With his pioneering research Corey Keyes put languishing on the map. In this powerful book he
brings it to life. Get ready to rethink your understanding of mental health update your views
on happiness and come closer to realizing your potential.”—Adam Grant #1 New York Times
bestselling author of Hidden Potential 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
is 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 ripple effect of languishing on our lives 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
counterintuitive 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 for describing our
inner experiences and deepest needs—and with it our potential to flourish.
