“To be idle is to be foolish,”

There are many things my father taught me. Not the least of which was a fierce knowing that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. I am grateful for that teaching as it has embraced me in my pursuit of many hopes and dreams.

But with that passion also came a fierce loyalty to doing and succeeding which he encapsulated in this mantra he shared frequently when I was young.

But it turns out we need to be idle in order to be well. In this week on HealthBite, I talk about the health argument for a blend of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic for happiness and wellbeing. You probably have heard the word hedonic but chances are not in a particularly positive light.

But hedonic pursuits as well as its counterpart, eudaimonic, are essential to our ability to live well. Hedonic happiness, as you may know, is about experiencing positive emotions and enjoying life’s pleasures🏖️🌴🎮🎉.

Think of it as the stuff that gives us immediate gratification, like a chocolate fudge sundae🍦. Eudaimonia, originates all the way back from Aristotle, and is about living a life of virtue and purpose. It’s not just about feeling good but about doing good. This could involve pursuing long-term goals🏅📚, cultivating meaningful relationships💕🤝, or working towards something that you feel is valuable for the greater good🌍🌱.

And the science shows that both hedonic and eudaimonic happiness are both essential to our happiness and wellbeing. A study published in the journal Psychological Science found that hedonic wellbeing is associated with positive mood and pleasure, while eudaimonic wellbeing is linked to greater life satisfaction and overall psychological health. Moreover, the subjective well being gained through these pursuits can positively affect our health through bolstering the immune system, reducing the negative effects of stress, and promoting adaptive coping skills and positive health behaviors. So how can we make this an actionable bite? Take a moment to reflect on how you can incorporate both types of happiness into your own life. Start by identifying activities that are light, fun and bring you pleasure—what are some hedonic experiences that make you joyful?🛀

🧘‍♀️ Now, think about the activities that are aligned with your values and give you a sense of purpose and meaning💡. Can you think of some ways to integrate these into your daily routine?

Before we wrap up, let’s touch on a couple of practical tips for nurturing both hedonic and eudaimonic happiness:

📌 Savor: Take time to savor hedonic pleasures. If you are going to do something enjoyable then really enjoy it. Remember it does not have to be something big. Savor your coffee☕, savor your lazy afternoon☀️, savor your downtime😴.

📌 Align with your Values: Set a purposeful goal that is aligned with your values and reflect on how your actions contribute to a greater purpose. This perspective will give you a stronger desire to work towards your goals.

📌 Balance: Make sure to include both pleasurable activities and meaningful pursuits in your life. Too much of one without the other will result in burn out and dissatisfaction in the end.

If you are interested in bringing this message to your team, professional groups or organizations respond to this email and I will send you all you need to set up the most inspirational keynote or workshop.

You can listen to the whole episode here. 👇👇