Well-being Decoded: The Dance between Hedonic and Eudaimonic Happiness

Ever wondered how happiness works? Are you trapped on the hedonic treadmill, ceaselessly chasing fleeting pleasures, or are you pursuing a life of purpose and virtue with eudaimonic well-being? Today, we're embarking on a thought-provoking exploration of these two fascinating theories of well-being. We'll unravel the mysteries of living a meaningful life filled with self-awareness, meaningful goals, and positive relationships, compare it with a pleasure-centric existence, and discuss how finding a balance between the two can lead to a happier, healthier life. 

But that's not all! We're also opening up a new chapter in our podcast journey and we want you to be a part of it. Got a burning question or a fascinating topic you'd love to hear us discuss? Maybe you have a personal story that you'd like to share with our community? We're all ears. Reach out and connect with us on social media or drop us an email. Remember, this is a journey of self-discovery, not a quest for perfection. Stay curious, keep wandering, and let's continue this incredible journey of personal growth together.

Transcript

Balancing Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being

Speaker 1 0:01

Hey there , curious minds and self improvement dabblers . Welcome to me , myself and my best self . The podcast where we casually navigate the maze of personal growth without the hype . No promises of overnight transformations or grand life revelations here , just real talk , relatable stories and a few laughs as we figure out this whole becoming our best selves thing . I'm Claire Bennett , your guide through the maze of life's quirks and challenges . Let's wonder through it together . No pressure , no perfection , just a touch of curiosity . So welcome back .

Speaker 1 0:35

Episode two is here and I've decided to embrace my nerdiness this week by diving into some psychology theories of well-being . Don't worry , I'll keep it light but informative . So in the vast world of well-being , two main theories take the spotlight hedonic and eudaimonic . It's like a dance between chasing pleasure hedonic and searching for meaning eudaimonic . Let's talk about them in a way that won't put you to sleep , I promise . So hedonic well-being is known as the pursuit of happiness , chasing those moments that bring instant joy and gratification . On the flip side , eudaimonic well-being is about finding fulfillment through deeper connections to values and virtues . Okay , so let's start with eudaimonic well-being . Achieving eudaimonia , or human flourishing , involves living and virtuous and meaningful life . It was first suggested by the philosopher Aristotle . This theory is one that is not as well understood , but I like to look at this one as your guiding principles to life . It's a long-term strategy and you're not necessarily going to see instant results , but over time it will definitely reap the benefits .

Speaker 1 1:57

Pursuing eudaimonic well-being involves living a life that is virtuous , meaning morally good , and involve characteristics such as courage , wisdom , justice , temperance and compassion . Now , virtuous , obviously there's different characteristics depending on different religions , different cultures , but this one is about understanding your own virtues and living by them . It also involves getting to know yourself , so your strengths , your weaknesses , your values , your passions , and this self-reflection needs to be a journey of continuous learning . So , like anything , we change with time , we change with experience , we change with context . So it's about really getting to know who you are in every situation , the good and the bad Goal , time again , not just any goals , though . These are the big , meaningful ones that make your heart do a happy dance , and it's about identifying them , committing to them and chasing them like you're trying to pursue your favourite snack . You also need to invest in positive connections and relationships , like you're building a dream team for life's world ride . These are the relationships that are built on trust , honesty , mutual commitment . But also there's actually been some more research out lately about relationships and how you can beat loneliness , and one of those things is that it's not just about having social interactions but it's about having those positive social interactions and an ongoing basis and on a daily basis .

Speaker 1 3:46

Also , live mindfully , regularly checking to your actions , your motivations and reactions . It's like having a built-in compass that keeps you heading in the right direction . So I'm noticing when you react to certain things . For me I did this at the beginning of the year I used to hate it when you're driving along and you pull over to let someone pass and they don't say thank you . It used to drive me insane and then I realized actually this is my problem , not necessarily theirs , but it's made driving a little bit better for me because I'm not angry every time someone doesn't say thank you and I do a nice thing Also .

