I always wondered why the definition of “happiness” always revolved around money and achievements, as if a normal person living a perfectly balanced life couldn’t be happy or satisfied.
The society’s equation – Success + Achievement = Happiness/Fulfillment is a very harsh stereotype that leads to extreme dissatisfaction in many cases.
True fulfillment can be achieved when a person stops chasing external results and material things in life and cultivates a state of flourishing
Here at UEF, flourishing meaning is an “Inside Out” process, deeply rooted in our deepest human longings, Love, Learn, and Play (LLP).
“Life satisfaction”
When you think of this phrase, what comes to mind?
Calm, warmth, happiness, etc?
That exact state of satisfaction is what we at UEF call flourishing, thriving, prospering, or being in a state of vibrant growth and personal development. This has been derived from the Latin word ‘florere’, which was used to describe the blooming of a flower. Flourishing in our context is an extremely emotional state of growing and learning about yourself from within, and being satisfied with your learning.
True success is enduring competence and growth, which is fueled directly by the LLP framework.
Love:
Love, in my opinion, is a strong emotion that everyone longs for and must experience in their life. Love isn’t only romantic; it lives in friendships, family bonds, laughter, and shared understanding. Cultivating deep, close, and supportive connections helps in building a person’s character and mindset. Individual well-being blossoms through community action; flourishing requires us to work together.
Learn:
A person must always be a passionate learner. As the quote goes – ‘ I am a student of life, for life’
It mainly means that life teaches you things that sitting in 4 closed walls isn’t going to teach. Of course, technical knowledge is important in life, but social experiences, hardships, and interactions help you grow as a person. An individual must keep learning from such instances and must not have an ‘I-know-it-all’ mindset.
Play:
This component doesn’t require an explanation. It isn't just leisure; it's deep engagement and flow. A playful mindset transforms into exciting puzzles that help it to complete it with great ease. When an activity is fun, your attention span increases, which directly helps in solving problems better and persevering longer. This state of “flow” is what allows us to produce high-quality results without feeling drained.
Flourishing starts when we realise the aspects of life we lack and try to improve them while finding meaning and joy in every single instant of life…
The simple, profound truth offered by UEF is that: stop chasing conventional success and fragile happiness; instead, shift your focus from the external scorecards to your inner compass.
Don’t worry about what the world expects from you, and start building your core by using the Love, Learn, and Play method. This “Inside Out” approach recognizes that true well-being cannot be achieved alone but requires a whole society. By honoring your deepest longings, you lay the foundation for a life that is meaningful and resilient.
When you start being consistent with this pattern, external success will lose its meaning in life, and internal happiness will become your priority.
So, what is the one small step you can take today to prioritize your longing to Love, Learn, or Play?
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