bliss Map is dissected.
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” – Carl Rogers