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The Emotional Toolkit Monthly
Practical Strategies to Boost Your Happiness, Health & Longevity
June 2008
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In This Issue:
-- Do You Have "Eudaimonia"?
-- Tip of the Month
-- In the News

Do You Have "Eudaimonia"?
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 What makes you happy? If you ask most people, they might say, "eating a hot fudge sundae" or "sitting on a beautiful beach."

It's true that these experiences are pleasurable. They're the kind of things you dream about when you're stuck in traffic. But will they bring you lasting happiness? I mean, what happens after you've eatten your hot fudge sundae?

That's where science comes in. Leave it to researchers to ruin a perfectly good pleasureable moment with a cumbersome Greek word, but here it is: eudaimonia. Roughly translated, eudaimonia means, "the good life."

Turns out, having pleasureable moments are fun, but if you want lasting happiness, eudaimonic happiness is the key. That's where you use your talents to pursue goals that really matter to you. Those goals could be learning skills to become a better parent, using more of your talents at work or improving your relationships. People who puruse this type of happiness are more satisfied with their lives than those who seek only pleasure (although there's certainly a place for that too). So next time someone asks, "What makes you happy?" you can say, "Eudaimonia!"


Tip of the Month
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How to add more eudaimonic happiness to your life:

  • Think About What You Value: We get so busy in life, it's easy to lose track of what's really important. Ask yourself, what do you value most? Your personal development, your health, your connections with others, excellence at work? Prioritize this list, and decide which of these values you'd like to develop more.


  • Set A Goal: After you've decided the area you want to tackle first, create a clear goal. For example, you might want to take a course on finance, walk for 20 minutes on your lunch break or read to your child each night before bed. Start with one goal, and you'll be more likely to achieve it.


  • Work Toward That Goal: Do small things each day that take you closer to your goal. For example, if you want to walk on your lunch break, start today by buying sneakers, tomorrow find yourself a walking buddy, next rearrange your schedule so you'll have that specific time available, until finally, you're walking!

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    In the News
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    Your Happiest Life BLOG


    Check out Darlene's blog, "Your Happiest Life." The blog features articles, musings and links to live your happiest, healthiest life. http://yourhappiestlife.blogspot.com.






    About Dr. Darlene Mininni
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    Dr. Darlene Mininni is the author of The Emotional Toolkit and creator of UCLA's acclaimed emotional education course. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Masters degree in Public Health. Through her keynotes, writing and one-day workshops, Dr. Mininni teaches people of all ages practical strategies to boost their happiness, health and longevity. Woman's World Magazine describes her emotional toolkit as "Cutting-edge advice...that really works." She's appeared on CNN, NPR and PBS and been quoted in SELF, COSMO, Woman's Day, Marie Claire, Ladies Home Journal and Prevention.



    Darlene Mininni, Ph.D., M.P.H.
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