51 pages • 1 hour read
Arianna HuffingtonThrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Well-Being as a Foundation for Success
In a world often fixated on relentless work and external achievements, Arianna Huffington challenges conventional notions of success, urging readers to reconsider their priorities. Huffington aims to ameliorate the separation of oneself from their soul—what she calls a “guiding truth” (27)—through her exploration of well-being. The book emphasizes the importance of achieving a balanced and fulfilling life by nurturing different dimensions of well-being.
Thrive explores the relationship between well-being and productivity. Huffington argues that healthy individuals are more likely to contribute to stronger workplaces and a better world using findings from scientific research showing a correlation between healthful practices and increased productivity. She notes that “the long-term health of a company’s bottom line and the health of its employees are, in fact, very much aligned” (35). Huffington also emphasizes the importance of balance in maintaining well-being; true success, according to Huffington, involves striking a harmonious balance between work, personal life, and self-care, emphasizing the role of balance as a cornerstone of well-being and, by extension, success.
Throughout Thrive, Huffington explores the paradoxical nature of technology in the pursuit of well-being and her other pillars. While technology can be a source of stress, it also offers solutions for achieving balance and well-being. Huffington suggests that individuals must navigate this paradox and use technology mindfully to enhance their well-being, highlighting the need to adapt to the digital age while maintaining personal balance. “Unplugging” to “recharge” and meditate, allowing one to nurture their well-being while also pursuing wisdom and wonder—in effect, three pillars through one practice—is Huffington’s primary advice that she returns to time and again throughout Thrive.
In sum, Huffington advocates for a fundamental shift in our perception of success, emphasizing the crucial role of well-being as its foundation. By reevaluating the definition of success, recognizing the connection between well-being and productivity, embracing balance, and navigating the paradoxes of the digital age, individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward a more holistic and ultimately successful life. Well-being, as Huffington strives to show, has a profound impact on individual and collective achievement.
The Inherent Accessibility of Wisdom
Amid the chaos of modern life, Huffington invites readers to rediscover their inner wisdom, highlighting its significance in fostering personal growth and holistic well-being. Throughout section two, Huffington explores the theme that wisdom is an inherent quality within every individual. Her definition of wisdom draws on ancient myth and philosophy for inspiration (117-18). Huffington emphasizes that wisdom goes beyond mere intelligence or knowledge; it encompasses a deep understanding of oneself, empathy for others, and the ability to make thoughtful and ethical decisions. Wisdom involves the capacity to see the bigger picture, to discern what truly matters in life, and to prioritize well-being and human connections over material success and external validation. Through personal stories about her marriage and family, Huffington demonstrates that achieving wisdom involves self-awareness, introspection, and the ability to learn from one’s experiences and mistakes. Huffington challenges readers to rediscover their inner wisdom through mindfulness, self-reflection, and authenticity.
Central to Huffington’s exploration of inherent wisdom is the practice of mindfulness and self-reflection. Through mindfulness and self-reflection, individuals can gain clarity, make informed decisions, and navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience. Huffington also extends the concept of inherent wisdom to everyday life, emphasizing its relevance in decision-making and problem-solving. Huffington argues wisdom can guide individuals in making choices that align with their well-being and give their lives meaning overall: “When we disconnect from our inner selves and identify exclusively with our ego, that’s when we lose our connection with life’s meaning and purpose” (188). Therefore, inherent wisdom is closely linked to individuality and authenticity, too. Huffington encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness and authenticity as pathways to wisdom: “Mindfulness helps us become aware of our own story” (188). By honoring their true selves, individuals can access their inherent wisdom more easily and live more fulfilling lives.
Huffington’s message is clear: Wisdom is not a distant goal to be attained but a natural aspect of human existence waiting to be embraced. Inherent wisdom, in her view, can be accessed by everyone and serves as a guiding light on the path to personal growth, well-being, and authenticity. By recognizing and nurturing this inherent wisdom, individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward a more fulfilling and purposeful life, as envisioned in Thrive.
