This episode is the sixth in a six-part series in which I take you through six different pathways to happiness, to human flourishing, and with each one I provide you with tools that you can use. This is all based on the current research through a framework called PERMA-V. In today’s episode I teach you all about the V – Vitality – and every other week, when I do a solo episode, I be discuss another one of the 6 pathways. After you listen to each episode, I hope you’ll practice the tools I’m providing so you can apply this to your own life.

Here’s a bit of background to help put all of this in context. In the first episode in this series (Episode 30) I discussed a bit of the history of psychology in the twentieth century and the birth of the field of positive psychology, which stemmed from the recognition that we needed to focus on and learn more about wellness, and not just illness. A key idea in positive psychology is that the absence of illness is not wellness. Just because you don’t have diabetes or cancer doesn’t mean you’re healthy, and just because you haven’t been diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder doesn’t mean you’re thriving and flourishing. Positive psychology started developing the understanding that, more than the surface happiness, which, while it’s pleasurable, is more fleeting, we should be learning to cultivate a deeper, more fulfilling happiness. I addressed the concept of the hedonic treadmill as part of the reason why the search for more money and a better job doesn’t lead to true, deep, lasting happiness, and what Aristotle called “eudaimonia,” or wellbeing and flourishing.

The field of positive psychology has been studying what it takes to really cultivate our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others, and a recent theory has laid out 6 pathways to flourishing: PERMA-V.

• Positivity
• Engagement
• Relationships
• Meaning and Purpose
• Accomplishment and Achievement
• Vitality

In today’s episode I discuss Vitality. As women we are too often critical of our bodies. We criticize our gray hairs or our wrinkles or our belly fat. Instead, we need to shift our relationship with our bodies and appreciate all the amazing things it does. Can your body walk, run, and swim? Can it hike? Can it hug a loved one? Can it kiss and can it make love? Can it wander around a farmer’s market or a cute new neighborhood? Can it pick up a child or a grandchild? Our bodies are doing amazing things all the time, and we need to recognize and appreciate it instead of tear it down.

I discuss the importance of embracing and nurturing our need for sensuality, and I talk about our fixation with our weight and how we can shift our focus to having a healthy body instead of a thin body. I also address our need for adequate movement and sleep in order for our bodies to thrive.

In this episode I announce the the next running of my signature group coaching program, EMPOWERED! To learn more about it and to grab your spot (it's only open to ten women), go to http://purposegirl.com/empowered.

With this episode we’ve introduced a new feature: Voicemail! I would love to hear your feedback, your thoughts, your comments on The PurposeGirl Podcast. Please go to purposegirl.com/voicemail to leave a voice message for me, and I’ll be including some of them in my next Q & A episode! Tell me what you love about the show, what else you’d like me to cover, and what’s going on in your life!

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May you live purposefully, may you love yourself, and may you love life.

Bye for now!