Speaker 1 4:38

Reason . The next one is reason and critical thinking are your sidekick . So make choices that make sense and align with your values and your long-term goals . One of my favorites never stop the curiosity train . So keep learning , keep reflecting and I'm locking deeper insights into yourself and the world and embrace challenges . Yes , bring them on . View those hurdles as opportunities to flex your super well-being muscles . Overcoming difficulties is like discovering your own superpowers , and it builds resilience . Without challenges , we don't become resilient . So that's eutomonic well-being .

Speaker 1 5:27

So now let's move on to hedonic well-being . Now , this is often seen as the fun one , the one that most of us seek . Living hedonically involves seeking pleasure , maximizing positive experiences and avoiding pain . Now , a hedonic well-being does get a bad rap and is the pursuit that can lead to too much of a good thing . You also have the concept of the hedonic treadmill .

Speaker 1 5:54

This is when , in general , people have a baseline of happiness and that they return to this baseline no matter what happens in their life . So , for example , you buy a new car , you eat a delicious meal or you get that promotion , or even you win the lottery . The novelty soon wears off and people return to that typical level of happiness , and this has been shown time and time again . So if we all have a typical level of happiness or well-being , then what is the point of pursuing something when we are likely to fall back to our norm ? But there is some good news . According to research , 40% of our happiness is within our control . Now , that 40% differs in terms of what you look at , but it's around 40% . 50% is to do with your basically your genetics , and 10% of it is about your context , so where you were born , where you live , who your parents are . But 40% is still a big number to be able to have within your control .

Speaker 1 7:04

And if we just let a hadonic life , although it could be fun , it does have its pitfalls . So constant pursuit of pleasure without balance can result in burnout or lead to addictive behaviors , whether substance related or otherwise , and this impacts both physical and mental health . It may foster fleeting relationships . So focusing on immediate enjoyment rather those deeper connections . So , as said before , the research does show that it's not just about having lots of social interactions , it's about having those interactions that are meaningful .

Speaker 1 7:42

Overspending on immediate gratifications may have long-term financial repercussions and could cause stress . Hey look , we've all done it gone out , bought that dress , need the shoes , need the handbag . But that gratification only lasts for so long . Hadonic pleasures may offer temporary satisfaction but often lack deeper fulfillment and purpose , and this could result in mood fluctuations based on external factors . On the flip side , living a wholly eudaimonic life while fulfilling comes with its own set of challenges , so it might lead to rigidity . Staying true to your values and chasing long-term goals might make you a bit too structured .

Speaker 1 8:27

Occasional FOMO . Making choices for the greater good can leave you yearning for immediate joy and that feeling of missing out , and it can also put a restraining on relationships . So it's all about finding that balance to personal aspirations and growth and being the friend and partner or family member and you want , all you're meant to be . So , when you look at this , there's eutomonic and hedonic and there's good and bad on both . So what's the magic formula ? Well , it is all about balance and here are some suggestions .

Speaker 1 9:08

So identify those pleasurable activities , reflect on what brings you joy and make time for those activities . So always that delay in gratification is not always a good thing . You need to be able to just go and have some fun , let your hair down and prioritize self-care . So take care of your physical and mental wellbeing and see that as a positive activity . So find something you love to do that helps your physical or your mental wellbeing . Build positive relationships , cultivate meaningful connections with others , indulge in enjoyable experiences . Let yourself enjoy them . So be mindful , practice being fully engaged and enjoy the activities . So if you're gonna have that lovely three-course meal , then enjoy every single bite and let yourself enjoy it without feeling guilty the day after because your goal is to lose weight or this and the other . Enjoy it guilt-free . Balance hedonism with responsibility . So balance the two .

