In this episode of the Flourish Feed Podcast, Gillian Stovel Rivers interviews Dr. Jon Beale, a researcher and expert in human flourishing. They discuss the importance of measuring flourishing through various metrics, including the Secure Flourish Measure developed at Harvard. The conversation explores the relationship between wealth and flourishing, the significance of flow states, and the impact of purpose-driven versus achievement-driven lives. They also delve into the role of suffering in personal growth, the importance of building a family culture around flourishing, and actionable steps to create moments of bliss in daily life. 

Sources

• Tyler VanderWeele On the promotion of human flourishing (2017)
• Jon Beale How to Flourish: The 8 Pillars of a Flourishing Life (2025)
• Beale, Mannino, Kotler Human Flourishing and Flow: Flourishing Network Sept '22 meeting
• Waldinger and Shulz The Good Life and How To Live It (2023)
• Kasley Killam The Art and Science of Social Connection (2024)
• Bree Groff Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) (2025)

Takeaways
☀️Flourishing encompasses whole-person well-being, including happiness, health, and social relationships.
🌱Flow states are crucial for optimal performance and well-being.
☀️The Secure Flourish Measure includes multiple domains of life to assess flourishing.
🌱Financial stability is essential for long-term flourishing.
☀️Purpose-driven lives lead to greater fulfillment than achievement-driven lives.
🌱Suffering can be a pathway to growth and resilience.
☀️Building relationships is the greatest predictor of long-term happiness.
🌱Gratitude practices can significantly enhance well-being.
☀️Investing in social health is as important as physical health.
🌱Creating moments of bliss can improve overall life satisfaction.

Quotes

• “Money is always a means, never an end. People forget this and keep pursuing it at significant cost to relationships, health, meaning, and fulfillment — areas they’d admit matter more. The real question is: when will you use wealth to build what you’ve been neglecting?” 
• “Research ranks uses of money by happiness: bottom is buying things; then buying experiences; then buying yourself time; then giving to others; and, at the top, saving. Saving doesn’t mean hoarding — it buys freedom, options, and peace of mind.” 
• “Many people say, ‘I’ll invest in relationships, health, and meaning when I retire.’ Decades pass. Meanwhile, money — the means — gets treated as the end. The opportunity cost is enormous: the very areas that most improve life are left unfunded.” 
• “Donating to meaningful causes boosts positive emotions, self-esteem, and connection. There’s a multiplier: your well-being rises as others benefit. It’s one of the most effective uses of money for happiness — far better than buying more stuff.” 
• “Flourishing is a long-term way of being. You don’t ‘flourish for a week.’ Think in decades

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