What is Thriving? – Season 2 Wrap Up with Dr. Pam King

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• Thriving is a relational journey that involves being deeply connected to others and the community.
• The importance of a "true north" and discerning what is most sacred to orient one's life.
• Understanding thriving as accepting a truer story of yourself, others, and the world.
• Engaging in mindset and behavior changes for flourishing, with self-compassion.
• Thriving as having resources built up in various domains (personal, family, social) to buffer from crisis.
• The concept of thriving begins with the love of God and love of neighbor.
• The alignment of purpose and practice is central to thriving, regardless of changes over time.
• Recognizing ourselves as "God's masterpiece" and finding joy and contentment in that.
• Thriving as a dynamic, meaningful engagement in purposeful living, adapting to changing contexts.
• The idea that one can be struggling or even mentally ill and still be thriving is a "both/and" process.
• Thriving as an internal state and relational reality marked by an open heart and meaningful relationships, even on a stressful day.
• The journey of thriving involves self-discovery and healing, acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses.
• Being "habituated to doing good" and demonstrating one's "best self" in relationships.

Dr. Pam King’s Key Takeaways

• Thriving is relational and happens when we are deeply connected to other people, whether that be through our intimate relationships or our broader community.
• Thriving involves telling a truer story about life, that there is both beauty and brokenness.
• Thriving involves understanding who we are as God's masterpieces, that we all have strengths, and we all can thrive and find life in our weaknesses.
• Thriving involves discovering and pursuing what gets you up in the morning – your true north, what is most sacred to you.
• Thriving involves self-discovery and healing, which might mean being softer with ourselves so that we can find internal ease.

About the Thrive Center

• Learn more at thethrivecenter.org.
• Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenter
• Follow us on X @thrivecenter
• Follow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter

About Dr. Pam King

Dr. Pam King is Executive Director the Thrive Center and is Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.  Follow her @drpamking.

About With & For

• Host: Pam King
• Senior Director and Producer: Jill Westbrook
• Operations Manager: Lauren Kim
• Social Media Graphic Designer: Wren Juergensen
• Consulting Producer: Evan Rosa

Special thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and the Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.