What Individuals Need to Flourish

"Flourishing is the ultimate goal of human existence." - Aristotle

What It Means to Flourish

The concept of flourishing can be best understood as the state of thriving. It represents the pinnacle of achievement, fulfillment, wellbeing, and happiness in human life that individuals and communities strive for. While there is no universal answer to why humans must flourish, it can be argued that it is an essential part of human nature and a necessary ingredient for a fully realized life.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory — a motivational theory that describes how human needs can be categorized into a hierarchical order, from basic physiological needs at the bottom to self-actualization needs at the top — implies that individuals must satisfy lower-level needs (e.g., basic physiological and safety needs) before higher level needs (e.g., love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization) to reach fulfillment and success. Maslow believed that once these needs were met, only then could individuals achieve their life's purpose and flourish.

Though he raised plausible points, it appears that Maslow did not fully account for the complexity and nuance of the human condition nor the unyielding drive and tenacity of the human spirit.?

Why Flourishing Matters?

"Bloom where you are planted." — Saint Francis de Sale

People aim to be healthy, happy, and prosperous. These tenets are the basis of nearly every culture, tradition, religion, and holiday wish. But, in today's social climate — riddled with harm and hate, disregard and disrespect, and rudeness and incivility — the concept of human flourishing feels fleeting, if not elusive.

Reflect on this: In our ecosystem, many plants endure extreme temperatures, drought, disease, or other environmental stresses and still thrive. Evidence of this can be found in the Welwitschia Mirabilis, a desert plant found in Namibia that can survive for up to 2,000 years; certain species of cacti known for their ability to go years without water; and the Meihua (prunus mume or plum blossom), an ancient tree found in China that still flowers despite its 1,600-year-old age, sub-zero winter temperatures, diseases, pests, and infrequent irrigation. These plants prove that flourishing is subjective and not solely dependent on or dictated by environment, climate, tradition, or expectation.

Just as plants adapt to environmental and climatic stressors by altering their metabolism, flowering, growth, and reproduction, we, too, can adapt.

What You Need to Flourish?

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it." — Maya Angelou

It is normal for us to be transformed in some way by our lived experiences. However, the after-effects (whatever they might be) should always encourage us to achieve realization. Here are three "tools" that anyone can use to reactivate their hopes and deferred dreams to achieve the life they are meant to live.

Identity is a compass. Identity is the compass on which individuals rely when life goes array. It points us to our North Star (our individuality) for understanding self and others. It provides bearings for our values, helps us navigate the world of risk, guides us toward protection, and leads us to wholeness.

Risks are situations and circumstances that we do not have control over but can have rippling adverse effects on how we grow through life. Risk factors are those characteristics (e.g., biology, psychology, family, community, or culture) and behaviors that increase the chances of adverse outcomes. More often than not, both present challenges to our primary and safety needs, working against us and making it more difficult for us to flourish as others might, may, or do.?

Let's consider this scenario: Olivia is a cisgender woman who, because of gender bias, is overlooked for a promotion. This oversight creates a chain of events that threatens her economic security, which consequently affects her flourishing in society. Nevertheless, she identifies as resilient and resourceful. A descendant of strong Vietnamese women, she continues striving and driving forward, taking hold of other opportunities that bear her the success she sought and deserved.?

The "risk factor" in this case is gender bias. However, Olivia's identity and connection to her culture and family served as a form of protection despite this bias.

Identity plays a significant role in helping individuals understand who they are, where they come from, and where they want to go. It can provide not only a sense of purpose, belonging, and direction but also protection against the negative outcomes of risk. When individuals have a strong sense of identity, they are more likely to be confident, resilient, and motivated to thrive.

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Worth is self-determined. Worth qualifies identity. It makes humans eligible for fulfillment, qualified for joy, and capable of flourishing merely because they exist. When individuals recognize their worth, they are more likely to invest in themselves and their wellbeing, engage in positive and healthy relationships, and pursue their goals relentlessly and without distraction. A sense of worth also helps individuals develop a growth mindset, which is essential for learning and unlearning, enablement and empowerment, growth and personal development.?

In a social culture that habitually "swipes left," it is easy to adopt feelings of unworthiness for not living up to unspoken and unwritten societal standards. However, those standards are based on untruths, narrow views, and unrealistic expectations.?

As mentioned, Welwitschia plants live for thousands of years in unimaginable conditions without ever conferring with the other plants for approval to grow. They thrive independently, at their own speed, and on their own terms, biologically understanding the long game of endurance amidst adversity. Longevity and resilience are their beauty, and that makes them valuable.

Similarly, worth gives individuals independence from unworthiness and permission to dismiss and reject things (or people) that threaten and infringe upon their ability to become self-actualized and realized on their terms.?

Community is a strength. Another critical component to flourishing is the connection to self and others. The extent to which we surround ourselves with people that align with our values, affirm our sense of self-worth, and water the proverbial soil needed for us to bloom is called community, which is crucial to thriving.?

Nature has its rules. During winter, things hibernate or die off. During spring, things wake up or resurrect. Plumb blossoms have a different agenda. They flower during winter, despite the frost on their petals and the snow covering their roots on the ground. Together, they defy seasonal norms, demonstrating the determination, perseverance, and courage to flourish.?

Communities operate correspondingly. They provide individuals with a supportive environment that can help them to grow, learn, defy the odds, and prevail against hardships. When the world turns bitter cold and unwelcoming, communities offer acceptance, inclusion, and a sense of belonging; help cultivate and build substantial relationships; expand our exposure to new ideas and perspectives; and generate opportunities and present resources that would otherwise be unavailable and inaccessible. Communities help individuals rewrite the social agenda as to what is and is not acceptable, who can and cannot achieve, and who will or will not prosper.

Overall, identity, self-worth, and community are essential elements that can help individuals flourish in today's world. Money and material things come and go, but, when individuals have a strong sense of identity, have full agency of their worth, and recognize the value of community, they are more likely to be resilient, confident, and motivated, which can help them navigate life's pressing challenges and flourish beyond their wildest dreams.

"The purpose of human life is to flourish, to live our lives in the most meaningful way possible." - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi