Flourish

“If we could choose, we’d always want to be in flow and thriving, but that’s not realistic. Growth has levels, and learning how to navigate them is important.”

Jay Shetty

As I’m writing this on my back porch, enjoying the 24 degree weather (just under a temperature that I would usually begin to melt under), I consider the respite that I feel from entering summer break.

The past two weeks of my life have been a series of exams, papers, and presentations, one after the other, and I found myself struggling at times to stay consistent with my ability to concentrate on some of my assignments. Typically, I tend to slip into a “flow” state somewhat easily when doing schoolwork— I find the intellectual tasks to be rather entertaining. I often have friends, however, who ask me how I manage to maintain my work ethic. My answer is always about my discovery of PERMA.

Part of my love for positive psychology and wellbeing is due to just how much of an impact it has made on my life; part of the aim of the field is to achieve flourishing. So many of my habits and patterns of thinking began to make sense as I learned more about aspects of the PERMA model, a fundamental element to reach flourishing. Wanting to focus on widespread adolescent stress, I compiled several studies to create an accessible and interactive wordpress website to educate others about some rather simple measures that they can take to improve their wellbeing and lower their stress. The connection with nature that I mention on the website is sort of the “secret” to the re-fueling of intrinsic motivation that I tell my friends.

The benefits from the resources we often overlook in our daily lives are unbelievable, and I encourage you all to share this website with anyone regardless of their age to help maintain their drive. My focus after a walk outside is always significantly stronger. Just these small moments out in nature and, in a sense, the same break I get from summer, I get during the school year, too.