Theories about well-being help us understand happiness better. They give us different ways to think about what makes us happy. Two important theories are called hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being.
Hedonic Well-Being: This theory says that happiness comes mostly from feeling good and avoiding bad feelings. It focuses on having positive experiences. For example, enjoying a tasty meal or having fun with a favorite hobby makes us happy.
Eudaimonic Well-Being: This idea is different. It talks about living a meaningful life. It’s about growing as a person, finding purpose, and helping others. For instance, when someone volunteers or follows a passion, they can feel a deep happiness that is more than just feeling good in the moment.
These two theories together show us that happiness isn’t just about quick joys. It’s also about deeper feelings that last longer. For example, someone might feel really happy eating their favorite dessert (that’s hedonic), but helping a young person learn something new (that’s eudaimonic) can bring an even stronger feeling of happiness.
Thinking about both types of happiness helps us see what it really means to live a happy and satisfying life.
Theories about well-being help us understand happiness better. They give us different ways to think about what makes us happy. Two important theories are called hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being.
Hedonic Well-Being: This theory says that happiness comes mostly from feeling good and avoiding bad feelings. It focuses on having positive experiences. For example, enjoying a tasty meal or having fun with a favorite hobby makes us happy.
Eudaimonic Well-Being: This idea is different. It talks about living a meaningful life. It’s about growing as a person, finding purpose, and helping others. For instance, when someone volunteers or follows a passion, they can feel a deep happiness that is more than just feeling good in the moment.
These two theories together show us that happiness isn’t just about quick joys. It’s also about deeper feelings that last longer. For example, someone might feel really happy eating their favorite dessert (that’s hedonic), but helping a young person learn something new (that’s eudaimonic) can bring an even stronger feeling of happiness.
Thinking about both types of happiness helps us see what it really means to live a happy and satisfying life.