About Flourishing
One of the key aims of a democratic government is to promote the good life: a flourishing society, where citizens are happy, healthy, capable and engaged - in other words with high levels of wellbeing.
Wellbeing means more than just happiness. As well as feeling satisfied and happy, wellbeing means developing as a person, being fulfilled and making a contribution to the community.
Over the last century or more, the focus on mental health in society has been on mental disorders, and either treating or preventing them. So much so that most people think about mental health only as a problem or something negative.
There are also many more stressors on mental health today generally relating to increased pace and complexity of life.
Flourishing is a measure of mental health that has been developed within the last decade and can be used to determine the level of positive mental health in populations. When someone is flourishing they experience, most of the time, positive emotions, positive interest and engagement with world around them, and meaning and purpose in their lives.
Evidence suggests that people who are flourishing are less at risk of physical and mental health problems and have better social relationships.
Flourishing is about focusing on the good things in life. It’s about the things we aspire to, both as individuals and as members of a wider community.
In Aotearoa/New Zealand we believe –
- EveryBODY has the right to participate and flourish in their community.
- EveryBODY can contribute towards creating a flourishing community.
- EveryBODY has the potential to feel good and function well.
How can we flourish?
Think about how you, your family, friends and community might flourish. Key areas to focus on are positive emotions, engagement & interest, and meaning and purpose. You are also encouraged to start sharing your thoughts about flourishing online using blogs, Facebook and Twitter.