Speaker 1 10:30

Enjoy in the moment , but keep long-term goals in mind . So , for example , if you're gonna go have a day off from chasing your goals or have two days off , have a week off , but come back to it as regenerated and feeling like you can then carry on . Cultivate positive emotions . Focus on gratitude , joy and contempt . Gratitude is one that gets lots of good rap . Think about what you're thankful for every day . Avoid excessive behavior . So moderation is a key to a healthy lifestyle . Incorporate playfulness . Remember when you're a kid . You just use to giggle at the funniest things . If you go back , think what you used to enjoy as a kid and maybe start to add those things into your life . Dance around the kitchen to your favorite music or infuse some playfulness into your daily life and celebrate achievements . Acknowledge and celebrate your successes . So , as you're going through these like I think I mentioned this last week but as you're setting goals and going through them , celebrate the small wins .

Speaker 1 11:47

It's not all about that big destination and people , especially now . At the moment , everyone keeps talking about having a more balanced life . They want to feel more balanced in their home and their work and all of this . And I really think they're referring a balance between this hedonic and new demonic , rather than a balance between life and work and family and all of those other things money . I actually think that hedonic and new demonic when you kind of get that balance right , then you are living , then sorry , you're having a balance of both pursuits of well-being that can result in a life well-lived . I'm not sure a 50-50 balance of hedonic and new demonic is probably right for me . Maybe in my 20s a 50-50 split might have been about right and maybe it was more hedonic than new demonic . But for me now I think an 80s 20 split new demonic being the 80 is a really good balance for me . And people think , oh , 80-20 , but that's in a week that's kind of a whole day to be hedonic and the rest new demonic . But it's about , I think , mixing it up . So having that dessert with that dinner , having that hour to myself for self-care every day , so yeah , I think it's about that , I think this when people talk about balanced life , it's about getting this balance right , and it's going to be a different balance for everyone at different times of your life .

Speaker 1 13:44

Like I'll be honest , this weekend I probably enjoyed a more hedonic experience . I went away for the weekend to Brighton . For those of you that don't know Brighton , it's a great place to have a good time . To put it in context , it is a firm favourite with Henan Stagtoos . Although there weren't too many there in November .

Speaker 1 14:02

I probably no , not probably I definitely ate and drank too much , danced till my feet hurt and definitely slept to too little , but it still had elements of eudaimonic wellbeing . Well , I'm going to try and infuse them . But I travelled with two of my best friends . We've been friends for over 30 years and spending time with them is always meaningful . I was also mindful and present . I enjoyed every moment , and I think that I enjoyed it more because I don't get to do it every weekend , so I savoured the experience . Definitely , in my 20s , when I was out four days out of seven , I probably didn't enjoy it as much as having that one weekend every few months to go away , and I'm so grateful for the weekend experience , despite the slight hangover . But great weekend , and now it's probably back to taking care of my body , because it definitely takes me longer to get over them .

Speaker 1 15:08

But on that note , my fellow wanderers , it brings us to the end of episode two . We've demystified the dance between hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing , discovering the joys and pitfalls of each . Whether you're grooving to the thrill of pleasure or walks into the depth of meaning , the magic lies in finding your balance . So here's the golden ticket Identify what brings you joy , prioritise self-care , build positive connections and embrace the joyful moments . Blend hedonism with responsibility , infuse playfulness and celebrate your victories , big or small . Life is a dance and your rhythm is uniquely yours .

Future Episode Topics and Personal Stories

Speaker 1 15:51

Now I'd love to hear from you what topics do you want us to explore in the future episodes ? Do you have any personal stories or experiences you'd like to share on the podcast ? Whether it's a success story , a learning moment or just a funny anecdote , I'm all ears . You can connect with me on Instagram and Facebook at ClaireFallLiving , or send me an email at hello at ClaireBennettcom . Don't be shy . Let's make this a two-way conversation . After all , we're on this journey of self-discovery together . As we wrap up , remember it's not about perfection , it's about the journey . Keep wandering , stay curious and until next time , this is Claire Bennett singing off , signing off from me myself and my best self . Happy exploring .