If I asked an audience of 50 people to define “wellness,” I would have 50 different answers, yet there is a multi billion dollar wellness industry in the United States. Harvard University researchers did a deep dive into the literature to define wellness and, after many years, outlined the data in the Harvard Human Flourishing Project at Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science.
Many topics fundamental to well-being, such as happiness, character, virtue, meaning, and purpose, have traditionally been viewed as falling into the buckets of the humanities, philosophy, religion, or theology. However, a robust empirical body of literature has emerged in sociology, political science, economics, medicine, and public health.
Since 2016, the domains of wellness and human flourishing have been studied. The global research team outlined six domains of human flourishing, which outline vitality, health, and life success.
These domains are Happiness and Life Satisfaction, Mental and Physical Health, Meaning and Purpose, Character and Virtue, Close Social Relationships, and Material and Financial Stability. Each works gear-like and makes up the engine of human wellness and thriving. To operationalize each domain, researchers asked questions in each category.
In the Happiness and Life Satisfaction domain, the questions are:
1. Overall, how satisfied are you with life these days?
2. In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel?
In the Mental and Physical Health domain:
1. In general, how would you rate your physical health?
2. How would you rate your overall mental health?
In the Meaning and Purpose domain:
1. Overall, to what extent do you feel your actions are worthwhile?
2. I understand my purpose in life.
In the Character and Virtue domain:
1. I always act to promote good in all circumstances, even in challenging situations.
2. I can always give up some happiness now for greater happiness later.
In the Close Social Relationships domain:
1. I am content with my friendships and relationships.
2. My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be.
In the Financial and Material Stability domain:
1. How often do you worry about being able to meet regular monthly living expenses?
2. How often do you worry about safety, food, or housing?
One can learn how to increase one’s wellness and flourishing score by working toward a high-level answer to each question and answering honestly.
Discovering this Harvard Human Flourishing Study is a game changer for health, wellness, and happiness. The professional team I work with is well-versed in the optimal health model of human thriving. This data augments our work with profound depth, clarity, and intensity. The words and concepts utilized by the Human Flourishing Project are concrete, understandable, and user-friendly. If employed by parents, educators, medical professionals, business, and thought leaders, these concepts could increase wellness and the quality of life for all. Let us be committed to teaching these domains and skills to improve wellness and combat the crisis in mental health. joneen@narme.org