Surviving vs Flourishing
How Do You Prefer To Spend Your Existence?
If you focus on ‘surviving’ — as mentioned in just about every hip hop song on the market — you’ll be in a constant state of decay. The best possible outcome in this scenario — should you hit your goal — is surviving, not prospering. Give this some thought.
He goes on to describe the state of flourishing that takes place when a person finds happiness, which leads to virtue, and they reach a state of more satisfied existence.
Imagine shooting for happiness, falling short, and ending up with something close. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Let’s think BIG, work backwards, and then decide where to focus. With this pattern of thought, every step we take will be closer to our ideal state. In our ideal state, health becomes easy, and we’ll love every second we spend here on Earth.
Here’s what I’d like you to do in the comments section below:
a.) Family
b.) Education
c.) Adventure
d.) Finances
e.) Spirituality
f.) HealthIt’s important to find happiness in all of these areas, as they will lead to a more balanced way of living when you know you’ve hit your target.
0 = surviving, or not quite
and
10 = flourishing, completely
and write the #1 thing you feel you can work on to move closer to flourishing.
4 Comments
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My ideal life is feeling strong! I have battled cancer and epilepsy and espesially with epilepsy goven in to giving up on my body. I think it’s time to take it back!. Time to, even though I feel like I’m coming from a place of weakness (2) now is the time to begin.
We are building a new house and I think that I need to think about creating a place to build strength – not exercise, but a place where I go to regain motivation, plan menus, build moments of gratude., just some corner to claim as my strong place.-
hey Cheryl,
I love your motivation and the fact that you put this out to the world right here in the comments section. However, there is more to goal writing and acquisition than this. Here’s an example of my life and goals, to make things more clear:
Part 1:
a) Family — Eating dinner with my family every day, being able to say ‘yes’ anytime someone in my family needs me to take a break from work and spend time, or asks me to be a part of their life/day. I also feel the state of flourishing when I speak to each member of my nuclear family at least 2x/week, for a minimum of 15 minutes. This way, I stay connected with my mother, father, and brother. They mean the world to me, and I feel aligned when I know what’s going on with them.
b) Education — I continuously want to be educated; grow or decay is my motto. I feel most empowered when I review at least 1-2 scientific studies in Physical Therapy per week and the same for Personal Training. Simultaneously, I learn about advanced business tactics for growth, so I can free time working ‘on’ the business and spend more time with you, helping you directly.
c) Adventure — Every day includes adventure for me; by constantly exploring, at least for one hour per day (and it can be in my home environment,) I feel that I am remaining creative in thought. This is how I get my best ideas, continue to feel life is ‘fun,’ and I feel happy discovering. It’s part of my personality, but it’s also a human trait. Getting outside, seeing, exploring, and meeting others is a fantastic set of activities for me, and part of my daily ritual.
d) Finances — Saving 15% of every paycheck and automatically planning for my future. 5% becomes ‘liquid cash’ and sits in my bank account. 10% goes to long-term investment, such as stock market, real estate, college education for my future children, etc. I call each of these a ‘financial bucket’ and save in all of them by dividing out the 10%, no matter how large or small.
e) Spirituality — Reflection is everything for me here. I spend 15 minutes every day reflecting on gratitude in the morning, remind myself of what I love about this world every evening, and take time to admire nature and consider how small I am throughout every day. This keeps me real, helps me focus on religion, spirituality, and the gift we have to be on this Earth, spending time with those we love and witnessing powers greater than us.
f) Health — I like to be active as much as possible. A low activity day should allow for at least 20 minutes of active movement; a high activity day at least 10 hours.
Part 2:
I’d rate myself a 9 out of 10. The #1 area I could improve upon would be speaking with my family more often. I feel fulfilled when I do this, but I end up caught up in the moment speaking with all of you.
Of course, this is somewhat natural, as there are over 190,000 regular readers of this blog at this point, and that’s a lot to keep up with. Having said that, there are ways to do both, and family needs to continue to come first for me; when it does, I feel more motivated with you, and ready to conquer every day in such a way that I’m helping others.
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I have been married for 36 years. It’s been a struggle since my husband is anti social. I get along really well with my two daughters and son. My oldest daughter is in the military and I have been very involved in my two granddaughters lives. My youngest has moved back in with her son she has every other week. There is never a dull moment. I was really happy when my mother started dating my daughter in law’s grandfather.They ended up getting married and they are so happy. I would rate family life at a 7 since I would like to see my husband and me spend more time really together. I don’t know if it will happen.
I did not enjoy school. I graduated and took a semester of college and my parent said that was enough since I had no real goals. I worked and when my youngest was 3 years old I quit Boeing and stayed at home. I am going to work part time at Fed-EX. I hadn’t started yet but I’m excited to get back in the working world and meet people and get challenged. Maybe I will go back to school but I don’t want to thank about it yet.
Life is an adventure and if your bored get up and go out into the world. You can pick up a book and go on a adventure too. My daughter goes hiking with her kids and they see such wondrous things out in nature. I give myself a 9 I could be more adventurous.
Finances I give a -10. One reason I going back to work at 60 years old. Also my husband is not healthy so I need to feel more secure. Hopefully it will get better with me working. I still watch my two granddaughters so I hope it won’t be too much.
Spiritually I’m at a 8. I have been with the same church for 24 years. I am constantly learning and growing. I don’t know it I will ever make a 10 but I will strive to be the best I can be till I die.
Health wow I think I’m pretty healthy but I am over weight and have been since I had my first baby 30 years ago. I really need to get 50 lbs off. I have trouble keeping focused and on track. I’m and not on any pills, just take vitamins. So I give myself a 7.
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Family: My grown children, their spouses and children are awesome! We keep in touch by text and phone until we can get together in person, over distance. A 10!
Education: I just completed two Associate of Science degrees in my sixties! Got my certificate and am now working in my new field of Occupational Therapy Assistant. I keep studying to stay sharp. 10!
0 in Adventure, right now. Need to renew this!
Finances: 4. Digging my way out of huge, national economy-style setbacks. Big points for effort.
Spirituality: 10. Devote time and energies to cultivating this foremost, happily.
Health: 8. Lots to be grateful for, but, a bad time to get out of shape. Need to get back in the saddle!
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