Pursuing Flourishing: : Living a Life of Pleasure, Engagement or Meaning

Abstract: To be happy is an ultimate goal for most people, yet people may beunable to express what happiness really means. This study examinedthe relationship between three orientations to happiness as predictorsof flourishing and affectivity. A convenience sample of Swedishuniversity students (n = 355) answered a cross-sectional survey. Theorientations to engagement and meaning were stronger predictors offlourishing than was pleasure, despite that pleasure was the strongestpredictor of positive and negative affect. All three orientations arevalid pathways, but those who favor engagement and meaning aremore likely to flourish. In the pursuit of flourishing, a life of pleasuremight be inadequate. Interventions to facilitate flourishing throughthe orientations to engagement and meaning were discussed.