"She flourished in her new job."

If there's one word that encapsulates much of the research surrounding happiness it would be flourish - to live within an optimal range of human functioning.

But what is that optimal range and can it be proven?

First, a good definition. Flourishing could be described as the human behavior in which a person "lives within an optimal range of human functioning, one that connotes goodness, generativity, growth, and resilience." Perhaps another way to look at it -- it's a person at the top of his or her emotional psychological or emotional "game."

In 2005 two researchers concluded that the optimal level of flourishing existed when the number of genuine positive emotions outpaced the number of negative emotions by a ratio of 3-to-1 (actually 2.9). They came to that conclusion after analyzing the daily reportings of about 200 people over a period of one month.

Interestingly, the researchers said that other studies indicate that only about 20 percent of the U.S. population are flourishing at any given time. The rest, they say, are "languishing."

Did they detect an upper limit? Researchers Frederickson and Losada believe inappropriate or non-genuine positive emotions disrupt this delicate balance of well-being. They also said that appropriate negative emotions are a critical ingredient within human flourishing.

In summary, the researchers said optimal human flourishing has four key components described earlier: goodness, generativity (meaning broad and flexible behavior), growth and resilience.

This is not to suggest that people who are flourishing don't face hardships, setbacks or personal defeats. Everybody faces problems and defeats at some point in their life. Those who flourish, however, have other resources at their disposal that others do not. It's those additional inner resources that can often make all the difference.

In other words, to be happy is to flourish.

Gene Pinder is the assistant director of an executive master's program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also the author of The Psychology of Satisfaction and Happiness, a blog focusing on the current science and research of well-being. A journalist and marketer by training, Gene is also an artist of original oils and acrylic paintings.

Source: www.isnare.com