Happiness: A Brief Guide Inspired by Ancient Philosophy

The idea of happiness has fascinated humanity for thousands of years. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Epicurus, Aristotle and Plato were all curious about the concept of happiness and what thoughts and actions may cultivate this emotion.  

Clearly being happy all the time is an unrealistic and unhelpful goal. However, there are choices we make in life that can help increase our chances of experiencing feelings of positivity.  

We may live in a very different world to the Ancient Greeks, however some of these concepts seem more relevant than ever in a world plagued with mental illness. Below are some ideas inspired by philosophy to get you started.  

 

Relationships  

The term Epicurean is often associated with living a hedonistic lifestyle, however it is believed that Epicurus cared more about who he dined with rather than what he was consuming. Reportedly, he cared so much about who he spent time with, that he lived on a self-sufficient commune with his closest friends. Pythagoras and Aristotle were also reportedly champions of the importance of friendships for wellbeing with Aristotle claiming that “no one would choose to live without friends”.  

Not only is friendship a reoccurring theme in philosophy, it also appears essential for a good life according to modern research. Evidence consistently reflects a relationship between friendships and life satisfaction. Quality friendships also appear to predict life expectancy. That means, the better your friendships, the longer you are likely to live.  

Some questions you can ask yourself to adopt this principle into modern day life include; 

  • How much effort do I currently put into my friendships or other relationships? Am I putting more effort into my career than my relationships? Which one do I value more?  

  • Am I an active agent in my relationships? Or do my friends tend to contact me before I contact them?  

  • Do I articulate or acknowledge how important my relationships are? Do I actively make efforts towards my friends and am I present when I am with them? Do I tell my loved ones that I love them? 

 

Virtue  

Many early philosophers believed that true happiness came from living a virtuous life, rather than a life filled with immediate gratification or hedonistic pleasures. For example, Plato proposed that happiness came from the application of principles such as morality through social justice practices.  

Plato also believed that individual pursuits of happiness such as leisure, wealth and pleasure would only lead to short-term feelings of satisfaction rather than true happiness. For example, alcohol and other substances might help us to feel positive in the short-term, but when used in excess or as a long-term coping mechanism, it can lead to a range of other problems. Similarly, a virtuous life was thought to mean avoiding short-cuts and taking the long road to better solutions, even if this is the harder route. 

Virtue according to the ancient philosophers was also about doing what is right, because you truly believe it to be the right thing to do, rather than for secondary gain. This does not mean however that we should feel bad if we feel good after helping someone out. In fact, from an evolutionary perspective, feeling good after helping others is a part of how we have survived and thrived as a species. It is when we do good to look good that the philosophers might have questioned our behaviour.  

Living a virtuous life mirrors the concept of living a values-driven life which is proposed in modern-day Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT proposes that a sustainable sense of worth is achieved when we are living in alignment with our values. This might help explain why feeding the homeless tends to leave us feeling content for longer than having someone admire our new car.   

Some questions you can ask yourself to adapt the concept of virtue in modern day life include;  

  • Are my behaviours giving me short-term pleasure but causing problems in the long term? For example, am I using substances or other additive behaviours such as the internet to avoid life’s realities?  

  • Am I taking short-cuts in life that are unsustainable in the long term? For example, quick fix, crash diets that lead to bingeing behaviours or a return to old self-destructive patterns?

  • Am I engaging in behaviours that are motivated by gaining approval of others?  

  • Are my behaviours affecting others in a negative way?  

 

Physical Exercise 

Like many important philosophical concepts, it’s no surprise that the Olympics originated from Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks believed it was the duty of citizens to perfect mind and body together. Physical activity was seen to Ancient Greeks as another form of wisdom, equal to other forms of important disciplines such as mathematics and philosophy.  

While we don’t endorse striving for perfection, the importance of physical exercise for happiness is also supported by modern day research. At a neurological level, exercise targets our brain chemistry through neurotransmitters such as dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These are the messengers in the brain that regulate feelings such as happiness and pleasure. Exercise can also help form a sense of connection, achievement and exposure to the environment.  

It is important to care for your body while exercising. For example, finding a way to move our body with joy, rather than through self-punishment. Similarly, ensuring that we fuel our body for movement through adequate nutrition and resting injuries.  

Some ways you can adapt this philosophical value in modern day life include; 

  • Walk regularly. Aristotle and Socrartes are believed to be some of the first proponents of the “walk and talk”. They both believed that walking stimulated thought and positive conversation. Similarly, Thoreau argued that humans are a part of nature and that walking through nature can allow us to grow spiritually.  

  • Keep in mind the virtue of moderation and don’t over-exercise. Rest injuries and listen to your body.  

  • Work out what type of movement works for you. It doesn’t matter what it is, it doesn’t matter if you’re not interested in running a marathon. Find a way that gets your body moving with joy and do it. For example, join an adult dance class or take up surfing or yoga. Try mixing it up to avoid routine fatigue.  

  • Little behavioural changes in your routine can help. For example, push yourself away from delivery services and physically walk into a shop to get take-away. This will provide yourself some gentle incidental movement and increase social connectiveness. 

  Author: Tegan Bradilovic

Clinical Psychologist

References 

IvyPanda. (2022, May 12). Virtuous Behavior Constituents. https://ivypanda.com/essays/person-virtuous-behavior/ 

Song I, Kwon JW, Jeon SM. The relative importance of friendship to happiness increases with age. PLoS One. 2023 Jul 13;18(7):e0288095. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288095. PMID: 37440575; PMCID: PMC10343095. 

 

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