Today’s card is a reminder that practice makes you, if not perfect, happy. Or so the concept of eudaimonia tells us. I ran across that word (which is very fun to say. Go ahead, try it. I’ll wait.) on a blog by Joanna Powell Colbert. She simply said that she was practicing eudaimonia that day.
Eudaimonia, according to Princeton, is a “contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.” Aristotle would tell you that it mean “striving toward excellence based on one’s unique talents and potential.” I even created a spread on this concept.
And get this, y’all. It isn’t about BEING perfect. It’s about striving towards excellence. And not just some uniform concept of excellence, either. It’s based on what you are good at. It’s based on making the most of you.
That really sings to me. It takes away the “only an A student is any good” shadow that so many of us hang over our own heads. We can’t coast through life because someone else tagged us as “Most Likely To Work For The Man For The Rest Of His Life” in high school.
Nope. We have to all sit up, take notice and, most importantly, take action.
Imagine a world where we were each striving towards excellence based on our own unique talents and potential. And where we were lending a hand (even if in wild applause) to those next to us. Imagine the chain of good we could weave across the Universe.
Practice Eudaimonia, y’all. It’s important.
Get your own reminders to practice Eudaimonia.
Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on.
Hibiscus, taken by Arwen Lynch, 2011
Special notice for my blog readers. I’m teaching a one hour webinar on how to use the Tarot as a tool for fiction writing. Come join me August 12, 2012.
By the way? This card would be the 10 of Coins in my world. What about yours?
Ha – thanks Arwen, learnt something new today!!! Go off and share it now.
“contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.” – this is tweetable too!
Love
Yiye
Yiye! How nice to “see” you again. I love that word (and say it just to make myself snort with laughter).
*grins* – as a self-proclaimed language geek, I always love learning new words, and I hadn’t come across eudaimonia before.
I love the concept too – great post, Arwen.
Blessings
TANJA
Tanja, so glad you loved that word. It’s one of my favorites. 😀 Now how to use it in copywriting, eh? I’ve learned a lot on your blog so thank you for all that you share.
Eudaimonia – never heard of it before, but it’s now my FAVOURITE concept of the year! Thanks Arwen! x
I think if we all spread this one, it will be such a better world! 😀