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Aristotle’s Wisdom: A Timeless Guide to a Good Life

Authors
  • Name
    Callum van den Enden
    Twitter

Overview

Aristotle's wisdom offers a path to a good life. Focus on happiness as a verb, find your purpose, and become your best self. Practical advice with timeless relevance.

Introduction

We all chase happiness, right? But what if we've been thinking about it all wrong? Edith Hall, a classics professor, reckons Aristotle had it figured out over two millennia ago. And it's not about winning the lottery or lounging on a beach (though those are nice perks). It's about doing things, specifically virtuous things. I dug into Hall's interpretation of Aristotle's teachings, and honestly, it's surprisingly relevant to today's hustle culture. Let's break it down.

Happiness: It's a Verb, Not a Noun

We often see happiness as a destination – a state of being we achieve once we get that promotion, buy that house, or find "the one." Aristotle saw it differently. He called it eudaimonia, which is less about feeling good all the time and more about living a fulfilling life. It's about constantly striving to be a better version of yourself. Think of it as "happying" – an ongoing process, not a static state. I can relate to this; I'm constantly pushing myself, both at Brand Ninja and with my own startup, YouQ AI. It's not always easy, but it's definitely fulfilling.

Finding Your Purpose: The Legacy Question

Days blur together, filled with routines and responsibilities. But a truly good life needs a purpose, a driving force. Aristotle had a simple yet powerful way to find it: ask yourself what legacy you want to leave behind. What impact do you want to make on the world? (No pressure, right?)

Then, figure out how to get there. And this is key – find a route that you actually enjoy. For me, it's building products that help people, and learning things along the way. Seeing someone use YouQ AI to learn something new or Brand Ninja to streamline their content creation – that’s what gets me fired up.

Also, have a backup plan. It's not about giving up on your dreams, but about being realistic. If Plan A is to be a rockstar, maybe Plan B is teaching music. The point is to stay engaged with what you love, even if it takes a slightly different form.

Naval Ravikant has this great line about "doing work that feels like play". When you do this, it's almost like a flow state, and you will be able to outwork everyone because you are LOVING what you're doing - it doesn't feel like work!

Becoming Your Best Self: Unleash Your Inner Dynamite

Aristotle called it "maximizing your potential" – dunamis in Greek, which shares the same root as dynamite. He believed we all have this potential within us, waiting to be unleashed. But it's not about becoming the richest or most famous version of yourself. It's about becoming the most virtuous version.

Think about it: if you were stranded on a desert island with a group of people, what would your contribution be? Would you be the medic, the builder, the morale booster? Identifying your strengths and virtues – compassion, problem-solving, creativity, whatever they may be – can reveal your best possible self. It's like a character strength inventory.

I prefer a differnt take on this thought experiment. If aliens landed and systematically interviewed everyone, asking what they do that makes them unique, what would you say? One of those "Show me what you got" scenarios.

Putting it All Together: Actionable Steps

So, how do we actually do all this? Here's my take, drawing on my own experiences:

  • Reflect on your values: What's truly important to you? What kind of person do you want to be?
  • Set meaningful goals: Break down your big, hairy audacious goals into smaller, manageable steps. It's easier to stay motivated when you're making progress.
  • Practice virtue: It's like working a muscle. The more you exercise your kindness, resilience, or whatever virtue you're focusing on, the stronger it gets.
  • Find your flow: What activities make you lose track of time? Those are usually clues to your strengths and passions.
  • Don't be afraid to course-correct: Life throws curveballs. Be flexible and willing to adjust your plans.
  • Focus on the journey, not just the destination: Happiness isn't a finish line; it's the process of striving, growing, and making a positive impact.

Aristotle's ideas might be ancient, but they're surprisingly relevant to the challenges we face today. It's about finding meaning and fulfillment in our daily lives, striving for excellence, and contributing to something bigger than ourselves. It's a continuous process of learning, growing, and becoming the best version of ourselves. It's hard work, no doubt. But it's the good kind of work. The kind that makes life worth living. (Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some "happying" to do.)