FLS Classic Articles - Flourishing Life Society

Flourishing Life Society

FLS Classics

Flourishing Life Society:

Beginning in 2010, I began my research on wellness. I spent several months contemplating the name for a Facebook group to post findings and motivational thoughts. By 2011, I began a web page under the same title. I moved the page to a new server a few years later, losing many of the first articles.

Over the years, my research has refocused. My early writings were more philosophical than theory backed research. Some early articles I love, others I don't. I rotate the classic selections regularly. Enjoy your wellness journey!

A sampling of early FLS postings:

A Flourishing Life Article link. A Quiet Life of Desperation

Intimacy requires more than attraction. Intimacy is the crowning reward to dedicated attention to the person we love.

Dreams catapult us into productive futures; but only when those dreams are realistic. When they are not, we fail.

Dependence gets a bad rap. Healthy connections are built with interdependence on each other; the security is founded in trust.

Instead of lying, do what is right. By establishing a habit of openness, we not only build trust but we are motivated to not screw up.

Link: The Need to Please. The choice between self and others is the basic human dilemma. There is no final answer, finding balance requires constant appraisal and adjustments.

Internal Link: The Sole Cause of Our Sorrow

Shortcuts to happiness may escape pain; but the temporary relief often has a high cost of long-term trouble.

some emotions overtake are ability to react appropriately, interfering with goals.

When we expertly greet our child's emotions with empathy, acceptance and reciprocation, the child develops a positive relationship with their own feelings--a major contribution to healthy living.

When life overwhelms and our efforts fall flat, we sometimes learn to not fight, and quietly suffer.

Our thoughts propel us into fruitful and prepared futures, but they also can haunt our peaceful moments with worry and guilt. By mindful attentiveness to the nature of our thoughts we can gain the benefits and limit the harm.

FLS Link. Ten Signs to leave a person after a few dates.

FLS internal Link. Abandonment or Engulfment: Partners will inevitably face a mismatch in attachment styles. The difference doesn't matter as much as how the couple approaches and works through the difference.

Internal Link. Building Love: Love is created not found. We naturally are attracted; but from attraction we build lasting love.

We are either growing or decaying. We don't remain idle.

The instant attachment, finding a soul mate, sounds like a fairy tale; but often is laced with hidden problems. Take it slow.

Flourishing Life Society Link. Memory: Memories aren't perfect. They form to fit our beliefs, limiting learning and encouraging justifications.

Drawing wisdom from Experience

Intimate communication. A flourishing life Society article link

FLS Link. Entangled relationships

Love at first sight is a fairy tale. The first look may knock our socks off; But real love takes work.

FLS Links. Personal Preferences. Dislike without disrespect

A Flourishing Life Society Link. Relationship Anxiety

We create our legacy throughout the never-ending flow of small moments. Those who neglect important relationships, failing to contribute to the kindness, experience a hardening of the heart and loneliness.

Avoidance relieves stress in the moment; but habitual running carries a high price, impacting futures, and limiting growth.

Emotions are a significant aspect of living, giving meaning to experience; but strong emotions can misdirect action, destroying futures, and limiting opportunity.

Link: The impulsive demand to enjoy now and worry about the future later extracts a toll on our lives. We must learn to enjoy the present in a manner that doesn't damage the future.

Loving someone includes respect; respect of their space, privacy, and freedom. Sometimes loving requires painful good-byes

Life is complex, not easily described in words. True wisdom comes from accepting the messiness in the unknowable world.

Past memories influence emotions and emotions motivate action. Learning the connections helps us identify when pasts and emotions are interfering with desired futures.

Link: Our capitalistic society drives a digging sense that we are not sufficient; we need more. We can grow without the gnawing pain of being incomplete. We fight this with gratitude.

We can't force emotions to comply with our demands. We must take a subtle approach.

Sometimes careful scrutiny of failures and setbacks gives wisdom, other times nothing. We must take what we can, gather strength and move forward, accepting life for what it is.

The physical biology of the brain builds memories and habits into the connections that are resistant to change. We, however, can change the firing, abandoning unhealthy patterns for new ways of life.

Relationships, when healthy, provide a connection. We share emotions with respect and support. This vulnerability is the putty from which trust is shaped, formed and hardened.

Relationships are complicated and can't be forced. Many fear connection.

True communication proceeds from the heart; not the mouth.

Internal Link. Refuse to give up on Love- The hurt of broken love lingers, creating new difficulties and interfering protections. We can overcome these barriers and love again.