The Article That Gave Me Permission To Care About Everything
In 2018 I read an article (long since gone now, or I would cite it) about the Greek philosophical term of Eudaimonia. What a beautiful word to look at! I was intrigued.
The article used words that I deeply value - fulfilled, interest, life, pursuit, curiosity. The article said Eudaimonia is a way of living where we pursue all our interests to make our life rich, wonderful, and to excavate the jewels of this life. To grow our character, to find inspiration, and not just for happiness sake (that isn't the goal actually).
In an instant, this article freed me from the low grade shame I carried about all my varying interests, worrying like I'd be seen as a flake or flighty. It was a view from a higher vantage point, not just about ROI and achievement. Eudaimonia was a permission slip to care about all sorts of different things and bring them all together under the same umbrella: truly enjoying my life expansively. Who cares if it never amounted to anything - I was enjoying myself.
Because the pursuit of Eudaimonia is what gives life to me, joy, expansion, hope, innovation.
I could tell it was useful because my heart opened and feelings of freedom, interests and curiosity were sparked. It truly felt like a permission slip to be who I am - an intelligent woman who feels deep curiosity and delight at learning.
The permission to discover totally new things, new perspectives, new approaches, solutions.
And I will tell you, that is really what I use media for - to find folks that are pulling on their own threads of inspiration and interest, enriching themselves and others as they fulfill that divine wheel of discover, learn, teach.
To me, Eudaimonia is life giving, life affirming, and has made my life more interesting, fun, and colourful.
The Connection to Feng Shui
Feng Shui (Wind & Water is the direct translation), is about the life force we are working with in our environments. This includes OURSELVES. This includes our own life force and vitality.
And so this is why Eudaimonia is so important - because our life force increases as we grow and express ourselves. It directly impacts (and is impacted by) our environment.
And so through Eudaimonia we can discover, play, learn, what brings us abundant life force. Knowing this about yourself is what charges your battery. And Eudaimonia is a path to that discovery, about deep self care, and self actualization.
And that is why I say "Feng Shui doesn't care about the colour of your door", unless it is directly impacting your thriving. Furniture placement, colour choices, design - these must all be in support of your health and wellbeing. And for that to happen, it must connect. Eudaimonia is that path, full of curiosity and discovery, of what that looks like for you, as an individual, in this season of your life. Not "yellow equals health". Maybe yellow isn't a fit for you, for numerous reasons. And Eudaimonia is that experience, of knowing, for yourself, what health and happiness and wealth and prosperity and love and wisdom looks like. By living a full, rewarding life.
The Connection to Productivity
I guess it is the way I use productivity. (As an aside, I feel obliged to offer a caveat: I still bottom out in hustle mode and trying to do too much. BUT, I know better, and have the skills and the awareness to do better. But I am not perfect, and sometimes you gotta go back to the reason why you make certain choices over others.)
Back to my point about how I use productivity: a quote I heard many, many years ago that stuck:
“Rest is part of productivity.”
-Unknown
And I started to see how true this was. In everything I did.
If you really, really, really, really want something, like a good relationship, or kids, or any of the bounty this life has to offer, you gotta be in it for the long haul. And you can't sustain anything for very long if you aren't resting properly, getting your nutrition, staying hydrated. You can't. You can't. There is a physical wall. Those of us that have touched burn out know the cost.
So, rest is part of getting things done.
But you know what I would add?
“Rest and play are part of productivity.”
Jessie Sobool
Acupuncturists know that a direct line is not the most useful. There is a broader perspective. And I have heard it said that that is a sign of higher brain function when you can be connecting seemingly unrelated questions and solutions. This happens in play, exploration, curiosity.
When I was in corporate, we aimed to hire people that came from different industries, so they could bring their varied voice and perspective, seeing our challenges through a new frame and applying resources in an innovative fashion.
Play is also part of the wheel of creativity that Feng Shui operates on (it’s called The 5 Elements if you are wondering, and goes in a cycle of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Each being created by the one before it, and fuelling the one after it in a continuous cycle). The element of wood tells us to stretch, grow, play, innovate and experiment before settling into the transformative fire element, eventually giving life to the big, massive mother of creation - The Earth element. It's a cycle. And it is majestic. And it is creative.
(As another aside 😅, I am currently playing with the idea that everything, and I mean everything, is creativity.)
In my mind, productivity is massive. It's complicated because each person is different and each day is different. And there are different things to be productive about. Running a biz requires quite a different type of productivity than being good at nourishing yourself. But when you get it right, it feels elegant, supportive, self-honouring. It is so rewarding.
This is how Eudaimonia supports productivity - not ultra focussed always on achieving, but letting in more expansive perspectives, including self-care, and understanding that play, making connections, and going off course is entirely part of it, in a healthy balanced way.
How I Honour This
So, there you go people - Eudamonia. Euda by Jessie. Talking about powerful forces of nature (including us). My brand is practicing Eudamonia, consulting with others to unpack their goals and dreams in their own spaces, including the productivity that is tied into how that is achieved.
I look for this in other people's practices - Youtube is an absolute garden of people trying the coolest stuff and finding their own Eudaimonia in the most unexpected places. Do you know there is a guy on there who tests keyboards for the noise they make?? He has 1.7 million followers! And you can tell he is having the time of his life because his creativity, jokes, fun, singing, are all on show.
And I keep indulging in my current interest - pursuing my own Eudaimonia. My whole life I wanted to be able to draw. I have finally found a teacher and style that can direct someone like me who can't draw a stick figure.
I also never got the hang of just enjoying cooking, but I am starting to find creators who help people like me who need it to be simple simple. (This is why, BTW, I believe we need many voices in different spaces, some of us need to hear it differently).
I have started to trust myself with growing plants.... because I take interest in it.
And..... next up..... I want to get some tuning forks..... watch this space, LOL!
And THAT, my friends, is how you honour Eudaimonia. Not always so academic ;)
What is your next season?
If you are interested in learning more about how your home can power up your next steps, click the button below.