Happiness does not consist of pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities. ~ Aristotle
The Greek “eudaimonia” is what we translate as happiness; however, it more precisely means “living well” or “excellence”.
To the Greeks, happiness was more than laughter or pleasure. It consisted of something deeper. It was good and virtuous. It was our proper function as humans, more significant than self-gratification, more meaningful than vacations or beers with the pals.
Our proper function as humans.
Your proper function has to be your potential; it cannot be anything less. It’s not merely doing or being but being you at your best. Part of that is goodness, how you are to others, how you serve, how you make them feel, how you teach them, but another part of that is how much of yourself you give.
We leave so much in the tank every day. We should be crawling into bed as a refuge from the battles faced and enemies defeated during the day. We don’t do that. We don’t give our all. We don’t even give our focus to a single thing, we chop it up and hand it to multiple things at a given time, but never that which best deserves our attention.
Your highest purpose as a human cannot be split, it must be a singular focus, an arduous pursuit, only one thing at a time and while that thing is your only focus, there should be no other.
Give your time to something virtuous. Happiness isn’t found in pleasure or constantly chasing our desires, but in a higher pursuit.
