Just like muscle groups, or areas of fitness, these areas of wellbeing can be tested, targeted and developed through the practice of ongoing ‘Positive Interventions’ (Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009). Created by wellbeing practitioners and researchers around the globe, these include exercises like keeping a gratitude journal, breaking the grip on rumination, developing your strengths, finding meaning in small tasks and overcoming self-doubt. There are more than 200 (and growing) positive interventions you can try.
But just how much change should you expect? Researchers suggest (Diener & Biswas-Deiner, 2011) that just like we each have an optimal body weight range that can be maintained by eating well and exercising, this may also be true for our wellbeing. This means that feeling good and functioning effectively will look a little different for each of us, so our focus should be on finding small, consistent actions that enable us to live at the optimal end of our own wellbeing range.
This is why when it comes to cultivating and maintaining your wellbeing; it’s best to think of it as journey rather than a destination. Your ability to feel good and function effectively will ebb and flow over time depending on what’s happening at work and in your life. Rather than aiming for one perfect score consistently, the goal is to become an informed and active participant in shaping your wellbeing as you navigate the highs and lows we all experience.
Finally, remember that there will be times in your life when expecting yourself to flourish would not be a healthy goal. For example, when you’re grieving or navigating a serious illness what you may need most is the permission to just ‘mindfully function’, to get by using what you’ve learnt about maintaining your wellbeing to gently care for yourself during this time.
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