What Is Flourishing?

A Concept of “Sustainable Happiness” Beyond Well-Being

In recent years, flourishing has gained attention as a next-stage concept of health and happiness that goes beyond well-being. While well-being often focuses on how an individual feels, flourishing looks at whether people and societies can sustain happiness and function well over time.

Flourishing is sometimes translated as sustainable happiness. Rooted in positive psychology, it describes a state in which multiple dimensions—physical health, psychological fulfillment, social connection, and a sense of purpose—are balanced and continuously supported.

What does flourishing really mean?

The concept was proposed by Martin Seligman, often called the father of positive psychology. Flourishing is considered both an extension of well-being and a framework for evaluating it.

In his book Flourish (Japanese edition: The Challenge of Positive Psychology: From “Happiness” to “Sustainable Happiness”), Seligman explains:

The central topic of positive psychology is well-being.
The standard for measuring well-being is flourishing, and the goal of positive psychology is to increase flourishing.

In other words, well-being is the condition, and flourishing is the sustained outcome.

Key Concepts Related to Health and Happiness

To better understand flourishing, it helps to look at how ideas of health and happiness have evolved.

What Is Health?

Traditionally, health referred mainly to physical health, with a focus on preventing illness and maintaining bodily function.

What Is Wellness?

The concept of wellness expanded health to include mental and emotional well-being, emphasizing balance between body and mind.

What Is Well-Being?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), well-being is:

“A state in which individuals and societies are able to thrive. It is a resource for everyday life and is shaped by social, economic, and environmental conditions.”

Well-being recognizes that health is influenced by factors beyond the individual.

What Is Flourishing?

Flourishing refers to sustainable happiness. It is a state in which:

• Physical health
• Psychological well-being
• Social relationships
• Purpose and meaning

are harmonized and supported by society, culture, and systems.

While well-being focuses primarily on individual fulfillment, flourishing includes social, cultural, and institutional environments. In simple terms:

• Well-being = individual happiness
• Flourishing = shared happiness between people and society

How Well-Being Leads to Flourishing

Seligman’s Well-Being Theory explains well-being through the PERMA model, which consists of five core elements:

What Is the PERMA Model?

• P – Positive Emotion
  Experiencing emotions such as joy, gratitude, hope, and contentment.
• E – Engagement
  Being deeply absorbed in meaningful activities.
• R – Relationships
  Building positive, trusting relationships with family, friends, and community.
• M – Meaning
  Feeling that one’s life and actions have purpose and significance.
• A – Achievement (or Accomplishment)
  Working toward and reaching goals.

According to Seligman, well-being increases when these five elements are cultivated.
When well-being is not only achieved but also maintained and supported by society, the result is flourishing.

Why Flourishing Matters Today

Flourishing offers a broader perspective on health and happiness—one that goes beyond short-term satisfaction. It encourages individuals, communities, and systems to think about long-term resilience, purpose, and shared prosperity.

Reframing health and happiness through the lens of flourishing can serve as an opportunity to reconsider how we live, work, and support one another in a sustainable way.

References

1) Flourishing Education Japan (NPO): Achieving Sustainable Happiness Through Positive Psychology
　 http://strengths-tree.com/posiedu_flourish
2) Y. Kobayashi: What Makes People Flourish? Findings From a Large-Scale Global Survey
https://xenospectrum.com/what-makes-people-flourish-a-new-survey-of-more-than-200000-people-across-22-countries-looks-for-global-patterns-and-local-differences/#google_vignette
3) Toshiyuki Uneyama: What Flourishing Research Reveals About True Prosperity
https://newspicks.com/news/14338770/body/