Are you Thriving?

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." – Oscar Wilde

For some reason, I’ve always really loved the word “thrive.”? I guess it just feels like something I continually want to aspire to.?

But, what does it mean to thrive?

Looking up the word thrive in the dictionary the first definition is: to grow vigorously (to flourish).? I totally love this as it reminds me of a very healthy houseplant that just keeps heading toward the light!? That’s exactly how I want to feel!

Last year I was talking with some coworkers about the concept of thriving and someone asked me directly if I felt like I was thriving in my life.? My heart stopped for a minute before I answered honestly that no, I definitely was not.? But, this moment was part of the many small hints that when taken together added up to my decision to leave my job.?

I started regularly asking myself a key question, “If I’m not thriving now, what do I need to do so that I will be in one year?”? Repeatedly asking this has provided me with some guideposts for decision making as I move forward.

So what does thriving look like?? For me, one of the key pieces is that it is multi-dimensional.? In the last year or so at my job, I would sometimes teasingly say that all I did was work and recover from work.? (Yet another hint that something was wrong.)? This is not thriving.

Thriving means experiencing a sense of fulfillment, growth, and balance in multiple areas of your life. It can include maintaining strong relationships, emotional well-being, physical health, and a sense of purpose while simultaneously staying engaged in work, developing your skills, achieving meaningful goals, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

It’s not just surviving or going through the motions but feeling energized, challenged, and supported in all areas of life.? That was no longer happening for me where I was.

So, now several months later, how would I assess my thrive level?? Well, I’m definitely headed in the right direction!? I feel a million times healthier both mentally and physically than I did in May and I feel more engaged in work than I have in years as I’m getting my business off the ground.? But, there are still areas I’m working on -- specifically, cultivating more in-person relationships and doing more creative projects.? So, a work in progress!

How about you?? Are you thriving?? If not, what can you start doing now so that you will be in one year?