Some psychologists object to the word âhappinessâ because it can mean anything from a temporary pleasure to an almost mythical sense of eudaimonic purpose that few in reality manage to reach. So in lieu of happiness, more nuanced terms like âwell-being,â âwellness,â âthriving,â and âflourishingâ have become common in the popular psychological literature. We use those terms in this book. Marc is particularly fond of the terms thriving and flourishing because they refer to an active and constant state of becoming, rather than just a mood. But we still use âhappinessâ at times for the simple reason that this is how people talk about their lives. Nobody says, âHowâs your human flourishing?â We say, âAre you happy?â And itâs how, in casual conversation, we both find ourselves talking about our research as well.