Emotional wellbeing is the state of being in which we can understand, manage, and express our emotions in a healthy and balanced way. It includes becoming more self aware, being able to self-regulate and finding ways to build our resilience.
At its core, emotional wellbeing involves recognising and acknowledging our emotions without judgement. It’s about understanding the underlying causes of these emotions and then developing effective coping mechanisms to deal with them constructively. As a qualified Emotions Coaching Practitioner this is work I do on a daily basis with myself and with clients.
Then it’s about developing the ability to regulate our emotions effectively. We’re hard wired to react negatively to challenging situations, so how can we better manage stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions so that we move forward positively?
Hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing
There’s another aspect to Emotional Wellbeing that I love and that’s the difference between hedonic and eudaimonic. Words I’ve only recently come across!
While hedonic wellbeing revolves around pleasure and the absence of pain, eudaimonic wellbeing delves deeper into a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfilment in life. Both are integral to achieving overall happiness and satisfaction.
Read on and decide, which one resonates with you?
Hedonic wellbeing is centred around the transient joys of life like enjoying a delicious meal, spending time with loved ones, or indulging in a favourite hobby. These experiences contribute to momentary happiness but they may not necessarily lead to long-term fulfilment.
On the other hand, eudaimonic wellbeing is rooted in the pursuit of personal growth, self-realisation, and fulfilment of your potential. It involves living in a way that’s aligned to your values, cultivating meaningful relationships, and finding purpose in life beyond those hedonic moments.
So achieving emotional wellbeing requires a delicate balance between the two. We all need a bit of immediate gratification, but meaning and purpose are the key to sustainin long-term satisfaction and resilience.
Ayesha Murray is an experienced EMCC accredited coach and a qualified Emotions Coaching Practitioner. She has a successful podcast, The Parent Equation and has chaired a panel discussion at the House of Commons on Parental Support reform. Find out more about Ayesha – https://www.careeringintomotherhood.com/coach/ayesha-murray/
April 1, 2024
