"Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down" by Corey Keyes
Mar 29, 2024
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Corey Keyes, mental health expert, discusses the concept of languishing, its impact on mental health, and how to move from languishing to flourishing by focusing on purpose, personal growth, positive relationships, and societal contributions.
Recognizing languishing involves lacking elements of flourishing and functioning well, leading to increased mental health risks.
Connecting feeling happy with functioning well is essential for combating languishing and progressing towards well-being.
Deep dives
Understanding Languishing and Its Effects
Languishing, as detailed by Corey Keys, is described as a state of feeling 'meh' or 'blah', characterized by a lack of connection to a community, a sense of not contributing meaningfully to the world, dissatisfaction with one's personality, absence of warm relationships, and a feeling of directionless life. To be diagnosed as languishing, one needs to lack at least seven out of 14 signs of flourishing, with a deficit of feeling happy or satisfied with life and six deficits in functioning well. This condition, akin to feeling 'dying inside', significantly increases the risk of various issues like depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, self-harm, addiction, and premature death.
Promoting Flourishing through Five Vital Activities
Corey Keys emphasizes the importance of recognizing the link between feeling good (happiness) and functioning well for true flourishing. This connection is crucial as individuals who feel happy but lack a sense of purpose, belonging, personal growth, and other aspects of functioning well are at a higher risk of depression. Keys presents 'the five vitamins for flourishing' - engaging in helping behaviors, learning something new, socializing, playing, and participating in spiritual or religious activities - as key activities that can help individuals combat languishing and move towards flourishing. By undertaking these activities, individuals struggling with languishing or depression can gradually progress towards a state of well-being and fulfillment.