Mental health is about more than just making it through the day. In this column, Laurie invites readers to reframe their experience from surviving to thriving by applying the science of human flourishing. She explores the pillars of well-being, the power of reframing, and the essential role of community in mental health. With a mix of research-backed insights and practical tools, this beat is a guide for chronic bosses who are ready to prioritize mental wellness and build lives that feel as good as they look.
Laurie Butson
Science of Flourishing as a Chronic Boss
Shifting from survival mode to thriving with research-backed tools and a fresh take on mental wellness for chronic bosses.
Hi, I’m Laurie!
After spending 25 years in corporate leadership roles focused on global learning and development, employee engagement, and wellbeing, my world shifted when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
That diagnosis became a turning point. Instead of letting it define my limits, I used it to redefine my path. I launched Cleared to Flourish in 2023 to blend my professional expertise with my lived experience: helping both individuals and organizations discover how to truly thrive.
I’m a certified Positive Psychology speaker, practitioner, consultant, and ICF-accredited coach, and I draw on the science of wellbeing to create practical tools, workshops, and coaching experiences. My favorite work is showing ambitious women (like so many of us here) that flourishing is possible even while navigating chronic conditions.
Positive Psychology became both my personal lifeline and my professional passion, giving me evidence-based practices I could apply to my own healing journey. Now, it fuels my mission: empowering others to flourish, with or without chronic illness.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me adjusting to “empty-nesting” life with my husband after moving our twin boys into college this fall, hiking with my dog in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, or connecting with my local community through Flourish Together, a local mental health and wellbeing initiative I started to keep these conversations alive year-round.
