Three Kinds of Happiness

[Dr. Shane]

Many people look at their long list of accomplishments and it causes them to feel good about themselves.  Psychologists call that form of self-esteem eudaimonic.  It comes from a Greek word meaning good spirit.  This form of happiness, or self-worth, comes from living consistent with one's beliefs and goals.  It comes from being authentic, growing emotionally and spiritually through experiences and achieving a level of excellence.  

Other people achieve happiness and gain self-worth through pleasure.  Psychologists call this form of self-esteem hedonic.  It comes from a Greek word meaning pleasure.  This form of happiness is achieved by avoiding unpleasant things in life.  It focuses on maximizing pleasure in life.  Taken to extreme, this can lead to addictions of all sorts such as drug, shopping, sex and workaholism. 

Christians are known for finding happiness by helping others.  Psychologists call this form of self-esteem generativity.  It may be surprising that this word does not originate in Greek.  Its beginning is traced to the psychologist Eric Erickson in 1950.  Recently a 12-year-long study concluded that generative people experience a lifetime of growth in self-fulfillment.  These people not only find happiness in helping others, they are known to put others before themselves.  Their help for others comes at personal sacrifice to themselves.  Further, this help is most often provided to the next generation.  Examples are grandparents helping their grandchildren.  

Lodi-Smith J, Ponterio EJ, Newton NJ, Poulin MJ, Baranski E, Whitbourne SK. The codevelopment of generativity and well-being into early late life. Psychol Aging. 2021 May;36(3):299-308. doi: 10.1037/pag0000446. Epub 2021 Apr 8. PMID: 33829848.