Stop hoping for happiness tomorrow. Happiness is being engaged in the process.

Helen Morales

I’ve been reading Will Storr’s masterful The Science of Storytelling over the last week or so, which had me completely transfixed within the first few pages.

In a chapter about plot, he introduces the idea of eudaemonia, which originated from Aristotle, who, in dismissing hedonism, instead describes our goal in life as living to fulfill our purpose — not grazing around like animals. It’s in this process, this practice, despite the inevitable struggles we’ll face, we can find happiness and contentment. So the first trick, I suppose, is to figure out what our purpose individually is.