I picked up a dog-eared 2011 copy of Flourish for $2 at my local library book sale this week (plus a 1,500-piece puzzle for the family to work on over the holidays).
The book has bent corners. Underlines. Someone else’s notes tucked into the margins.
I expected it to feel dated. It didn’t.
It feels uncomfortably current. Because as I closed the book, it made me think of something.
Why can things be going so well and still not feel as alive as they should?
Seligman writes that flourishing comes from tending five parts of life:
Joy.
Engagement.
Relationships.
Meaning.
Accomplishment.
When I checked in with myself, the pattern was obvious.
I overfeed accomplishment and focus. I quietly underfeed joy and connection. It’s the classic high-performer imbalance.
Schitts Creek Comedy GIF by CBC
My Small Course Correction
Instead of squeezing in one more task last week, I went for hot chocolate with a friend.
No agenda. No productivity angle.
Just conversation and laughter.
I came home lighter than I’d felt in weeks.
It reminded me:
Flourishing grows through small choices, not massive reinventions.
This Week, Try This
If any part of this resonates, here are a few simple actions that actually move the needle.
Choose the area that feels most underfed right now and do just one thing to nourish it:
Joy → Schedule something purely enjoyable (no improvement required).
Engagement → Block uninterrupted time for work that puts you in flow.
Relationships → Reach out to someone you miss (don’t wait for a reason).
Meaning → Pause and reconnect with who your work truly serves.
Accomplishment → Finish one meaningful task you’ve been avoiding and let yourself fully close the loop.
No overhaul needed. Just a gentle rebalance.
I closed that $2 book with a new question for myself:
Not, “How much did I get done?”
But,
“Did I feed the parts of my life that help me feel fully alive?”
So, here’s a question for you:
“Which area do you think you’ve been under-feeding lately?”
Hit reply and tell me. I’d love to hear what you’re choosing to nourish this week.
I encourage you to find the courage to be bitched about.
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