I have discovered the word that expresses moments of how I have been feeling lately.

Adam Grant, an occupational psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, recently wrote an article in the New York Times.  The timing of its publication could not have been more perfect for contributing to my wellness. I have known that I am not depressed; however, I have also realized that I feel bouts of an energy that do not flourish (January 11^th post). As it turns out, there is a ‘middle child’ between flourish and depression. These ‘middle child’ bouts that I experience are called L.A.N.G.U.I.S.Hing. Indeed, I slide back and forth between flourishing and languishing…flourishing and languishing…flourishing and languishing.

Sometimes I am unmotivated with sensations of lethargy, which has been perplexing given I believe I have no reason to feel this way. All of my basic needs are met. I have the best family and friends. My gratitude is unwavering. I experience meaning and purpose with my community service projects. Still, these moments of languish have been creeping up frequently and unexpectedly. I can be easily distracted. And as much as I love connection, I do not always feel like connecting.

Flowing – a state of being present without an awareness of time – is the best way to combat languishing. Although besotted with the Anne with an E Netflix series (March 26^th post), I appreciated Adam’s affirmation that binging a show where you emotionally connect with the characters is one example of experiencing a state of flow. And since I do not like lingering in my languishing, my antidote has still been watching repeat episodes or scenes with Anne, Gilbert, Marilla, Matthew, Cole, and the community of Avonlea.

Although I am incredibly grateful to have the word to identify my low feeling, now I need to find more varieties of flow to combat the low!