How to Move from Languishing to Flourishing | Corey Keyes
Jan 21, 2025
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Corey Keyes, Professor emeritus at Emory University and an expert on mental health, dives deep into the concept of languishing—an emotional state between depression and flourishing. He shares insights from his book on recognizing the signs of languishing and the importance of relationships, purpose, and play in overcoming it. Keyes emphasizes the need for awareness around this mental health spectrum, urging listeners to take steps towards vitality and reconnect with joy in their lives.
Recognizing the state of languishing is crucial for addressing societal pressures and personal challenges affecting mental health well-being.
Finding purpose in daily life through small acts of kindness and play can significantly help individuals transition from languishing to flourishing.
Deep dives
Understanding Languishing
Languishing is described as a state of mental health that exists between flourishing and depression, often characterized by a sense of emptiness or a lack of vitality. It can manifest as feeling disengaged from activities and experiencing a disconnection from one's purpose in life. This feeling, which many people report without having a term for it, can be likened to going through the motions of daily life without truly living. Recognizing this state is essential, as it allows individuals to identify and address the myriad societal pressures and personal challenges contributing to this feeling.
The Role of Purpose and Connection
A major contributor to overcoming languishing is the understanding of purpose in daily life. Purpose does not need to be a grand, life-defining commitment but can instead be found in small, impactful actions aimed at helping others or contributing to one's community. Individuals are encouraged to seek meaning in their daily interactions, as fulfilling connections with others can significantly enhance their sense of well-being. By focusing on small acts of kindness or engagement in communal activities, one can reignite the spark of purpose that is crucial for mental health.
The Importance of Play
Play is essential for a fulfilling life, offering a respite from the stress and demands of adulthood. Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment can foster social connections, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment, all of which combat feelings of languishing. Many adults overlook the value of play, dismissing it as a trivial pursuit when, in reality, it can help restore joy and rejuvenate one's mental state. By integrating playful activities back into their lives, individuals can create opportunities for connection and personal satisfaction, enriching their overall experience.
Distinguishing Between Mental States
It's important to distinguish languishing from other mental health states such as burnout and depression. While languishing reflects a lack of positive feelings and fulfillment, depression involves active symptoms of distress and dysfunction. Burnout, on the other hand, often results from prolonged stress without sufficient support or agency and can lead to feelings of languishing. Understanding these differences can empower individuals to recognize their mental health needs and seek appropriate changes, carving a path toward flourishing rather than remaining stuck in a state of dissatisfaction.
Have you ever felt that gnawing sense of emptiness? That void inside you that desperately needs to be filled? You keep pushing forward, throwing yourself into activity after activity, but something still feels...off. You're going through the motions, but not truly feeling alive. If this resonates, you're not alone. Millions are experiencing this state of languishing - falling in that space between depression and flourishing.
My guest today, Corey Keyes, has devoted his life's work to understanding and overcoming this experience. Keyes' latest book, "Languishing: How To Feel Alive Again In A World That Wears Us Down," provides an insightful roadmap for recognizing when we've drifted into languishing and practical steps to reignite that spark of aliveness within us.
In this conversation, Keyes shares wisdom from decades of research, exploring the societal factors contributing to widespread languishing and the crucial role of warm relationships, play, purpose and transcendence in our journey back to flourishing.