In a society that often celebrates energy, productivity, and constant achievement, those living with persistent fatigue, long-term illness, or invisible conditions are frequently left out of the picture. At our therapy service, we chose the name Flourish with Fatigue to challenge that narrative and to offer something different: an invitation to live fully, not despite fatigue, but with it.
This name reflects more than hope, it is informed by psychological research, health science, and the lived realities of those with long-term conditions.
What Does It Mean to Flourish?
In everyday language, “flourishing” is often used as a synonym for happiness. But in psychology and health research, flourishing has a more precise meaning. It refers to a state where people experience both positive emotions and positive functioning, socially, psychologically, and physically, even in the presence of challenges (Keyes, 2002; Huppert & So, 2013).
Research shows that flourishing is not the same as being symptom-free. For example, large population studies demonstrate that people living with long-term health conditions can still score highly on measures of meaning, purpose, and social connectedness (Huppert & So, 2013). Similarly, longitudinal studies have found that factors such as self-compassion, social support, and psychological flexibility are strong predictors of flourishing, regardless of physical health status (Kraiss et al., 2020).
This is encouraging for anyone living with fatigue. It suggests that while fatigue may remain, it does not need to prevent people from experiencing fulfilment, creativity, or belonging. Flourishing is not about denying limitations, but about discovering new ways to live meaningfully within them.
Our approach to flourishing is rooted in the biopsychosocial model of health (Engel, 1977), which highlights that well-being has three dimensions:
- Biological well-being: the functioning of the body and the management of symptoms.
- Psychological well-being: resilience, sense of identity, and the capacity to adapt and cope.
- Social well-being: the presence of supportive relationships, understanding workplaces, and communities that recognise invisible illness.
We use this model because it reflects the lived experiences of many of our clients: fatigue is never just physical, and neither is flourishing. Someone may still experience fatigue but flourish because they are connected to loved ones, engaged in meaningful activity, and able to treat themselves with compassion. Another may flourish because they have found an employer or healthcare professional who validates their experience. These are just as important as symptom changes.
In short: flourishing with fatigue means living a life of value, connection, and purpose, not by ignoring fatigue, but by finding ways to grow alongside it.
Flourishing in Practice: How We Work
At Flourish with Fatigue, we combine a personalised, holistic approach with practical tools. We partner with you to build a toolbox that addresses both the physical and emotional challenges of fatigue. We don’t offer one-size-fits-all fixes: instead, we explore what matters most to you, your priorities, values, routines and we tailor strategies together.
We draw on good evidence: acceptance and commitment therapy, compassion-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and principles of occupational therapy that help adjust how you do things, solve barriers, and integrate meaningful activity into your daily life. We understand how fatigue fluctuates, how unpredictable symptoms can be, and how that impacts mood, sleep, cognition, and relationships.
Our aim is to help you identify and reintegrate the things that bring you meaning: whether returning to work (or staying in it), engaging in physical or creative activities, nurturing relationships, or simply developing more ease and balance day to day. Flourishing with fatigue means strengthening what you can do, improving confidence, and aligning your actions with what you value even when symptoms are present.
📖 References:
- Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129–136.
- Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2011). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Huppert, F. A., & So, T. T. (2013). Flourishing across Europe: Application of a new conceptual framework for defining well-being. Social Indicators Research, 110(3), 837–861.
- Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2), 207–222.
Kraiss, J. T., et al. (2020). Predictors of flourishing among individuals with chronic illness. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 43(3), 432–442.
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