Stephen Joseph Ph.D.

The idea that human beings are constantly striving to increase their eudaimonic well-being as best they can is one of the biggest philosophical ideas in the history of psychology. [Carl] Rogers used this example to convey the idea that there is a natural and inherent driving force within humans, a force he called the actualizing tendency.

Eudaimonism, then, refers to a life dedicated to seeking meaning, engagement with the existential challenges of life, and the actualization of human potential, whereas hedonism refers to a life dedicated to seeking pleasure, happiness, and enjoyment.

Thus we each need to learn to lead our lives knowing that adversity is always around the corner. When trauma strikes, we must be ready and resilient, prepared to confront stark realities, open to change, and oriented toward using our suffering wisely.

Trauma can leave people feeling less inclined to care what other people think about their successes and failures in life. They become less concerned with facades. They realize that what ultimately matters is what we think of ourselves.

When we experience psychological trauma, our bodies go into shock and our minds are overwhelmed. Imagine a Christmas snow globe. Shake it and the snow flurries; over time, it settles. How long the snow remains unsettled depends on how vigorously the globe was shaken in the first place. So it is, with the trauma that shakes up our mental world.

Social support is probably at its most valuable when it motivates people to take responsibility of their lives.

In one study published in 2010, investigators examined the results of a survey conducted by 5,630 people when they were fifty-five to fifty-six years of age and, again, when they were sixty-five to sixty-six. Those who scored higher on a measure of eudaimonic well-being at the younger age were over seven times less likely to be depressed ten years later than those whose scores were lower.

It’s not enough to intellectually reframe our experiences in positive terms. We must also express our growth in new behaviors. In short, we have to put growth into action.