"The Emory University sociologist who coined the term languishing--low-grade mental weariness
that affects our self-esteem relationships and motivation--explores the rise of this
phenomenon and presents a comprehensive guide to flourishing in a world that demands too much.
If you're muddling through the day in a fog often forgetting why you walked into a room . . .
If you feel emotionally flattened lacking the energy to socialize or feel joy in the small
things . . . If you feel an inner void-like something is missing but you aren't sure what . .
. Then this book is for you. Languishing--the state of mental weariness that erodes our
self-esteem motivation and sense of meaning--can be easy to brush off as the new normal
especially since indifference is one of its symptoms. It's not a synonym for depression and its
attendant state of prolonged sadness. Languishers are more likely to feel out of control of
their lives uncertain about what they want from the future and paralyzed when faced with
decisions. Left unchecked languishing not only impedes our daily functioning but is a gateway
to serious mental illness and early mortality. Emory University sociologist Corey Keyes has
spent his career studying the causes and costs of languishing--the neglected middle child of
mental health. Now Keyes has written the first definitive book on the subject examining the
subtle complexities of languishing before deftly diagnosing the larger forces behind its rise:
the false promises of the self-help industrial complex a global moment of intense fear and
loss and a failing healthcare system focused on treating rather than preventing illness.
Ultimately Keyes presents a groundbreaking approach to breaking the cycles keeping us stuck
and finding a path to true flourishing. Unlike self-improvement systems offering quick-fix mood
boosts his framework focuses on functioning well: taking simple but powerful steps to hold our
emotions loosely becoming more accepting of ourselves and others and carving out daily
moments for the activities that create cycles of meaning connection and personal growth.
Languishing is a must-read for anyone tempted to downplay feelings of demotivation and
emptiness as they struggle to haul themselves through the day and for those eager to build a
higher tolerance for adversity and the pressures of modern life. We can expand our
vocabulary--and with it our potential to flourish"--
