Vitality Revisited: The Evolving Concept of Flourishing and Its Relevance to Personal and Public Health

Abstract

Human flourishing, the state of optimal functioning and well-being across all aspects of an individual’s life, has been a topic of philosophical and theological discussion for centuries. In the mid-20th century, social psychologists and health scientists began exploring the concept of flourishing in the context of health and high-level wellness. However, it is only in recent years, in part due to the USD 43 million Global Flourishing Study including 22 countries that flourishing has entered the mainstream discourse. Here, we explore this history and the rapid acceleration of research into human flourishing, defined as “the relative attainment of a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good” by the Harvard University’s Flourishing Program. We also explore the construct of “vitality”, which refers to a sense of aliveness, energy, and motivation; we contend that this has been neglected in the flourishing movement. We explore why incorporating measures of vitality together with a broader biopsychosocial approach considers all dimensions of the environment across time (the total exposome), which will greatly advance research, policies, and actions to achieve human flourishing.

Flourishing among undergraduate nursing students: Insights from a cross‐sectional study in Saudi Arabia

“…Our study uncovered a positive correlation between well‐being and the level of flourishing, which is in line with the findings of Gostin et al. (2023), who established well‐being as a reliable predictor of future health. Moreover, Lebares et al.…”

“…Well‐being and flourishing, which are often used interchangeably, refer to an optimal state of functioning across all aspects of life (Gostin et al., 2023). The PERMA™ theory developed by Martin Seligman identifies positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment as the fundamental elements for flourishing (Seligman, 2018).…”

A constructive replication of client change during psychodynamic treatment in an outpatient setting

“…The vital sign of vitality, or ‘inner aliveness’ (p. 64), for example, involves ‘help[ing] patients find their curiosity, enthusiasm, and passion’ (p. 63), and Logan et al. (2023) suggested that vitality is a largely neglected dimension of flourishing, or overall psychological wellness. Dual‐factor treatment models have evolved to promote flourishing (Jankowski, Captari, & Sandage, 2021); however, the effectiveness of psychotherapy to promote gains in flourishing remains largely empirically unanswered (Jankowski et al., 2020).…”

“…vision to promote a richer and more fulfilling life to be a worthwhile treatment goal, and McWilliams (2021) described vital signs of progress in psychodynamic psychotherapy 'that go beyond symptom reduction and that are basic to overall psychological wellness' (p. 67). The vital sign of vitality, or 'inner aliveness' (p. 64), for example, involves 'help[ing] patients find their curiosity, enthusiasm, and passion' (p. 63), andLogan et al (2023) suggested that vitality is a largely neglected dimension of flourishing, or overall psychological wellness. Dual-factor treatment models have evolved to promote flourishing(Jankowski, Captari, & Sandage, 2021);…”

Brain Wave Oscillations as an Objective Neurophysiological Biomarker of Homeopathic Subjective Well-Being

“…It does this by helping people capitalize on their strengths, heighten their gratitude and awareness, connect to others and develop the wisdom needed to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. [49][50][51] According to Martin Seligman, exponent of positive psychology, "psychological well-being has been defined in various ways and encompasses the positive thoughts and feelings that individuals use to evaluate their lives favorably", suggesting that "individual-level interventions, such as mindfulness-based programs and positive psychological interventions, have shown promise for modifying psychological well-being". 52 In considering the protective role of positive psychological well-being in the evolution of health disorders, the most robust evidence comes from cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of death worldwide and includes diagnoses such as coronary heart disease and stroke.…”