What does it mean to flourish? On October 18, we hosted Dr. Byron Johnson, the leader of the landmark Global Flourishing Study, to explore the foundations of flourishing—including happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, relationships, and character and virtue—and the role that faith plays in the generation and cultivation of each.

This is the third conversation in our “Faith, Freedom, and Flourishing” series in partnership with the Pepperdine School of Public Policy.

Discussion Questions

• What aspect of Byron Johnson’s remarks or the conversation was most compelling to you and why?
• How does Byron define “flourishing”? What does he see as the difference between happiness and flourishing? Does that distinction resonate with you?
• What accounts for the global surge in unhappiness and loneliness? Does the increase in misery surprise you?
• How, if at all, is individual flourishing different from community flourishing? What are the key markers of a flourishing life and/or flourishing society?
• How does faith affect flourishing at a societal level? How does your faith affect your own flourishing?