As I mentioned in a previous post: you can create your own happiness. Important to know: positive psychology as philosophy distinguishes two aspects: the hedonic and the eudaimonic happiness. You can have both.
Having flowers all around me, seeing and smelling them always makes me happy.
Hedonic happiness is fleeting and related to sensual pleasures or positive feelings. This is the way that people usually think of happiness.
We experience eudaimonic happiness when we pursue activities we are fully engaged in and that give meaning and purpose to our life.
Is Happiness Overrated?
In her article Is Happiness Overrated? Shirley S. Wang writes:
“Raising children, volunteering or going to medical school may be less pleasurable day to day. But these pursuits give a sense of fulfillment, of being the best one can be, particularly in the long run.”
She also quotes Carol Ryff from the University of Wisconsin: “Sometimes things that really matter most are not conducive to short-term happiness.”
What makes us happy?
In my view is while worth to distinguish these two – and to choose happiness twice.
In previous posts we showed how by smiling, body language and thinking we are able to produce positive emotions easily and swiftly – even if we start from a point, where we feel down and sluggish.
This knowledge is going to enhance our capability to stick with longer term goals that are in tune with our mission in life for example and will result in the second kind of happiness.
Hedonic pleasures can be induced through our body (eating chocolate, taking a bath, smelling a flower, watching someone smiling at us) whereas the mind is more involved in the pursuit of the lasting joy we get from pursuing and achieving a goal and living on purpose.
The more conscious you are about these things, the easier it gets to be happy every single day!
As an example, I share with you what made me happy today:
- Connecting with a colleague by skype, sharing ideas and asking each other questions.
- Getting feedback from a client about what she could apply in her life after a session with me.
- Having the freedom to take the afternoon off to visit an exhibition of Rodin (I love modern art).
- Having tea and three sorts of delicious cake in lovely company.
- Playing the piano
- Talking to my partner on the phone who is in Stockholm.
- Getting clarity about an issue and taking a decision
- Anticipating: Hitting on the “publish” button in 10 minutes
YOUR TURN NOW
Take five minutes to think (and even better write down):
What made you happy today?
Are these things / activities hedonic or eudaimonic?
Do you find 3 to 5 things for each category?
Please share the love in the comment box below.
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Combining professional experiences in communication, project management and public health with scientific research around mind-body wellbeing, effective time management, goal achievement and happiness she supports you to harness your sensitivities and play to your strengths.
Working with her allows you to complete your mission and to always have time for the things and people that matter most.
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Twitter: LottieLeads
on 24/09/2014 at 23:16
Like you I find positive feedback, and great folks to work with, give me a great sense of accomplishment and happiness. I guess the crucial thing is not to let our happiness be determined by these moments, but to establish an inner happiness that shines through regardless of what type of day we’re having x
Lottie recently posted…Emma Watson Nude Pics
I appreciate your remark Lottie. Yes it’s about habit building. Accomplishment is but one of six paths that lead to true happiness. Thanks for sharing!
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…Be bold – radiate love (19/30)
Great post. Lots of great ideas. Love how you point out that very simple things can make us happy and that we don’t have to expect to walk around feeling ecstatic every day to be able to say we are happy. Thanks.
Sarah recently posted…The KitchenTable Consultant’s Weekly Roundup
My pleasure Sarah, it makes me happy that it inspired you. And yes, you remind me to point out another important thing: studies clearly show that the frequency of positive emotions has more impact on our happiness than the intensity. Therefore, noticing and appreciating many small things make eventually a huge impact.
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…Spread love and have fun (12/30)
Twitter: jacquimalpass
on 25/09/2014 at 12:45
Eating biscuits and chocolate – hedonic
Walking in the rambla every morning, watching the world come alive. Writing and helping others with theirs. Seeing my mum more often now I am in Spain. – eudaimonic
What lovely words, once which I had never heard before. I shall certainly be thinking about them some more and wondering where I can slot them in.
Jacqui Malpass recently posted…What has a bran flake got to do with your book?
Thanks so much Jacqui for sharing this, I love it (and I admit that I eat chocolate every day, just before a Mozart ball). We seem to be both words lovers, how beautifully said “watching the world come alive”. Wishing you lots of fun exploring this further! With love, Patricia
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…Spread love and have fun (12/30)
Twitter: stewart_fi
on 25/09/2014 at 13:21
Thank you Patricia. This has pinpointed something for me, which makes a lot of things clear. I have always been a person who found it easy to feel hedonic happiness, which is what I equated with happiness. Over the years it has been less easy to feel that kind of happiness due to the way my life has gone. I assumed that if I didn’t feel that way, I wasn’t happy and if I wasn’t happy, I was unhappy. Now I understand that is not the case.
After reading your blog, I now realise I’m experiencing eudaimonic happiness. This is about the work I do every day, struggling to keep my business going and every time I have a setback, feeling even more determined to make it succeed. Thank you for helping me gain that clarity and assisting me to maintain my determination to keep on with it.
What a great insight!
Fiona, you make my day! I’m so glad this gave you food for thoughts and consolation.
I’m touched by your comment which is one way of reaping joy from the effort of writing 30 consecutive days a post. It shows me how important it was to complete this article late at night (experience a little bit of struggle and lots of eudaimonic happiness while writing it).
You may like the upcoming posts about the barriers to happiness, how to overcome the ‘negativity bias’ and cultivating positivity I wrote today. 🙂
May you be happy!
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…Be bold – open up for love (15/30)
Twitter: hikerciser
on 25/09/2014 at 18:23
Fabulous post. You made something which I find complex – happiness – very simple. Today what made me happy was having a long Skype conversation with a good friend, sharing our ups and downs and supporting each other (eudaimonic) My first cup of coffee in two days owing to a vicious migraine went down like the most exclusive of champagnes! (hedonic). Stretching out on cool sheets and feeling my head was back to normal (hedonic). Watching the stags bellowing in Bushy Park with their breath showing in the cool morning air (hedonic). Sticking to my set tasks of trying to sort out my property issues actually made me happy because a) I stuck to it b) I made progress (eudaimonic)
Jenny Andersson recently posted…How to Prevent Common Injuries on your Challenge
I appreciate your feedback Jenny and thanks for sharing! I see that you already have chosen both ways of happiness and practice gratitude and self-compassion as well. Stay happy!
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…Why being happy can be so hard (21/30)
Twitter: catpayen
on 02/08/2016 at 16:37
Thanks Patricia, after a down right awful day (we need those too) your phrase ‘the anticipation to hit the publish button in 5 mins’ just gave me wings. Shall publish something today 🙂
How beautiful to have inspired you to spread your wings and fly Cat. You certainly have delighted someone in the same way with your post. 🙂
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…How to get off the roller coaster now (don’t put it off until next year)