The FLOURISH Framework
8 Signs You’re Ready for Real Change
What does it actually take to move from surviving to thriving? After walking through my own journey (which has included several seasons) from 'rock bottom' to 'a road to flourishing', I’ve identified 'Eight Key Road Signs' that someone is ready for the kind of transformation that actually sticks.
Where This Framework Came From (An Origin Story)
The FLOURISH framework didn’t emerge from a textbook or a weekend workshop. It grew out of my own messy, painful, (yet also beautiful) journey through crisis, loss and eventual transformation. When I hit rock bottom in 2001 - losing my pastoral career, facing my personal failures and having to rebuild my life from scratch - I had no idea I was beginning an education (and roadmap) in what it really means to flourish.
Over the following years, I would experience the deaths of friends and parents, navigate divorce, question everything I’d believed about faith and meaning, and ultimately discover that some of life’s most devastating experiences can also become life's greatest teachers.
What I learned through my own journey - and what I’ve observed in many, many coaching conversations since - is that transformation isn’t random. There are specific signs that indicate when someone is ready for lasting change versus just hoping things will somehow get better.
These eight signs are becoming the foundation of what I now call the FLOURISH framework - a type of roadmap for recognizing when you’re genuinely prepared for the kind of growth that creates sustainable transformation.
Why These Signs Matter
Not everyone is ready for deep transformation at any given moment, and that’s okay. Sometimes we need to survive before we can thrive. Sometimes we need to heal before we can grow. But when these signs start showing up in our life, they can also indicate that something deeper is stirring - a readiness for authentic change that goes beyond surface-level improvements. Here’s what I’ve discovered about readiness for real transformation:
F - FINITE: You Recognize Life’s Precious Brevity
The first sign shows up when we stop living like we have unlimited time. There’s a shift that happens when we truly grasp that life is short - not in an anxious way, but in a clarifying way. We find ourselves thinking things like “life is too short to stay in this job that drains me” or “I don’t want to waste another year avoiding difficult conversations.”
We start to feel a genuine urgency about living authentically rather than just safely. We're no longer willing to postpone important changes indefinitely. This awareness of life’s finite nature becomes a powerful motivator for making our remaining years truly count.
Quick self-assessment: Do you feel motivated by the awareness that life is short or do you still feel like you have unlimited time to figure things out?
L - LEGACY: You Want Your Life to Matter Beyond Yourself
This sign emerges when "simply surviving" stops being enough. We might find ourselves asking questions like “What will my life have meant?” and “How do I want to be remembered?” We've started thinking beyond just getting through each day and to starting to consider the impact we're having on others and the mark we want to leave on the world.
This isn’t about ego or fame - it’s about a fundamental shift from living for ourselves to living for something larger. We want our experiences, including our struggles, to contribute something meaningful to the lives of others.
Quick self-assessment: Are you motivated by wanting to make a meaningful contribution beyond yourself or are you primarily focused on your own survival and comfort?
O - OTHERS: You’re Ready to Move Beyond Self-Focus
Here’s where we notice a shift from asking “What can I get?” to “What can I give?” We begin to discover that helping someone else succeed feels more satisfying than just our own achievements. We begin to naturally think about how our actions affect the people around us, and we feel energized rather than depleted when we add value to others’ lives.
Please note: this doesn’t mean becoming selfless to the point of neglect. It means recognizing that our deepest fulfillment comes from contribution rather than consumption.
Quick self-assessment: Do you feel more energized when giving or receiving? Do you naturally think about how your actions impact others?
U - UNDERGIRD: You Need Structure and Intentionality
This sign shows up when our good intentions stop being enough. We grow tired of hoping for change and ready to build our lives on intentional foundations. We want specific goals and actionable plans, not just vague hopes for improvement. We're ready to be proactive about creating the life we want rather than just managing the life that happens to us.
We begin to understand that freedom comes through structure, not despite it. We want systems and habits that support our vision rather than leaving everything to motivation and willpower.
Quick self-assessment: Are you ready to invest time in planning and structure, or are you still hoping that good intentions and motivation will be enough?
R - RESOURCES: You Want to Share What You Have Generously
This sign appears when we begin to stop seeing our time, talents and resources as things to hoard and start seeing them as gifts meant to be shared. We operate from abundance rather than scarcity, asking not “Do I have enough?” but “How can I share what I have most effectively?”
We start truly wanting to be strategic about our generosity - sharing in ways that are timely, effective and create maximum positive impact. We understand that our experiences, even our struggles, have become resources that can help others.
