A Word Nerdish friend recently shared a word I’d never heard before:
Eudemonia
Also spelled eudaemonia, this was my friend’s word of the day from Alexa. And after a week dominated by a bridge collapse, political fights, and more bad news from Gaza and Ukraine, I thought we needed this word, which has roots in…
What do you think, Word Nerds? Take a guess. Focus on that prefix, “eu.” Think “euphemism” or “euphoria.” Any ideas?
Eudemonia: from the Greek, eudaimonia, having a good attendant or indwelling spirit, lucky, happy (from eu- + daimon-, daimōn spirit) (Thank you, Merriam Webster.)
The simplest translation of Eudemonia is happiness, but there’s more to it. According to Positive Psychology, eudemonia is about not a state of being, but a process in which a person uses reason, an understanding of their true nature, and virtuous pursuit of their personal gifts to fully realize who they are meant to be. The idea has roots in the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates.
The same article from Positive Psychology offers an extensive history behind eudemonia, the modern definition of the concept, and most importantly for us, tips for pursuing eudemonia. They include knowing your life goals, focusing your talents and skills on achieving those goals, developing your potential, being fully engaged in what you do (because you find it meaningful and enjoyable), and expressing yourself.
It seemed appropriate to contemplate this word today, as I practice Christianity, (the loving kind), and today is Good Friday, a time to reflect on the love of Jesus, who sacrificed himself completely to save sinners around the world. My pursuit of happiness and fulfillment is intrinsically tied up in my faith, and the concept of eudemonia, gives me something meaningful to contemplate during Holy Week.
How I pursue happiness
I’m getting older. Therefore, I appreciate the value of each day and the need to use time well. I try to live intentionally, moving toward goals and practicing mindfulness.
I need a lot of help and reminders. Reading articles like the one from Positive Psychology help me keep my focus and find new tools. I also try to practice the following activities daily: (doesn’t always work, but it’s the goal)
- Dedicate time in my schedule for creative pursuits: writing, photography, playing piano, crafting, painting, cooking
- Begin each day with quiet time (which includes prayer, reading scripture, reading for personal growth) and find time for solitude during the day (e.g. while walking the dogs, meditation, yoga, cooking in a quiet kitchen)
- Start the day with exercise- even 10 minutes is better than nothing
- Connect with people- in person is best, but texts, calls, or note writing will do
I’m also a fan of The Happiness Lab podcast, which features research on the science of happiness. (Thank you, Rosie.) I listened to Happier by Gretchen Rubin for a while, but it started to feel to fluffy.
How about you? What do you think of this idea of eudemonia? How do you pursue happiness? Had you heard of eudemonia before this post?
Thank you, Patty Pile, for this idea! 🙂
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
