How do we determine whether our life is going well? Whether we're happy and fulfilled vs. merely going through the paces? Whether we're growing and developing as a person vs. merely more of the same old, same old? In short, when the alarm goes off in the morning does the prospect of a new day cause us to be filled with excited anticipation and a sense of being actively engaged? Or do we wish we could bury ourselves beneath the blankets and put off our daily routine for as long as possible?

"Flourishing" is a term long-used by philosophers to describe a state of ongoing positive engagement with life. When a person is flourishing, she is not only interested and participating, but also widening and expanding her range and her scope. Most of us are familiar with the concept of flourishing as it relates to our plants and gardens. A flourishing tree sports many new branches, many new twigs, and many shiny new leaves. The bark of a flourishing tree has deeper and richer shades of brown. The greens of such a tree's leaves are moister and wetter, reflecting the aqua tones of the rivers, streams, and sky. All the flourishing tree's semi-moving parts are joyously turned toward the sun.

A flourishing human being expresses many similar phenomena. When describing the characteristics of well-balanced individuals, psychologists and sociologists have historically used the term "happiness." But "being happy" seems a fairly passive state of affairs. It's certainly good to be happy, but what's being referred to is more of an emotional, subjective state of being. You're happy in response to a circumstance or series of events. In contrast, when you're flourishing, you're actively taking part. You are the initiator rather than the responder. You're in the driver's seat. You get to say how things are going to go.

So how do you achieve a state of flourishing? Yes, most of us know a huge part of it happens in our thoughts, meaning we’re fighting to maintain a positive, hopeful outlook so we’re not sidelined by discouragement or despair. But what we may not know is that our minds can’t flourish unless we care for our bodies in a way that supports the brain’s ability to function. And that means giving our body the whole food nutrients it needs for not just physical vigor and abundance, but mental clarity and emotional stability we need to remain strong.

If we return to the tree analogy above, can that tree flourish if it doesn’t have an adequate water source to draw from? Can it remain vibrant if it doesn’t enjoy the life-sustaining rays of the sun? Without the sustenance provided through these sources, all the rich shades of brown in the bark would turn gray. All the healthy, glistening leaves would shrivel up and disappear. The tree would be left withered, brittle, and lifeless—a mere shadow of what it might have been.

The same thing is true for our lives. We want to live, rather than merely exist. To do that, we need to proactively replenish, reinvigorate, and revivify ourselves every single day. And a big part of that involves rich, abundant nutrition. It also involves getting enough water, sleep, exercise, and fresh air. If we truly give our body what it needs to function well, we—like that healthy, resilient tree—will flourish in a way we never even dreamed was possible.