My Happiness Coach

I think it’s safe to say that, collectively, we have been searching for happiness since the dawn of humankind. Everything we do is done in the spirit of happiness hunting.

We go day-by-day looking for things we need; our basic needs that bring us toward our happiness set point. Everything beyond our basic needs are the fruits of our search. Our family, friends, hobbies, & pastimes all affect our happiness set point.

There are two types of happiness: hedonic & eudaimonic. According to Aristotle it’s broken down into pleasure (hedonic) or fulfillment (eudaimonic) happiness.

What is hedonic happiness?

Just got a raise? Found a new partner? Won the lotto? These are things that make us very happy in the beginning. Then…

We get used to hedonic happiness.

Hedonic happiness is the goal for many happiness hunters. Always searching for a better job, a better relationship, the perfect life. Note that I said always. It is hedonic happiness that dissipates the quickest, so we are always on the look out for ways to scratch that happiness itch.

The American Dream

American culture prizes and values hedonic happiness. Searching for euphoria & minimizing discomfort while maximizing reward is the backbone of the American Dream.

It is hedonic happiness, the quickest, most fleeting happiness that you’ll find in life, has huge benefits. Any feeling of happiness brings forth positive emotions, satisfaction with one’s life, & decrease in negative emotions. And feelings of happiness help regulate emotion while fighting stress and depression.

Show me the money!

Money is a big source of hedonic happiness. That is not to say that money doesn’t bring happiness, but it doesn’t last.

Say you just got a raise or a new job that pays more, no matter how much more that you are making it will simply become your normal income. Your life style will adjust to reflect the extra money (or happiness) that you have found in your life.

The same way that you adjust to your base income level, you will adjust to your base happiness level or happiness set point.

Your happiness set point is the base point of your happiness. You can feel feelings of euphoria increasing your happiness or feel feelings of stress & negative emotion. Either way you go, you will eventually go back to your happiness set point.

The Key to Happiness.

Did I catch your attention again? Good because there is a way to increase your happiness set point & that is through eudaimonic happiness work. These are the happiness activities that elevate you, like discovering a new hobby, advancing your accomplishments, or other meaningful endeavors that require effort.

Practicing self-development can increase your happiness set point. Things like advancing your education or getting a promotion at work. Seeing your accomplishments as a road map through which you can increase your happiness set point.

The Importance of Balance

There is something to be said for the boost that hedonic happiness gives us, but working on increasing your happiness set point through eudaimonic endeavors is important too. Remember that you need to work on achieving eudaimonic happiness with a sprinkling of hedonic happiness. This is the recipe for true happiness.

*Please note that I am not a doctor or therapist. You should always check in with your healthcare professional before starting a new program*