Women and Happiness

The word happiness comes from the Greek word eudaimonia which is a combination of two words 'eu' well being and 'daimon' divine power or guardian spirit. Is to be happy therefore to live well and looked after by a benevolent spirit? The Greek philosophers spent much time and energy in search of identifying how to live a eudaimonic life. It was Aristotle that placed the use of virtue as most important along with external things such as wealth, health, beauty as defining this quality of happiness.

Recently circulating around in the media (Oprah.com and HuffingtionPost.com) are stories of studies concurring the decreasing trend in women’s happiness both in the relation to men’s happiness and over the past thirty years. In some of those studies they based happiness on the balance of aspirations and their attainment. Although the focus is more on this subjective quality of joy, verse that objective desire in one’s life that the Greek philosophers were interested in. These stories brought me to a place of wonder. Had I been missing out on something for there to be this level unhappiness? It brought me to ponder this question of the unhappiness of women with some friends. The responses were quite interesting, we spoke of external influences placed upon women from the media, families and society. We discussed the changing roles of men and women both in and out of the house, with the children and in the work place. We took notice of the pharmaceutical companies marketing anti depressants toward women. It was after all noted, that biologically we have the children, the best milk supply and the powerful mother/child bond. While we have found that we can earn the degrees and support our families, can we do it without sacrificing our heart. Can we redefine our economic focus guiding it away from its two salary desire? Can we bring in some Divine power to assist us in redefining our virtues verse seeking perfection from an imperfect scale? Yes, I believe we can update what is most important to us now by reaching within ourselves with a reverent tone of soul. Opening ourselves up to this living Truth within that can help guide us into redefining what truly is most important. May we each be courageous enough to take this plunge and to support others along the path. For it is together, walking hand in hand that we will make the greatest impact. Let us ride this wave of discovery in the grandest sense of community because it is alone we feel most lonely and lost. Together we can work and stride in the full knowledge that our actions are working toward healing the world.