I have said that over the next few days and weeks that I will be unpicking some aspects of the term flourishing, and the anacronym PERMA, demonstrating how they apply in daily life and how they appear in my life. Today I am addressing Positive Emotion. In terms of flourishing positive emotions is more than happiness, though happiness is of course part of it. In terms of positive emotion, we need to consider happiness, resilience, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and values. Whilst happiness is a significant contributory factor to long-term flourishing it is not the only positive emotion. We also need to recognise that moments of happiness do not necessarily lead to flourishing. Flourishing comes from values and relationships developed and deepened over time that develop and strengthen the receptive capacities of the brain that enable an individual to appropriately emotionally respond to life events. Therefore, we can say that happiness and flourishing are not one and the same thing, but they are interrelated. We cannot flourish if we aren’t happy.
In my research we looked at flourishing and well-being and the interrelatedness of these two concepts with a particular focus on mental health. Mental health is often a buzz word in the workplace. Employers appear to state that they are concerned with the mental health and well-being of their employees, however I am not convinced by this. In order that individuals enjoy good mental health particular conditions need to be in place. As with flourishing this is not something that can utilize a quick fix approach but is something that needs to be addressed over time.
Today I participated in a Mindfulness session. Today we were bringing together many of the ideas that we have looked at over the last year. I found it fascinating to reflect on the ideas from flourishing that overlap with mindfulness. As someone who is keen to develop notions of flourishing, it may seem strange that I have to remind myself, but I do. It was a great session finished with a lovely, guided meditation, often my favourite bit.
Someone sent me a video today in which a young man discusses the notion of happiness and links it to the levels of four chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins, that you are currently enjoying. As I have said flourishing is not happiness, however you cannot flourish without happiness and being able to create happy chemicals is no bad thing.
This afternoon was Knit and Natter. I wanted to finish my shawl and was able to do so. This led to a feeling of accomplishment which is always good. I have tried to photograph it however I find that taking photographs with myself in them that showcase my work can be challenging. I also spent part of the afternoon demonstrating how to engage in certain crochet techniques. I will be teaching on Friday which will be the first time for over two years that I have done any teaching. It was good to find that I can still do it. I am not certain that I would want to return to teaching academic subjects but an ability to teach something creative gave me a sense of accomplishment that contributes to my sense of flourishing.
Until tomorrow…
Tales from the Sheshed France 
Interesting post and lovely photos!
On flourishing. As a Buddhist one of the key concepts (according to HHDL) is happiness. His book the Art of Happiness was one I loved. One if the key ideas in Buddhism is an understanding of impermanence (although I’m not a Buddhist scholar I found this most helpful)
In the West I think we carry notions of progress in our minds – usually linked to accumulating wealth! I have found that the patient acceptance of the impermanence of all things has been helpful and for me to flourish, the art of letting go of things and ideas had been key. As we can only live in this moment I try to eat life a bite at a time now (letting go of the past and not assuming what the future might hold)
I emphasise TRY 😂🤗
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Yes I think all of it is so difficult to explain and even more difficult to practice. I think our Western concept of happiness can be frivolous, though probably not quite the right word, so we need to find terms to explain concepts that include a bigger picture. That includes recognising that we won’t be happy every day or all of each day but considering ways that we can strive to feel happier and to flourish.
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