There are two types of happiness: hedonic and eudaimonic. While most of us spend our lives chasing hedonic happiness, research shows that it's actually eudaimonic happiness that is the basis for deep, lasting joy and an overall sense of well being.
Hedonic happiness is all about pleasures of the senses and attaining things outside ourselves in a bid to be happy: think sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll, a quick rush of sugar, or retail therapy. These short bursts of joy, followed by a crash or sense of emptiness, lead us to chase the next high, over and over - aka the ‘hedonic treadmill’.
Eudaimonic happiness doesn’t come from personal pleasure, but from something larger than ourselves: forging deeper personal connections, or being of service to someone else. These things give us a sense of purpose that helps cultivate a more meaningful, steady sense of joy and wellbeing. This can come from helping someone financially (studies show that spending money on other people or charitable organizations increases the giver's sense of well being), or from other acts of service. Helping others takes the focus off oneself and directs it outward - the opposite of the preoccupation with self that research links to depression and anxiety.
An important by-product of the deep fulfillment that arises from meaningful connections and a sense of purpose, is that it could potentially have a positive effect on our health. A study by Barbara Fredrickson and Steve Cole shows that people whose happiness is primarily hedonic have inflammation levels similar to those experiencing chronic stress. Those who primarily find joy through eudaimonic happiness show significantly lower inflammation levels.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the more superficial, material aspects of life - those small bursts of joy are important and fun. Hedonic happiness only becomes a problem when it’s our only source of happiness, so balance is key. Find ways to help others and make it a nonnegotiable part of your life - you and those you help will both reap the rewards!
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