ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the psychologists’ models of ‘flourishing’ often bring in themes of personal fulfillment and additional aspects. Flourishing is said to come through the attainment of ‘intrinsic’ goals in those areas — ones that are self-chosen, personally attractive and optimally challenging. The aspect of flourishing wellbeing concerns a sense of personal development through progress towards goals that are somehow worthwhile and move one towards personal improvement. Flourishing wellbeing has sometimes been studied in terms of ‘thriving’. For many people, some flourishing themes can seem unconnected to their daily life. In addition to the conventionally studied hedonic wellbeing, flourishing is essential to happiness in its fullest sense. Questionnaires to measure flourishing wellbeing and its separate components have often been less than ideal, with items that are difficult to understand and possibly irrelevant to many individuals.
