Flourishing
In positive psychology, flourishing is a state of high wellbeing in which you both feel good and function well — explicitly more than simply not being unwell.
Full definition of Flourishing →:: COMPARE ::
FlourishingvsHappiness
The short answer
Happiness is a feeling and can be had on a good afternoon. Flourishing is a condition of a life — feeling good and functioning well, across meaning, relationships, competence and engagement. You can be happy today without flourishing, and flourishing through a difficult week.
Side by side
| Aspect | Flourishing | Happiness |
|---|---|---|
| Is | A way of living | A feeling |
| Includes | Functioning | Mood |
| Timescale | Sustained | Momentary |
| Measured by | Multi-part scales | Self-report mood |
What each one means
Happiness
The contrast above sets out how Happiness differs from Flourishing on the points that actually matter.