We need more flourishing individuals in the world. The more people build their lives up so that they are thriving in every domain, the more society will begin to reflect the change that’s occurring in the hearts of the people. As a result, we all have a role to play in making the world a better place. But you may wonder how you can start that process in your own life. 

It’s very simple. In fact, there are 6 proven characteristics that flourishing people exhibit. And the best part is that if you don’t have these traits yet, they can be developed within you over time. Keep reading to learn the 6 character traits of those who flourish. 

1. Authenticity

Authenticity is all about simply being real. Now, one thing to note about many people’s perception of authenticity is that they tend to swing from one extreme to the next. For example, we have all been guilty of putting on a fake smile when someone asks us how we’re doing simply because we don’t want to go into the details of our current emotions.

Fair enough. But then, there’s the other side where people will dump all of their emotional baggage on you when asked the same question. The idea is to find the middle ground. The spot where you’re being authentic while at the same time not over exaggerating or underplaying the things that are taking place in your life. 

2. Agency

Agency is the sense of control that you feel in your life. It’s your capacity to influence your own thoughts and behavior, and have faith in your ability to handle a wide range of tasks and situations. Your sense of agency helps you to be psychologically stable yet flexible in the face of conflict or change. Here’s the thing. There are many variables in life that you can’t control.

However, at the same time, there are many things that are within your ability to control. With this in mind, it means that you need to exercise those that are within your ability to manage. If you put in the effort to reclaim your agency, you’ll have more autonomy over your life. 

3. Awareness

When we think of awareness, it’s good to think about what is contributing to your flourishing. On the other hand, it’s also important to be aware of the things that may destroy your flourishing. Both are critical. I have a little anecdote to share if you don’t mind. My son, Josh, recently reached day 120 of sobriety. I’m so proud. He’s currently in Lethbridge. 

And I asked him, “Do you think you’ll come back to Calgary?” He replied, “Dad, I don’t know. There are a lot of triggers for me back there. And I don’t know if I can handle it.” And I told him, “That’s awesome. Take your time on that decision—there’s no rush.”

During that exchange, I couldn’t help but notice the level of self-awareness he had regarding why coming back to Calgary may not be the best decision for him at the moment. The worst thing is blindness. It’s important to be aware of the things that bring you up and take you down.

Knowing these factors will help contribute to your decision-making so that you make more of the right choices instead of the wrong ones.

4. Alignment

Alignment is such a powerful concept. When I am aligned, I am in sync with myself. And I don’t mean in a selfish way. If I were congruent with selfish alignment, then I’d just sit at home all day eating chocolate and watching Netflix. That’s not what I’m referring to here. The kind of alignment I’m talking about is where you know (and are tuned into) why you’re here on the planet. It’s where you know your purpose and are aligned to its achievement.

I love Dr. Viktor Frankl, who went through those Nazi death camps, and in the process, discovered that his key to survival was staying focused on his purpose. That was where he found meaning and, as a result, was able to make it through that harrowing experience. 

5. Activity

We can’t flourish sitting on the couch, hoping for the best. Life doesn’t work that way. We have to take action and move. You have to participate in life in order to see things unfold the way you want. In other words, life requires your participation. If you want more for your life and business, the only way to attract better outcomes is to take action toward them every day.

6. Accountability

Accountability is not about answering to; it’s about answering for. This distinction is really important. You have to be accountable for your choices. Now, of course, you still have to acknowledge the things that happen to you. But, at the same time, I’m also acknowledging that I’m accountable for my responses. People don’t flourish when they play the blame game. It’s not possible. You have to take full responsibility, and that’s what it means to be accountable. 

And the best part about this is that it allows even those who have had the hardest experiences to grow from them and then thrive as a result. And that’s a beautiful thing. 

Final Thoughts

A flourishing person can create a flourishing tribe, and a flourishing tribe can create a flourishing world. And that’s what we’re aiming at in our organization. We want to create a world where everyone flourishes in both their personal and professional lives—that’s the vision, to get people to that place. And we’re doing it by reaching one person at a time. 

If you’d like some support in getting to that position in your own life, we’re here to help. Our team of expert coaches and sympathetic facilitators is here to support you on your journey. So, if you’re ready to flourish and thrive in life, contact us today to learn more. 

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About the Author

Abe Brown, MBA, CMCT, CPHSA is the Coach’s Coach and is an Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, International Best-Selling Author, and High-Performance Leadership Coach. He is the founder of Certified Flourishing Coaching™ and the Flourishing Coaching Program™, and the CEO of Wellness Innovate Corporation. Abe is also the author of the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Programs, which is an accredited ICF Coach Training Provider.

Abe is known as the Coach’s Coach and is people-first. He is passionate about supporting people, entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits to thrive. Flourishing people produce flourishing relationships, businesses, and workplaces, along with high performance and profound positive impact. Abe is also passionate about workplace mental health and changing the world by changing the workplace. Along with the team at Wellness Innovate,

Abe is the creator of Flourishing Workplace™.

Abe has started or led several businesses and non-profits into the tens of millions of dollars and has worked in the entrepreneur space, corporate space, and non-profit space at Senior Executive levels. As President of one of the largest Life & Executive Coach Training and Certification organizations in the world for 13 years, Abe trained and certified thousands of Life and Executive Coaches in over 20 different countries.

Abe is focused on coaching leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs towards high-performance, resilience, and over-the-top results in both life and business. Abe has also been a professional speaker for over two decades, having spoken in 4 continents and over 20 countries, to audiences of tens of thousands. Abe and the global team are pioneering the very first evidence-based coaching model that taps into the psychology of flourishing with a certified coaching practitioner lens.

Abe earned a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business and a Master in Education and Counselling. Abe is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (https://coachingfederation.org/) and was a registered therapist for 9 years.