Zest is a Key Ingredient to Good Living
We can learn to savor pleasures, set good intentions, and try to view life as an adventure, writes Joan M. Cook.
Living life with a sense of "zest" – an upbeat, vibrant outlook – is linked to numerous positive outcomes. This individual attribute, also known as vigor, enthusiasm, or the French "joie de vivre", can be purposefully nurtured to help navigate daily stressors and forge a meaningful existence.
Zest isn't rooted in frenetic energy or excessive caffeine intake; rather, it's the product of cultivated cheerfulness and joy. When grappling with stress or illness, avoiding half-hearted actions becomes increasingly challenging. However, there are methods to bolster zest even amid societal turmoil, conflicting news, and digital chaos.
Pioneered by psychologists Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman in the realm of positive psychology, zest is among the 24 universal character strengths identified in their landmark book, *Character Strengths and Virtues*. When you foster zest, you engage in life enthusiastically, anticipate each day, and look forward to the possibilities it holds.
Zest is strongly correlated with mental well-being across age groups and nations, alongside hope. It boosts life satisfaction in children, teens, and adults, and those who score high on zest in employment have higher job satisfaction and perceive work as a calling. Furthermore, high zest scorers tend to view their lives as meaningful.
To augment zest, Ryan Niemiec, a psychologist and VIA Institute on Character science and education officer, suggests behavioral activation, a proven depression treatment. This involves taking action to lift energy, such as engaging in daily healthy pleasures, physical activity, and accomplishments. Humans often exhibit natural zest, uplifting those around them.
However, others can cultivate it through savoring pleasures, setting goals, viewing life as an adventure, and implementing strategies like morning walks, workouts, yoga, laughter, and stimulating tasks. Resources, including free courses and materials, are available through the VIA Institute on Character to enhance all character strengths, including zest.
While practicing zest may be challenging for those facing physical ailments or unhealthy habits, assistance from mental health professionals can be beneficial. Developing zest proves valuable, not only during adverse times but also in appreciating life's beauty and achievements.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
