Can Hedonia or Eudaimonia Be a Standard?

And if so, how far can we veer away from it?

This newsletter has a new name: The Standards Mindset

One of the most important words I’ve learned in recent years is eudaimonia (yoo duh MOH nee uh), a Greek word that effectively means human flourishing or prosperity. It refers to the highest human good, drives fulfillment and meaning, and involves the pursuit of personal flourishing.

Its counterpart (not an opposite or antonym) is a word we’re much more familiar with, hedonia, which is about pursuing and maximizing pleasure while avoiding and minimizing pain. We use it in the form of hedonist to describe people who pursue pleasure, or hedonism which is the belief in pursuing it.

The reason I found the word eudaimonia so important, especially in contrast with hedonia, is because it resonates with me personally and professionally.

It sheds light on how I spend my time, which relationships are most important to me, why I have spent most of my career in learning and education, and much more. It also stimulated a lot of thinking and reflection for me on how the two concepts relate to the world of business and the people in my life, and whether it can be considered a standard in my life.

THE WORLD OF BUSINESS

I’ve always enjoyed my business career yet had varied feelings of moral conflict along the way.

In my opinion, most of business is about hedonia, the pursuit of pleasure or the avoidance of pain. There is the drive to “crush” the competition, the celebration of closing deals and landing big customers, the focus on managing risk, the awe of hyper-growth startups and, of course, the unadulterated joy of making money from profits or big exits. In fact, one can make the argument that hedonism and capitalism are interconnected.

These dynamics are a major reason why I have felt that so much of the business world is soulless. They’re a reason why I left the corporate world early in my career and instead pursued the entrepreneurship world. Despite earning an MBA along the way, and then spending 14 years teaching at an accredited business school, those dynamics are also a reason I became cynical of such degrees.

But in recent years, we’ve witnessed the rise of social ventures and “conscious capitalism,” the importance of culture and core values, the adoption of vision and mission statements, the discussion of purpose, and the presence of “triple bottom-line” companies.

Diversity is valued not just for compliance purposes but to enrich the workplace and decision-making processes. More startups and established companies are incorporating mindfulness and yoga at work. Large companies are increasingly judged on their social consciousness. Emotional intelligence is valued in employees more than cognitive intelligence. What used to be “VP of Human Resources” is now “Chief People Officer.” And what used to be “training” is now “learning and development.”

I’m not a business historian but I’m curious if eudaimonia is increasingly becoming a part of industry and commerce. It’s perfectly normal now to discuss the pursuit of flourishing and meaning in business in addition to the pursuit of market dominance, profits, and fast growth. The latter are necessary in a capitalist, free-market economy that provides the ability to pursue and create wealth with little government intervention. But it doesn’t have to be done without attention to humanity and soul.

THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE

Along similar lines, I’ve noticed that the relationships I value most tend to be with people who show signs of eudaimonia more frequently than hedonia.

I often become friends with people I work with, including clients, given the type of work I’ve done in my career. Things like education, executive coaching, personal growth, learning and development, and emotional intelligence obviously draw people who are more inclined to pursue meaning and flourishing in their work and lives.

Despite the fact that I’ve spent a lot of time with financially “successful” entrepreneurs and executives, the ones whose company I really enjoy are those who are comfortable engaging in conversations that go beyond where they travel, what cars and toys they’ve bought, how big their homes (and second/third ones) are, and how much they’ve spent on art or collectibles.

As a classic introvert, I’ve always preferred a weekend away with one or two friends where we can spend hours getting to know one another and think together, as opposed to a guy’s trip full of partying, boondoggling, and really late nights. With friends and family, I’d much rather cook a “nice dinner” for them rather than going out to a “nice restaurant.”

CAN ONE BE A STANDARD?

I don’t believe that either hedonia or eudaimonia is better or worse, simply that the contrast has helped identify what I prioritize and how I spend my time, money, and energy. Put another way, it’s helped drive some contemplation for me and lots of conversation with others.

And while one may not be better or worse, I recently began wondering if one or the other can be considered one of our standards? Can either hedonia or eudaimonia help explain our lifestyle, way of living, and approach to life? Could it be a simple way to articulate how we prioritize our time, money, and energy?

Truth be told, I believe that most of us lean one way or another but that we also engage in the counterpart.

For example, I do many things for the pursuit of pleasure and which might be viewed as hedonistic. I’m comfortable buying great concert seats for what others might consider excessive sums of money regardless of their financial ability. At those concerts, despite how much I spent on the tickets, I’m comfortable buying an excessively priced band shirt.

I will hike for hours just to reach a gorgeous alpine lake. And then hike more to reach another. I love to slowly sip and savor a glass of really good Scotch. And I’ve decided I want to see all four Grand Slam tournaments in person (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open).

I’m perfectly comfortable with, and embrace, these decisions and desires. They feed my soul in a very different way - by providing pleasure - than other parts of my life. Therefore, I don’t feel guilty or ashamed, and never regret any of them.

But if a standard is “something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality,” how far away can we veer from one that influences our life in such a significant way as eudaimonia or hedonia? At what point is something a standard, and at what point is it not?

I’d love to hear your response to this larger question, and especially within the context of eudaimonia and hedonia for your life.