Connect
What does Keyes blame for our eroding sense of trust and fairness in the world?
Income inequality --> As income equality grows so does trust and the idea that life is fair
What does Keyes describe as base camp?
Base camp --> a place of emotional stability and security where individuals may not yet be thriving or reaching their full potential but are achieving a basic level of functioning.
Can we gain purpose from helping or learning from others? How?
EX: yes you can. one classic way is by finding purpose in rearing your children.
What are some of the benefits of incorporating play into our modern lives?
EX: Lets you enjoy the little/mundane things
According to Keyes, how do "friends" differ from "friendships"?
"Friends" --> individuals with whom we have personal relationships with
"Friendships" --> deeper, ongoing connections that involve mutual trust, emotional support, and shared experiences
**Friendships depend on the level of intimacy, communication, and commitment invested in the relationship
What does it mean to "transcend" difficult life events? Can you provide a real-life example?
Transcendence --> the process of rising above life's inevitable challenges by accepting and embracing them. Emphasizes recognizing setbacks as a natural part of life and learning to grow from them rather than resisting them.
How can we steer our children towards finding a purpose?
EX: tell them to focus on passions rather than stressing grades and exams.
What are some ways you can incorporate play into your daily chores/activities?
EX: when you do the dishes, you listen to your favorite song
Why did Keyes claim young adults and older adults struggle to feel mattered? Do you agree with Keyes's point that young adults struggle to feel mattered?
Young adults --> no longer feel like the center of the universe (from when we were children)
Older adults --> have to find mattering beyond their work
How can self-compassion help when dealing with setbacks? How have you seen this in your personal life?
Self-compassion allows individuals to be kind and patient with them during difficult times, which fosters resilience.
Keyes emphasizes to accept others you must first learn to accept yourself.
Flourishing people have a higher disposition to apologize and have higher levels of self-compassion
How has purpose been eroded by modern institutions, workplaces and technology?
EX: the american dream falling apart has made it very difficult to find purpose when constantly dealing with financial instability.
Can modern passive leisure also help you flourish?
EX: yes it can, generally. an example is finding joy/purpose in cinema or in music
Is it possible to find flourishing through unconventional forms of community that sometimes involve illegal activities? (ex. Hell's Angels Gang affiliation)
Keyes emphasizes that membership in a community, of whatever sort, is a vital ingredient in the struggle for human dignity. While unconventional communities, even those involving illegal activities, can provide a sense of belonging and trust, they lack an individual's basic needs for safety and security by promoting risk and negative consequences, in turn diminishing well-being.
How do inflexible reactions differ from flexible reactions? Can you describe a recent unexpected event and explain how you may have reacted flexibly or inflexibly?
Flexible reaction --> adjustings one's behavior in the moment to cope effectively with an unexpected event
inflexible reaction --> characterized as a rigid mindset to resistance and change
How can we regain purpose after late stage life changes (empty nesting, leaving the job market, retirement)?
EX: finding a new passion. building a community for our elders.
Should we try to revert from passive leisure back to traditional active leisure?
EX: you can make the case for either. however, in a general sense, too much active leisure isn't great