What does it mean to thrive?

I have been getting acquainted lately with what some of our philosophical forefathers had to say about living a joyous life. Aristotle‘s words about living a three pronged life based on what is true, good, and beautiful, really touches me.

Aristotle on the three pronged life: Find what is true, good, and beautiful

Aristotle gives us an imperative to live as beautifully and humanly as possible. If happiness is the aim in life – the “end” – then how am I pursuing this? I absolutely 100% agree with this idea, and yet I so often am not following this path. Well I am… but in a winding, sort-of, got-you-on-my-radar kind of way, and NOT in a I’m-doing-this-all-the-time, kind of way. Why must I, as so many people urge me to: DARE – to live the good life now? Why does someone have to EGG ME ON to do this? It’s absurd. Why isn’t it evident, a natural imperative? Why do I need to work at it? This is a question I am living, right now.