Eudaimonia: The Art of Living Well
Dr. Santosh Kumar Mohapatra
Mob: 9437208762
When we discuss “happiness,” the first question that arises is: what does it truly mean? Is happiness merely a mental state, or is it the outcome of material success? Although happiness may appear easy to understand in the modern age, it is actually highly complex. In today’s consumerist and materialistic society, happiness is often equated with pleasure, satisfaction, financial comfort, luxurious lifestyles, and the glamorous images projected on social media. Popular culture and technology exert enormous influence over our understanding of happiness. Yet reducing happiness to a few simplistic definitions would be superficial and misleading.
Happiness is a relative concept. There is no universal standard, measuring scale, or index that can accurately determine whether a person is truly happy. We pursue happiness almost religiously. We organize our daily lives around it, choose relationships accordingly, purchase comforts, and constantly evaluate our emotions. We even treat happiness as a moral obligation—always remain positive, grateful, and cheerful. However, according to George John, excessive pursuit of happiness can itself become deceptive, and a good life is never an uninterrupted smile. While happiness is an important aspect of life, it is not the entirety of life. Genuine happiness emerges when we immerse ourselves in meaningful work, deep relationships, and sincere living. The moment we ask ourselves, “Am I happy right now?” an inner observer is born, and instead of joy, anxiety often follows.
Generally, we believe that more wealth, greater success, and wider recognition will make us happy. But reality is far more complicated. The saying “money cannot buy happiness” is only partially true. Without money, society often ignores people. Money influences security, healthcare, and opportunities. Relief from financial stress certainly brings peace of mind. Research also shows that happiness increases with income—but only up to a certain level. Beyond that point, relationships, health, and purpose become far more significant.
Even great wealth brings its own challenges. Luxury gradually becomes ordinary. Wealthy people compare themselves with those who are even wealthier. Despite success, the mind may remain restless. The constant pressure to remain happy causes three major harms: it suppresses truth, weakens morality and sensitivity toward justice, and diminishes emotional resilience and the ability to endure suffering. This is not an argument against happiness itself, but rather a warning against obsessively chasing it.
Psychology describes a phenomenon called “hedonic adaptation” or the “hedonic treadmill.” It refers to the tendency of human beings to quickly return to a stable baseline level of happiness despite major positive or negative life events. Just as heart rate and blood pressure rise while walking on a treadmill but eventually return to normal, human beings similarly adapt to new achievements, possessions, or circumstances. As a result, satisfaction becomes temporary, and we begin craving something new again. Thus, a cycle emerges—acquiring, adapting, and desiring more. “More” never seems enough.
Whether one experiences a highly positive event, such as winning a lottery, or a tragic event, individuals generally return over time to their personal “set point” of happiness. Introduced by Brickman and Campbell in 1971, this concept explains why long-term satisfaction through material gain or temporary success remains difficult.
To counter the hedonic treadmill, gratitude is essential. Expressing gratitude for the contributions and support of others can sustain a higher baseline of happiness. Instead of focusing excessively on material possessions, one should prioritize intrinsic goals such as personal growth, meaningful relationships, and enriching experiences. It is also wise to avoid upgrading every aspect of life all at once, because slower adaptation prolongs appreciation.
Eudaimonia is an enduring philosophical concept that explains the true meaning of fulfillment and flourishing. It encourages people to live with purpose, values, and personal growth, thereby transcending temporary pleasures and attaining deeper inner satisfaction. Originating from ancient Greek philosophy, the term is closely associated with the philosopher Aristotle. It is often translated as “human flourishing” or “living well.”
Unlike ordinary happiness, eudaimonia emphasizes morality, integrity, and purposeful living. Happiness is usually emotional and temporary, influenced by external conditions. Eudaimonia, however, is enduring and stable. It arises from meaningful living, ethical character, and deeply held values.
Eudaimonia manifests itself in everyday actions that reflect purpose and integrity—for example, a teacher who sincerely shapes the lives of students, a healthcare worker who continues serving even in difficult conditions, or an individual who chooses honesty over convenience. Such actions may not always produce immediate pleasure, but they create profound satisfaction and inner harmony.
In an age obsessed with instant gratification and rapid success, eudaimonia offers a more balanced and sustainable path. It teaches us to value not merely external achievements, but the quality of our actions and intentions. To cultivate eudaimonia in daily life and build a meaningful existence, certain simple practices are essential: choosing purposeful work, building sincere relationships, learning from failure, pursuing continuous self-development, cultivating self-awareness, and following ethical principles.
Eudaimonia reminds us that true success lies not merely in achievement, but in our purpose, conduct, and values. By prioritizing meaning over fleeting pleasure and material excess, we can build a more complete and enduring life.
Modern market systems profit by keeping people dissatisfied. If we become content, we buy less. Therefore, we are constantly made to feel incomplete. Social comparison is another major source of dissatisfaction. Human beings naturally compare themselves with others, and social media has intensified this tendency dramatically. We mostly see only the attractive parts of others’ lives—their achievements, celebrations, and luxuries—while remaining unaware of their struggles, failures, and sorrows. This creates feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, anxiety, and dissatisfaction within us.
According to Anne H. Verhoef of Northwestern University, happiness and suffering are inseparably connected. Human life is a mixture of joy and pain. One cannot eliminate suffering entirely and retain only happiness. This perspective teaches us to view happiness not as a permanent condition, but as an experience emerging from the changing flow of life itself. We seek happiness through our actions, relationships, and values, yet we must also accept the role of uncertainty in human existence.
We should strive for a good life while simultaneously accepting uncertainty. The true meaning of happiness is much broader and deeper than mere personal pleasure or achievement. It is intimately connected with our relationships, our sense of justice, and our responsibilities toward society.
Today, when the idea of happiness is heavily shaped by markets, media, and measurable indicators, it becomes essential to rethink its meaning. Instead of blindly following external pressures, we should seek a form of happiness rooted in genuine human experience—one that embraces complexity, accepts imperfection, and remains connected to the realities of life.
George John, a renowned retired psychiatrist from London, devoted much of his work to human flourishing, inner conflict, and the philosophy of psychotherapy. His central message is simple yet profound:
“Do not chase happiness; live a meaningful life, and happiness will arrive on its own.”
According to the World Happiness Report, the foundations of a happy life include social support, trust, freedom, generosity, strong institutions, meaningful relationships, safety, purpose, love, honesty, and rest.
A good life is not always the same as a constantly happy life. Therefore, instead of obsessing over permanent happiness, we should place greater emphasis on truth, morality, duty, generosity, greatness, kindness, compassion, broad-mindedness, and ideals.
The Art of Living Well-Dr. Santosh Kumar Mohapatra Cuttack
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