This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Flourish" by Martin E. P. Seligman. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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What is the importance of well-being in life? How does well-being help you flourish?
Flourish by Martin E. P. Seligman proposes that instead of prioritizing happiness as the gateway to a good life, individuals should cultivate well-being. Seligman argues this is because happiness relies too much on a positive attitude, which doesn’t automatically create meaning.
Keep reading to learn more about why well-being is important to flourish.
Well-Being Is the Key to Flourishing
We often think happiness is the key to flourishing—to living a rich, joyful, and fulfilling life. That’s what Seligman once believed, too, when he wrote his previous book, Authentic Happiness. But now, a decade later, he has a new theory—that well-being, not happiness, is the key to a good life. He argues that happiness rests too heavily on having a positive mood, which isn’t a reliable indicator of a meaningful life. How does Seligman explain the importance of well-being? He says it’s an interplay of multiple factors that enrich your life, with none being more important than the others.
(Shortform note: Pursuing happiness can actually make you less happy. One study shows that people who value happiness the most have 50% fewer positive emotions, 35% less life satisfaction, and 75% more depressive symptoms than people who prioritize other things in life. This evidence supports Seligman’s multifaceted concept of well-being and suggests that instead of pressuring yourself to be happier, you should pursue other enriching aspects of life. By doing so, you may find that joy and satisfaction come naturally.)
The Five Elements of Well-Being
According to Seligman, there are five key elements of well-being:
1. Positive Emotions—Temporary pleasurable experiences such as joy, excitement, and warmth that we enjoy having.
2. Engagement—A state of flow, which we experience when we’re completely absorbed in an activity. This usually happens when we’re doing an activity that’s challenging, enjoyable, and involves our strengths. For example, you might be in flow while performing music, practicing a sport, playing video games, working on your car, or creating artwork.
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Here's what you'll find in our full Flourish summary:
- Why happiness is not the key to enjoying life to the fullest
- Why we should be focusing on well-being over happiness
- Actionable advice for enhancing global and personal well-being
