It seems that I’ve picked a different word for this year. My last few years have been sobering, quiet words. Words that allude to making the most of the moments I have left. Maybe it has something to do with all the deaths that have passed through my life over the last couple of years. Regardless, my word this year alludes to more life. The word for 2026 is Eudaimonia, ancient Greek meaning “happiness” or “flourishing,” but signifying a deeper state of meaning, purpose, and such. I don’t like the word happiness, so I switch it to reference ‘joy’ – that inner state that can exist in gratitude even if the world around crumbles into chaos, the inner state that comes from within, character – choices – connection, and not conditional to surrounding experiences and events. I feel like I’ve lived my life long enough in agony, struggling, and lost. And, maybe with this word, I can start to shift my thinking to another perspective. I know the mental dis-ease runs strong in my family, and I know I need to, on a daily basis, consciously choose otherwise. So, maybe with this word, this focus this year, I can do so – start my day with the word ‘flourish’ and go from there.
Another word that is closely
linked to it is the Cree word miyo-pimâtisiwin. This word refers to ‘The
Good Life’, a holistic and balanced approach to living. It refers to a life’s
journey that includes nurturing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual
well-being, living in balance with oneself, others, and the natural world. I
really like this idea. When I did a bit of reading on this, it includes aspects
of things that I honour – (1) life balance – all aspects, they refer to 4, I
think 6; (2) relationships – positive with all others and the world around; (3)
community and elders – learning from those who have gone before; (4) shared
well-being – collective, cultural, community; (5) connections with the land –
the world in which we live. The more I ponder life, the more I see things in a
wholistic way; everything is interconnected, and the more we attempt to
separate, through labels or other divisive techniques, the more we draw away
from what we were designed to be and become. Maslow really did us a disservice
when he neglected to include the Siksika teachings on culture, community, and
civilization.
So, this word – either Eudaimonia or miyo-pimâtisiwin –
reminds me to make this flourishing through wholeness my focus for 2026. This
isn’t ‘flourishing’ in a traditional sense, health and money and status,
success by most definitions. It’s about who I am, not what I have. It’s about endeavouring
to move towards my purpose, to always seek ways to bring that into my reality.
Do I know what my purpose is? It slowly is revealing itself to me. My IKIGAI, I
think, comes through the values of Concordia: compassion, critical thinking,
community, and creativity. Being Responsibly Engaged in our World. It has
something to do with how I view the world, how I want to bring understanding
and awareness to those around me. I once wrote a mission statement for myself –
I think I need to revisit it and edit it. Maybe that is something I can
determine for myself by the end of this year.
I’m feeling optimistic this year – better than I have in a
long while, even though this year and the world around me seems to be on a very
destructive path. I’m not sure where or why that is. Maybe this is a good word
for me this year, as I continue into maturity, uncertainty, and concern, I
believe there’s more than this. And, in my belief of ‘the good life’, I know
that it comes from something beyond me. I am not afraid of my future.
Regardless of where it goes. My faith lies in the hope that has been promised
to me. Amen. And thank you.
🌿 10 Ways Eudaimonia Can Show Up in My Life
|
A steady inner joy depends on gratitude and peace. |
I cultivate a
deep, steady joy that lives within me. |
|
A growing sense of purpose that unfolds over time. |
My purpose
reveals itself as I live with intention. |
|
Wholeness across mind, body, spirit, and
relationships. |
I honour my
whole self and live in balance. |
|
Peace with my past and openness towards my future. |
I release what
was and welcome what is becoming. |
|
Stronger, more meaningful connections with others,
self, and world. |
I build
relationships rooted in compassion and presence. |
|
A felt connection to something greater than myself –
God and His purpose through me. |
I live
anchored to God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. |
|
Clarity of my values—and the courage to live them
daily |
I choose to
live my values with integrity. |
|
A gentler relationship with myself (especially in
struggle) – firm when I need to be firm, and grace-full when I need that, too |
I meet myself
with grace and patience, tough love when needed, and forgiveness when
required. |
|
An ability to find gratitude even in difficulty, to
be worthy of my suffering |
I find meaning
and gratitude, even in hard moments. |
|
A quiet confidence in the life I am shaping – health
in every way, awareness and ignorance in the search. |
I trust the
life God is guiding me to; to be His love throughout Creation is Him through
me. |
