Flourish

Now Dr. Martin Seligman, a founder of positive psychology and its leading proponent and practitioner, introduces a revolutionary concept of what happiness really is in his new book FLOURISH: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being (Free Press/April 5, 2011). In a fascinating evolution of thought, Seligman now believes that “well-being, not happiness, is the topic of positive psychology.” Well-being is a richer, more nuanced state in which we cultivate our talents, build deep, lasting relationships, feel pleasure, and contribute meaningfully to the world. In short—we flourish. While happiness remains a significant aspect of well-being, Dr. Seligman places special emphasis on meaning and purpose as the most important contributing factors.