One
becomes
good
by
doing
good.
(Aristotle)
Have you ever
wondered which types of activities can be beneficial for you in the
long run? Which ones provide something more than a momentary spark?
If yes, a group of researchers analyzed data of more than 100
participants to find the answers you are looking for.
The
study
of
Steger,
Kashdan
and
Oishi
was
aimed
at
determining
which
type
of
behavior
is
better
for
individual
well-being,
hedonic
or
eudaimonic?
The
researchers
asked
their
subjects
to
indicate
daily
over
a
period
of
4
weeks
which
behaviors
they
engaged
in.
Their
list
included
hedonic
experiences,
such
as
getting
drunk,
going
to
a
big
party,
buying
jewelry
or
electronics
just
for
themself,
or
having
sex;
while
the
eudaimonic
activities
included
some
of
the
following:
volunteering
time,
giving
money
to
someone
in
need,
expressing
gratitude,
listening
carefully
to
another
person's
point
of
view.
The
reason
for
such
a
division
of
activities
stems
from
philosophy,
where
eudaimonia
means
a
'good
spirit'
and
relates
to
the
idea
of
living
to
achieve
true
human
potential,
whereas
hedonism
states
that
pleasure
is
the
only
good.
The
researchers
measured
daily
behaviors
performed
by
participants
as
well
as
their
well-being,
understood
as
having
a
meaning
in
life,
being
satisfied
with
one's
life
and
experiencing
positive
emotions.
In
general,
the
results
shouldn't
surprise
you
as
it
seems
that
engaging
in
eudaimonic
('good,
pro-social')
behaviors
accounted
for
greater
well-being.
However,
no
significant
relations
were
observed
between
well-being
and
hedonic
behaviors,
even
when
taking
into
consideration
daily
positive
affect
experienced
by
people.
More
importantly,
it
appeared
that
yesterday's
eudaimonic
activities
can
have
a
causal
impact
on
improved
well-being
the
next
day.
Thus,
remember
that
if
you
need
to
feel
well
next
day,
engage
in
some
pro-social
behaviors
the
day
before,
and
maybe
this
time
your
date,
business
meeting,
etc.,
will
go
better,
as
you
would
feel
better.
Who
knows?
You
won't
know
it
if
you
do
not
try
it!
Anyway,
it
seems
that
pleasure-seeking
is
a
poor
long-term
strategy
for
achieving
long-lasting
well-being.
The
idea
of
a
good
life
seen
sometimes
on
students'
T-shirts
may
account
for
pleasant,
but
unfortunately
not
a
GOOD
LIFE.
The
key to happiness consists of eudaimonic behaviors. This is especially
so because their beneficial effects lie in theirs potential of
satisfying basic human needs, i.e., autonomy, relatedness, and
competence, allowing people to pursue their lives in good ways.
What
is your idea of the great role eudaimonic experiences play in our
lives? Have you tried engaging in them and felt 'better' the next
day? Please share your opinion with us.
