Are You Languishing?

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a pattern in ourselves and others that’s been hard to name. It’s not dramatic distress but it’s also not a feeling of wellness and vitality.

On April 22, 2021, the New York Times published an article by Adam Grant that put a name to the experience that many of us are having. The article is titled, “There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing.”

In it, Grant describes just what we’ve been experiencing and hearing from others, “it wasn’t burnout – we still had energy. It wasn’t depression – we didn’t feel hopeless. We just felt somewhat joyless and aimless.”

“It’s the void between depression
and flourishing– the absence of well-being.”

Many people blame themselves for this state and speak harshly to themselves about slacking off, letting things get to them, or not bucking up. In our experience, those approaches aren’t very helpful. No one we have ever met felt better because they berated themselves. Speak kindly to yourself as if you were speaking with someone you love.

This week, we’d like you to notice yourself and see if you’ve been living in that in-between zone described as languishing. You’re not feeling horribly distressed but not vital and alive either.

Take some time and think about the past 18 months:

• Where were you were headed before the pandemic?
• How did you respond early in the pandemic?
• What did it look like for you when you realized it was going to go on and on…and on? 
• How are you feeling now with the prospect of things opening back up?
• Where do you see yourself as you consider a life beyond the pandemic?

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to explore some suggestions on how to move from languishing to greater well-being. These will be bite-sized nuggets we’ve gathered over the years from us, from you, and from various research.

Let us know what you find most helpful on your journey. We care about your wellness!