Presence as a Means to Cultivate Wonder
Huffington presents wonder as a part of “Third Metric” living, which is part of her suggested way to redefine success. Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, Huffington emphasizes the importance of being fully engaged in the present moment to uncover the magic and wonder in everyday life. Huffington invites readers to break free from the distractions of modern life, embrace the present moment, and approach life with mindfulness and childlike curiosity.
By breaking free from the constant distractions of modern life and immersing themselves in the here and now, individuals can unlock the capacity to appreciate life’s beauty and wonder. Huffington presents the practice of mindfulness as the gateway to wonder—a means for awakening our senses and fostering a deeper connection with the world around us. “Mindfulness helps us become aware of our own story” (188), Huffington writes, underscoring the role of self-awareness in cultivating wonder. Through mindfulness, Huffington connects her first pillar, well-being, with wonder; individuals can savor the richness of their own experiences and find wonder in the simplest of moments while also cultivating well-being through introspection.
Huffington extends the concept of presence to the realm of everyday life, emphasizing that wonder can be found in the mundane and ordinary. “Every place is full of openings to make a real difference in the life of another human being” (232), Huffington writes, highlighting the idea that wonder can be discovered in acts of kindness and human connection—anywhere. In making this suggestion, Huffington also links wonder with giving, another pillar of the “Third Metric.”
The theme of presence to cultivate wonder in Thrive is also closely associated with the cultivation of childlike curiosity. Huffington encourages readers to view the world with fresh eyes and an open heart, much like a child exploring the wonders of the world: It’s “part of the fun and intense mystery of being alive” (202). Throughout her focus on children as conduits of wonder, Huffington emphasizes the idea that wonder is a natural state of being that can be rekindled through curiosity and presence.
For Huffington, wonder is not a distant concept but a gift that can be experienced by anyone willing to be fully present in their lives. By practicing presence and opening themselves to the beauty and magic of everyday existence, Huffington suggests, individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward a more fulfilling life.
Giving as a Path to Personal Growth
Thrive explores the multifaceted concept of well-being and success, challenging conventional notions of achievement in American culture. Giving, Huffington contends, is a vital component of her new paradigm of success, called the “Third Metric.” One of the central themes that emerges from the book is the idea that giving, in various forms, serves as a transformative path to personal growth. Through acts of giving, individuals not only enrich the lives of others but also gain valuable insights and personal development. The reciprocity of growth reinforces the idea that giving is a potent tool for individual transformation—or, as Huffington calls it, a “miracle drug for health and well-being” (239).
For Huffington, giving ranges from acts of kindness and compassion to generosity through philanthropy, all of which require empathy and a deep understanding of others’ needs and emotions. Huffington emphasizes the role of empathy in personal growth, asserting that it enables individuals to connect on a profound level with those they help. Through giving, individuals cultivate empathy, which, in turn, fosters personal growth by enhancing their emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills: “[L]ove grows brains,” Huffington writes, quoting Gordon (243).
Thrive suggests that genuine fulfillment is not derived solely from personal achievements or material gains but is also deeply rooted in the act of giving. The book highlights numerous examples of individuals who have experienced a profound sense of purpose and satisfaction through their charitable acts and support of others, but it relies chiefly on Elli, Huffington’s mother, for embodying this ideal and demonstrating that true giving means not expecting anything in return: “[I]t’s not a trade, darling, it’s an offering,” Elli said (254). This sense of fulfillment, derived from giving, becomes a driving force in personal growth, motivating individuals to continue their path toward a more meaningful life and becoming, as Elli did, a “treasure house” of spirit.
Huffington’s Thrive advocates a shift in the way we perceive success, promoting giving as a crucial element in the pursuit of personal growth and fulfillment. For Huffington, giving is facilitated by its ubiquity: “[E]very place is full of openings to make a real difference” (232). The “small missed opportunities” provide easy entry points for anyone who is looking to change their own lives—or the lives of others. By embracing the idea that giving is intrinsically tied to one’s own well-being, individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward a more balanced and meaningful life.
