Learning to Flourish
Survival mode is our body’s built-in alarm system—it keeps us sharp when danger strikes. But when days turn into months of living this way, the alarm never shuts off. Life stops feeling like living and starts feeling like enduring. The real challenge is learning how to step out of survival and into something fuller: thriving.
When we reach a place where we are able to thrive, it means we’ve grown into a state of purpose. We can move past the burdens of our minds and allow ourselves to feel joy again. From 2021 to the end of 2022, I was stuck in a severe state of survival, suffering from PTSD symptoms every single day. In January 2023, my mental health hit rock bottom, and I decided it was time to make a change.
It’s easy to recognize struggle during a crisis, but survival mode in everyday life can look almost invisible. You go through the motions on autopilot—wake up, do your routines, check off boxes, collapse into bed. You’re tired, numb, and detached. Meals get skipped, creativity fades, connections with loved ones shrink. It feels like you’re existing, not living.
Personally, these were all things I did when I was struggling the most with PTSD. My trauma wired my brain to stay in permanent fight-or-flight mode. Instead of stress rising and falling like it’s supposed to, my baseline got stuck at high alert. The result? Flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, and an endless sense of unease. I tried numbing myself through partying and drinking, but that only pushed me further away from who I was. I lost trust in myself, interest in what I loved, and connection to the people who cared about me. By the end of 2022, I had hit rock bottom and felt completely detached from myself.
After spending most of the holiday season of 2022 in bed, I finally hit a breaking point. I realized I wasn’t living at all—I was just surviving. So I started small: daily walks under the sun, writing affirmations on sticky notes, drinking water, eating better. At first it felt awkward and even forced, but those tiny steps slowly reminded me of my own worth. Choosing myself every day wasn’t easy, but it was the only way forward.
I worked every single day to treat myself with the decency and respect I should have been giving all along. When you’ve never fallen that low, you don’t realize how hard self-care actually is. And you have to remember: you’ll still have bad moments, bad hours, and bad days. But I put in the hard work to change my mindset.
By doing so, I rediscovered my self-love and passions. I re-enrolled in classes after my semester off and passed the courses I had spent years failing. And I didn’t just pass them—I fell back in love with science and learning. Now, whenever I need motivation to pull myself out of a slump, I remind myself of that time. If I did it then, I can do it again.
After spending 2023 learning how to love myself, I gave myself the chance to thrive. My mind was no longer cloudy and forgetful but instead curious and adventurous. I finally had energy instead of constant depletion. I slowly rebuilt connections with important people in my life—and with my own sense of purpose.
With that new sense of purpose came hope for my future. The flourishing theory was proving true. By focusing on the key components of the PERMA model (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment), I was able to rewire my brain to work for me instead of against me.
Of course, thriving doesn’t mean perfection—far from it. Thriving means presence, growth, and resilience.
To move toward thriving, we need practical shifts in different parts of life. For me, the biggest shift was mindset. It’s crucial to show yourself self-compassion. Reframe setbacks: instead of seeing them as earth-shattering failures, view them as steps along the way to greatness. After all, how can you keep climbing if you keep throwing yourself down the stairs?
Create daily practices that support growth. Rest. Journal. Move your body. Build rituals that ground you.
Set boundaries. Say no when you need to, and don’t tolerate disrespect.
Make time for curiosity and growth. Learn, experiment, express yourself. Don’t hold yourself back—let yourself be free. You’ll thank yourself later.
There isn’t a final destination you have to reach in order to consider yourself “thriving.” Thriving evolves as you evolve. Taking care of yourself is what allows you to flourish.
Sometimes, we regress back into survival mode—and that’s okay. It’s just our body trying to protect us from pain. When I feel myself slipping back, I return to the practices that help me most: walking, writing down my feelings, and letting emotions out instead of containing them.
Survival mode isn’t failure—it’s just your body trying to protect you. But when it starts holding you back, you have the power to shift. Start small, choose yourself daily, and build practices that remind you you’re worthy of more than just surviving. Thriving isn’t a final destination—it’s a way of showing up for yourself, again and again. Start with small daily acts that nurture your health. It is possible—and I believe in you.
