The Art of Fluorishing
It is rare to find a true student of life. We live mindlessly, thinking only of the next dopamine hit or intoxicating rush. Most minds remain uncultivated and lost in consumption. The 21st century is the age sick with the pursuit of happiness. This perversity reinforces the current social system that keeps us enslaved. It is the greatest weapon of the greedy corporation, the enemy of the churches, and the destroyer of love and family. As the ultimate end remains a feeling or longing for satisfaction, the resulting pain that most feel is no surprise. The chase that we all participate in, to end suffering and find pleasure, will never lead to a state of human flourishing.
One of the greatest corruptions of society has been the way in which love, and even religion, have been destroyed by a distorted notion of happiness. Love only ever remains a feeling to most, while the self-sacrifice and virtue that leads to the good of the beloved is never expressed well. The necessities of self-sacrifice are too painful for the pleasure addict. Even in religion, the main objective for most is a feeling or sense of comfort. This isn’t bad per se. Even in love and romance, a desire for comfort and pleasure is not wrong. It is when these become the end, rather than a means to greater self-giving, that the mind becomes twisted. In religion, the follower has become infected with a desire for feeling. The necessities of faith, of dying to one’s self, are ignored because it makes us uncomfortable. This distortion of love and religion carries over into the other facets of modern society.
What will it take to find Eudaimonia? That state where men and women flourish by living well? According to the greeks, this state could be achieved when human beings lived in accordance with perfect or complete virtue (“Eudaimonia”). To live according to virtue is a painful and arduous task, but it may be the only way that we can put an end to our modern miseries. We have seen that the conventional notion of happiness doesn’t make us happy. It only produces a craving that was never meant to be satiated. It doesn’t teach the modern individual how to deal with suffering, heartbreak, or loss. Happiness as a philosophy of life will always disappoint its followers. Eudaimonia, on the other hand, requires pain for the sake of personal excellence. It requires the courage to do everything for love even if it leads to nothing. A human that fluorishes will prosper not because of any personal success, but for the mere reason that one has lived in accordance with the highest ideals of one’s muse.
For every person, the individual muse of excellence will be different. For some it will be the journey of faith. For others it is a connection with the creative soul, bringing to life art, music, and invention for the sake of excellence. We are afraid of flourishing because happiness is easier. It’s easier to chase a feeling. It’s better for most to imagine what they could become rather than becoming it. Even though finding eudaimonia may be difficult, the best part is that by flourishing happiness can be found too. It will never be consistent or omnipresent, but I have to believe that those who live according to their highest ideals experience greater moments of happiness. Furthermore, the very fact of not chasing happiness means we can enjoy the good times more. Happiness as a surprise, taken with gratitude and not entitlement, might be a better condition for a human being.
Sources:
“Eudaimonia | Definition & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2021, www.britannica.com/topic/eudaimonia.
