The distinction between living and thriving lies in our quality of life. Living can mean simply surviving — meeting our basic needs and getting by. Thriving, on the other hand, means actively growing, developing, and finding fulfilment. It involves moving beyond a reactive, exhausted state into a more proactive one.¹
The journey from simply getting by to flourishing involves several key aspects of life:
Mindset: Those in survival mode focus on reacting to challenges and managing difficulties. Those who thrive focus on taking control and building resilience.
Health: Living involves maintaining a baseline level of physical health, while thriving means actively improving energy, sleep, and physical vitality.
Environment: Moving from surviving to thriving often requires adjusting habits, improving our surroundings, and reducing unnecessary stressors.²
While the 'You Factor' influences everything we do, opportunities to maximise our personal potential are often shaped by decisions made by others.
So important is this influence that New Zealand spends an estimated $100 million to $110 million annually running one House — Parliament. To put that figure into perspective, it could be compared with the cost of hundreds of residential houses or substantial investment in other areas of national importance. With such considerable resources devoted to shaping our collective direction, surely the objectives should be noble.
For the purposes of this article, let us set aside mindset. We might reasonably assume that judges are accustomed to exercising control over their circumstances and developing resilience in the face of considerable pressure.
We will also leave environment — the surroundings and conditions that influence our lives, both large and small — for another discussion.
That leaves health, a word that is frequently misunderstood. Too often, health and medical treatment become so closely associated in our thinking that we lose sight of the distinction between them.
Health is the goal — a state of wellbeing — while treatment is one of the tools used to achieve or restore it.³ Yet in New Zealand, political attention frequently appears directed towards treatment rather than the everyday foundations of good health.
Consider the emphasis placed on optimising energy, sleep, and physical activity. These are areas in which we can exercise considerable personal influence, yet even the best intentions can be rationalised away when our mindset or environment presents the smallest hurdle.
Take exercise, for example. Do we make the same effort to be active outdoors in winter as we do in summer?
Both seasons present challenges. Summer brings greater exposure to ultraviolet radiation, while winter can mean increased indoor air pollution from heating and reduced ventilation. The answer is not necessarily to favour one season over another, but to recognise that our comfort zones can sometimes become barriers to maintaining healthy habits.
Physical activity challenges the body in beneficial ways, raising its temperature, increasing circulation, and improving fitness. In summer, sweating helps regulate body temperature. In winter, however, the cold can become a convenient excuse to exercise less.
We do not need a Member of Parliament to pass legislation before deciding to look after our own health — or do we?
Who should provide the motivation, if not ourselves? Self-reliance depends on personal judgement, and who better to set an example than a judge, whether in summer, autumn, winter, or spring?
When our health fails, we depend on others for treatment. But with so much national attention and expenditure devoted to treating illness, have we become too accustomed to responding to poor health rather than actively maintaining good health?
Many already demonstrate the value of investing in daily movement. A few simple stretches, a brisk walk, or regular opportunities to stand and move can help counteract the effects of long hours spent sitting.
For those whose working days involve considerable time on the bench, such habits can make a meaningful difference. They are small investments in wellbeing that help shift the balance from merely living towards genuinely thriving.
And if we simply surrender to gravity, allowing ourselves to become increasingly sedentary, we risk accepting the force that attracts every body towards the centre of the Earth.
That would be grave indeed.
References
Cambridge Dictionary, 'Thrive' — dictionary.cambridge.org
Umbrella, 'Beyond Resilience: What Does It Mean to Thrive?' — umbrella.org.nz
Arbor Staffing, 'The Difference Between Healthcare and Health Care' — arborstaffing.com