Quick self-assessment: Do you naturally look for opportunities to share your resources, or do you tend to operate from scarcity and hold back what you have?
I - INTERDEPENDENCE: You Embrace Connection Over Independence
Here is where we move beyond the myth of “I can do it all myself” and embrace the reality that we’re better together. We begin to stop seeing "asking for help" as a weakness and start seeing it as wisdom. We start to prefer collaboration to competition and team success to individual recognition.
We understand that the strongest people are those who build strong communities around themselves. We begin to be comfortable with (both) giving and receiving support and seeing our growth as connected to the growth and success of others.
Quick self-assessment: Do you naturally seek collaboration and community support, or do you typically try to handle challenges completely on your own?
S - SAVOR: You Want to Be Present and Grateful
This sign emerges when we start realizing we've been living in fast-forward - always focused on the "next thing" rather than experiencing the "current thing." We begin to want to slow down, breathe deeply and actually be present for the life we are living right now.
We recognize the joy found in being drawn to gratitude and appreciation for what we already have. We begin developing the ability to say “this is enough” rather than always needing more. We start wanting to share meaningful moments with others rather than rushing past them.
Quick self-assessment: Are you naturally present and grateful, or do you feel like you’re constantly rushing through life without really experiencing it?
H - HEALTHY EVOLVING: You’re Committed to Growth in All Areas
The final sign shows up when we begin to embrace ourselves as a lifelong work in progress. We start to see challenges as opportunities to develop rather than threats to avoid. We become interested in growth across multiple areas - mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, relational - rather than just focusing on one dimension.
We start to understand that flourishing isn’t a destination we reach but a way of traveling through life. We become genuinely excited about continued learning and becoming throughout our lifetime.
Quick self-assessment: Do you feel energized by the prospect of continued growth and learning, or do you feel like you should have life figured out by now?
The FLOURISH Assessment
As you read through these eight roadsigns, you may have noticed that some resonated more strongly than others. This is completely normal - we all have areas of strength and areas that need development.
Here’s a simple way to assess your overall readiness:
Rate yourself on each area (1-10 scale):
F - FINITE: ___/10
L - LEGACY: ___/10
O - OTHERS: ___/10
U - UNDERGIRD: ___/10
R - RESOURCES: ___/10
I - INTERDEPENDENCE: ___/10
S - SAVOR: ___/10
H - HEALTHY EVOLVING: ___/10
Total Score: ___/80
(What Your Score Suggests)
60-80: You’re highly ready for transformational work
45-59: You’re moderately ready with specific areas to focus on
Below 45: You may benefit from foundational work before major change initiatives
What This Means for Your Journey
If you’re scoring high across these areas, you’re demonstrating what I call “transformation readiness” - the internal conditions that make lasting change not just possible, but likely. You’re not just hoping things will get better but you’re prepared to do the work that creates "better."
If you’re scoring lower in some areas, that’s valuable information too. And there's nothing wrong with you. This is normal and appropriate. It simply can show you where to focus your attention and energy as you prepare for the changes you want to create.
What’s Coming Next
I’m currently developing a comprehensive FLOURISH Guide that will take you deeper into each of these eight signs.
This free resource will include
Detailed exploration of each FLOURISH element
Research-backed insights on what creates lasting transformation
Practical exercises and reflection questions for each area
A complete assessment tool to understand your readiness profile
Specific guidance for developing areas that need attention
The guide will help you understand not just whether you’re ready for change but what specific areas to focus on for maximum impact.
Question: Do you want to be one of the first to know when the FLOURISH Guide is available? [Sign up below] to get notified as soon as it’s ready - plus receive weekly insights about authentic transformation and flourishing.
Your Next Step
Whether you scored high or low on this initial assessment, you’re exactly where you need to be in your journey. Transformation isn’t about being perfect - it’s about being honest regarding where you are and taking the next right step from that place.
If you recognize yourself in these eight signs and feel ready for the kind of coaching that creates lasting change, I’d love to explore whether we might be a good fit to work together. The people who resonate with the FLOURISH framework tend to be the ones who create the most sustainable and meaningful transformations.
Ready for a conversation about your journey? Contact me at keithpagecoaching@gmail.com or (949) 701-3631 for a free consultation where we can explore what flourishing might look like in your specific situation.
"Because you weren’t meant to just survive your life - you were meant to flourish in it"
Keith Page helps people navigate crisis, grief, burnout and major life transitions through his integration-focused coaching approach. His FLOURISH framework emerged from his own journey from rock bottom to authentic thriving.
