Eudaimonia: Definition, Meaning, & ExamplesWhat is eudaimonia and eudaimonic well-being? Discover Aristotle’s definition of eudaimonia, modern perspectives, and tips to help you achieve a more fulfilling life.
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The History Behind Happiness: Hedonia & EudaimoniaWhat does it mean to be truly ‘be happy’ in life? Is it all just positive emotions and pleasure? Or is there something else? The other, less-talked-about part of happiness is Eudaimonia. Eudaimonia is something like flourishing or prosperity. So where does this idea come from? Let's dive a little deeper.
✓ Before we dive in though, we thought you might also be interested in taking our well-being quiz to learn more about your personal well-being. ✓ Or, if you're a well-being entrepreneur or coach, download our Wellness Business Growth eBook to get expert tips, tools, and resources to share with your audience. What Is Hedonia (or Hedonism)?Happiness can be traced back to the writings of ancient philosophers. Hedonism, originating from the Greek philosopher, Aristippus, aims to maximize pleasure (e.g., positive emotion) and minimize pain (e.g., negative emotion).
Hedonism focuses on the ‘feeling good’ aspect of happiness. When taken to the extreme, it can translate into the pursuit of pleasure and simply doing whatever you want that helps you attain this. Aristippus, for example, lived a life in pursuit of pleasure and did anything for the sake of sensual pleasure. He slept with many women, enjoyed fine food and old wines, and had little concern for the social standards upheld in Greece at the time. Given that he represents an extreme version of hedonism, what might this look like in modern life? Although hedonism can vary from person to person, some examples include:
It’s not surprising that impulsivity and risk-taking are often related to the pursuit of pleasure, but is pleasure the same thing as happiness? If your answer is ‘no’, what is happiness and what is it made of? Are You a Therapist, Coach, or Wellness Entrepreneur?
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