Happiness is an elusive concept as being happy means various things to different people. In this exercise, five people were asked questions about happiness. Specifically, they were asked if they were happy, if they were living “the good life,” and whether they wanted to make any changes to their lives. This post aims to summarize and discuss the answers on happiness provided in the table below.
The poll of five people illustrates that most people view eudaimonic experiences, such as spending time with friends and family and engaging in work, as true happiness. Meanwhile, two people stated that hedonic activities of traveling and enjoying live music contribute to them being happy. When asked if they were living “the good life,” all participants stated that they were. These affirmations were supported by the examples that included both hedonic and eudaimonic experiences. The people involved in the survey focused on areas of family, friends, work, financial opportunities, and health when evaluating their lives, noting that achievement in these domains adds to their happiness.
The question on any changes that would make the participants happier was more challenging. However, only one of the surveyed persons focused on attaining more pleasurable experiences. For instance, two people stated that the improved health of a family member is the only change they would like to see in their life. Meanwhile, others posited they want more opportunities at work or in their studies. Thus, it can be argued that hedonic experiences are not ones that people view as true happiness. Furthermore, according to Prinzing (2020), certain hedonistic states can prevent the achievement of eudaimonic ones. Overall, the polling exercise shows that most people would choose self-fulfillment over self-indulgence. It can be asserted that eudaimonic affairs have more value in one’s life than hedonic ones and contribute to the emotional state of happiness.
Reference
Prinzing, M. M. (2020). Positive psychology is value-laden — It’s time to embrace it. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(3), 289–297. Web.