eudaimonia
noun

- a contented state of being happy, and healthy, and prosperous

- the condition of human flourishing or of living well

Dictionary-Com, Britannica

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WORD ORIGIN

Eudaimonia comes from Ancient Greek εὐδαιμονίᾱ (eudaimoníā), which literally means "happiness" or "well-being”. It is composed of two parts: εὐ- (eu-) meaning "good" or "well”, and δαίμων (daimōn) meaning "spirit" or "guardian spirit”. So etymologically, eudaimonia means "having a good guardian spirit”.

While often translated simply as "happiness" in English, this doesn't fully capture the meaning. Eudaimonia refers more to an objective state of human flourishing or living well, rather than just a subjective feeling of happiness. For this reason, some scholars prefer to leave it untranslated or use alternative translations like "well-being" or "flourishing".

There was a revival of interest in Eudaemonism and virtue ethics in the mid-20th century, which likely contributed to increased usage of the term. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the concept as an alternative to the more simplistic notion of "happiness" in discussions of well-being and life purpose.

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EUDAIMONIA WORD QUIZ

Can you guess the missing words in these happy idioms? (answers below)

1. A happy c a - - - -  = someone who is content and satisfied with their situation.
2. A ray of s u - - - - -  = a person or thing that brings joy, happiness, or positivity to others.
3. Basking in the g l - -  = enjoying the positive feelings or success resulting from something good.
4. Beaming with j - -   = radiating happiness, often physically through a smiling face.
5. Bright-eyed and bushy- t a - - - -  = full of energy and enthusiasm.
6. Chirpy as a c r - - - - -  = very cheerful and lively.
7. Floating on a - -  = feeling extremely happy or elated.
8. Firing on all c y - - - - - - -  = functioning or performing at the highest level.
9. Full of b e - - -   = full of energy and enthusiasm.
10. Full of the joys of s p - - - -   = overflowing with happiness, energy, and enthusiasm.
11. Grinning from e - - to e - -  = smiling broadly due to happiness.
12. Happy as a c l - - - - -  = feeling very content and satisfied with life.
13. In c l - - - -  = living a prosperous and content life, often due to wealth or good fortune.
14. In fine f e - - - -   = being in good health and spirits; feeling fit and well.
15. In high c o - - - -  = being in a favourable situation, often prosperous or successful.
16. In high s p - - - - -   = very cheerful and full of energy.
17. In the p i - -   = being in good health and spirits; feeling fit and well.
18. Like a kid in a c a - - -    s t - -   = overwhelmed with happiness and excitement, especially from an abundance of choices.
19. Living the d r - - -   = enjoying life to the fullest, especially when everything is going as hoped.
20. On cloud n i - -   = being in a state of extreme happiness or elation.
21. On top of the w o - - -   = feeling euphoric, as if nothing can go wrong and everything is perfect.
22. Over the m o - -  = feeling incredibly happy or delighted.
23. Riding h i - -   = experiencing success, happiness, or well-being.
24. Sitting p r - - - -   = being in a comfortable, advantageous, or prosperous position.
25. Thriving and s u - - - - - - -  = prospering and doing well in life.
26. The world is your o y - - - -  = having boundless opportunities and the freedom to achieve happiness.
27. Tickled p i - -   = very pleased or delighted.
28. Walking on s u - - - - - -   = feeling joyful and content, as if everything is going well.
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ANSWERS :

1. A happy camper  2. A ray of sunshine  3. Basking in the glow  4. Beaming with joy  5. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed  6. Chirpy as a cricket  7. Floating on air  8. Firing on all cylinders  9. Full of beans  10. Full of the joys of spring  11. Grinning from ear to ear  12. Happy as a clam  13. In clover  14. In fine fettle  15. In high cotton  16. In high spirits  17. In the pink  18. Like a kid in a candy store  19. Living the dream  20. On cloud nine  21. On top of the world  22. Over the moon  23. Riding high  24. Sitting pretty  25. Thriving and surviving  26. The world is your oyster  27. Tickled pink  28. Walking on sunshine = feeling joyful and content, as if everything is going well

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

"Words can really affect our emotions,... the simple act of reading happy idioms gives me a feeling of EUDAIMONIA."

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