Journal Article

How Are You Doing, Really? Personal Project Pursuit and Human Flourishing

Little, Brian R.

2020

Overview

What is the nature of human flourishing? I selectively review a 4-decade research program on how flourishing comprises the sustainable pursuit of core personal projects in our lives. Personal projects are extended sets of personally salient action in context. They are the pivotal concepts in a social ecological model in which stable and dynamic features of both persons and contexts are consequential for the quality of lives. By focusing on personal projects, we uncover the nature of well-doing, or felicitous action. Among the factors that promote well-doing are engaging in project pursuits that are meaningful, manageable, connected with others and which generate positive, relative to negative affect. Particular attention is given to core projects, the pursuit of which makes life worth living. Public Significance Statement There are few questions more vital to the public interest than understanding the factors that promote human flourishing. This article provides a review of a perspective on flourishing that explores its diverse sources. It concludes that the personal projects we pursue in our daily lives are critical to understanding the quality of lives. By exploring the content, appraisal, dynamics, and impact of personal project pursuit, we are able to explain and enhance well-doing, which lies at the core of flourishing. Quelle est la nature de l'épanouissement humain? J'examine de façon sélective un programme de recherche s'étalant sur quatre décennies sur la façon dont l'épanouissement passe par la poursuite durable de projets personnels essentiels dans notre vie. Les projets personnels sont des ensembles étendus d'actions personnelles saillantes dans leur contexte. Ce sont les concepts essentiels d'un modèle écologique social dans lequel les caractéristiques stables et dynamiques des personnes et des contextes ont des conséquences sur la qualité de vie. En mettant l'accent sur les projets personnels, nous découvrons la nature de bonnes actions ou d'actions heureuses. Parmi les facteurs qui favorisent les bonnes actions, on retrouve des occasions de projet significatives, gérables, liées aux autres et qui génèrent un effet positif contrairement à un effet négatif. Une attention particulière est accordée aux projets essentiels, dont la poursuite rend la vie digne d'être vécue.

• Publisher: Educational Publishing Foundation,Canadian Psychological Association
• Subject: Ecological studies / Ecology / Flourishing / Human / Influence / Meaningfulness / Negative emotions / Personality / Personality Traits / Positive Emotions / Quality of life / Social Ecology / Well Being
• ISBN: 1433893649, 9781433893643