Flourishing as Practice: An Inclusive Model of Self, Interdependence, and Sustainability

Flourishing is centered in ancient and Indigenous traditions yet has only recently drawn the attention of Western researchers of happiness and well-being. We take flourishing at its core to be an activity of a certain sort – an embodied practice, an intentional, skillful way of living inextricably interdependent with the land and other living beings. Based on our current research and teaching of The Art and Science of Human Flourishing – a course developed through a collaboration of researchers at Penn State University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Wisconsin's Center for Healthy Minds ¬ we argue that this insight into flourishing gleaned from various traditions could feasibly be foregrounded in advancing research, education, and inner transformation initiatives.

We also argue that central to understanding flourishing is seeing the self as a dynamically embodied, interdependent activity in the world rather than a reified locus or substance. Instead of defending one "theoretical" view of self, we adopt an inclusive, “lateral” approach, here focusing on the Buddhist Mahayana tradition and Enactivism. Each emphasizes interdependence, activity, and nature. This insight into the self and thereby the core dimension of flourishing would radically alter our relation to the “outer” and prepare us to support the sustainability and flourishing of all living beings.