A New Angle on “Happiness”

I’ve always enjoyed learning new words and expanding my vocabulary.  I came across a word this week that I think deserves to be discussed.  The word is eudaimonia.  This word is actually a philosophy, another subject of which I'm fan.  I believe, as humans, it's essential to contemplate the BIG questions not necessarily to arrive at definitive answers, but to theorize and construct a personal value system.  It just so happens that this word is very much in alignment with my own. 

What makes you happy?  Does it have to do with social status? Possessions? Professional standing? Relationships? Vices? Power? Do you have no freakin' clue? It's a very personal thing, but as a society, we very well might benefit from quitting our pursuit for this coveted abstract concept.  Yeah, yeah, I know, it's in the Declaration of Independence, but stop and think for a minute…  Maybe our constant search for this elusive state of being is actually preventing us from real freedom.  It's beyond our human capacity to be euphoric all the time, or even most of the time.  What about contentment?  Or a sense of gratitude?    

So what then?  Settle for ho-hum? No.  That's not even close to what I'm suggesting.  I'm proposing to think a bit differently about how you approach and view life.  Back to our Eudemonia.  This term's definition is inspiring.  It's based on the idea of a well-lived life.  An existence in which everyday decisions are determined by what will lead to our well-being.  Practicing individual virtues by taking care of our health, making choices, and resolving conflicts (internal and external) according our belief system are cornerstones of this concept. 

My favorite synonym for eudaimonia is "human flourishing."  Learning, growing, developing, expanding our frame of reference, actively becoming a better version of ourselves, all by simply observing the world around us - experiencing life.  Challenges, failures, successes, reaching goals, setting new ones, building meaningful relationships, finding purpose - all of these evoke a myriad of emotions and feelings of which only a portion is related to joy.  Its about the process of figuring things out.  Seeing what works for you.  It about prosperity.  (In my opinion, Spock was really on to something!)  So instead of harping on what makes you happy, maybe try a new line of questioning.  What is truly important to you?  What fills you with awe?  What gets you excited?  What makes you feel valued? Fulfilled?  Whatever your answers, as much as you possibly can, spend your time and energy on those things.