Final Blooms
Maya Angelou – “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
After reading Angelou’s comment, I often ask myself if I’m thriving or just surviving. It would be easy to sit back and say I’ve done enough, but that wouldn’t help me flourish. Yet, it takes work to thrive, and that requires willpower. I have to challenge my brain and stay engaged with my family and community. It means continuing to read, question, write, paint, exercise, and help those younger than me achieve their goals. It sounds like a lot, but without young children at home, I have a lot of time to fill with engaging activities if I stay away from the TV.
Anyway–what is enough? When does the responsibility to improve myself end? A friend recently advised me to relax and let others save society. It was strange advice coming from him, for he is a doer. In many countries, elders are respected for their experience and perspective and expected to contribute. People seek them out. American youth tend to ignore their parent’s wisdom, though surprisingly enough, the electorate has been voting in seniors.
Living on past laurels isn’t enough to prepare for a future that changes daily. To do that, you have to stay abreast of music trends, language usage, political and social swings, and fashion. Being able to adapt to changes in society is the only way I know to live with gusto. Navigating through a technical world peppered with eight billion inhabitants created a lot of problems for society, but it also brought opportunities for alert people to mine. One approach is to look at each day as a blank page to be filled with scribbles, words, and thoughts of what comes next.
Psychologist and educator Dr. Ryan Niemiec, writes of seven attributes research indicates are needed to thrive. At the top of his list is to have hopeful expectations of the future. A positive perspective and an optimistic attitude help you cope with stress and adversity and encourage you to stick with tasks rather than quitting or avoiding them. Positivity also requires you to look at yourself and your environment honestly so you move forward authentically.
A proactive personality includes an internal desire to seek out opportunities and be challenged. Those engaging in purposeful career decision-making are more likely to thrive than those who let chance lead the way. Proactively pursuing projects adds zest to life, making you want to get up in the morning. Strengths gained by being proactive are bravery and perservence.
Motivation to grow comes from following your naturally occurring strengths, talents, and interests. They provide the impetus for learning and growth. Curiosity, the love of learning, and developing new skills are central sources of motivation and a source of motivation in work and play.
Commitment to learning is an important element of thriving across all socio-economic groups and ages. Many research studies show that academic and vocational education increases creativity, perspective, appreciation for excellence, and the love of learning.
Psychological resilience is the ability to overcome, rise up, and benefit from struggles. To thrive and survive adversity, it’s necessary to be flexible and adaptable. Perseverance is needed to overcome obstacles and setbacks that get in the way. Strengths gained from resilience are gratitude, forgiveness, curiosity, and kindness.
Social Competence, being able to connect with others matters. Resolving conflicts peacefully, being appreciative of other cultures, and developing interpersonal skills enable you to benefit from social support. Social intelligence is the tool that lets you assess people and situations, enabling you to respond appropriately. Having leads to justice-oriented strengths of compassion, leadership, fairness, and teamwork.
Religiosity or spirituality is a connection to the universe in a meaningful way that may or may not include formal religion. It can involve spending time in nature, reflecting on the universe, meditating, or praying. Being connected in a spiritual community opens the door to gratitude, a value that increases thriving.
To thrive well isn’t much different for twenty-year-olds than it is for those over seventy. Powering up to have a purpose no matter your age will charge your internal engine. Everything you do to develop skills and challenge yourself adds to the uniqueness of who you are. It helps to be surrounded by people who give you energy. An active social life that supports healthy behaviors turns boredom and drudgery into fun. So, why not throw away bad habits and do what you can to thrive? The alternative is a drag.
What do you think? Please comment on my blog site at www.eichingerfineart.com/blog
Art is always for sale. Final Blooms is an acrylic on eep dcanvas 26″ x 12 ” painting, available for $ 395. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com
References:
Niemiec, R. Psy.D..(2019)m (You Need These 7 Things to Thrive.VIA Institute of Character. retrieved from https://www.viacharacter.org/topics/articles/you-need-these-7-things-to-thrive-research-says
Bachel, B. (2021)Aging with Gusto. Retirement Wisdom. retrieved from https://www.retirementwisdom.com/aging-with-gusto/
