Masterful Hedonism

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Transition Coaching & Event Planning, LLC Newsletter
Masterful Hedonism
mid-March 2005
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in this issue
-- Article: Masterful Hedonism, a study
-- Women's Wellness Workshop 2005

hedonism: n. 1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good 2. devotion to pleasure and self-gratification as a way of life

hedonics: n. the branch of psychology that deals with pleasurable and unpleasurable states of consciousness

~ "Webster's Random House College Dictionary" (1991)

Article: Masterful Hedonism, a study
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Hedonism has received an undeservedly bad rap. As a rushed, outcome-driven culture that all-too-often views pleasure as a distraction from "getting things done", I'm convinced there's a whole lot we could stand to learn from hedonistic wisdom, and I, for one, am committed to the study...

At the turn of the year, I decided that a primary New Year's Resolution was to become masterfully hedonistic. As spring nears, my quarterly check-in reveals a maintained, even renewed, commitment to this noble goal. Now for those of you with hesitation and concern swimming through your veins at such an idea, might I first point out that you're still reading? :) Next, let me assure you that I have an important distinction to make between masterful hedonism and careless hedonism. My goal is not to be a careless hedonist, but a masterful one.

A MASTERFUL HEDONIST chooses his/her actions based on what serves his/her HIGHEST pleasure. A CARELESS HEDONIST doesn't consider the distinction between highest and lowest pleasure. To a careless hedonist, pleasure is pleasure is pleasure....and that, as we all know from our varying degrees of personal experience with carelessly hedonistic behavior, can lead to trouble.

Masterful hedonism, on the other hand, is blissful...it's living our joy...it's sharing our joy...it's letting true passions guide true actions...it's savoring what's beautiful...it's mastering moderation...it's allowing fun to be a primary factor in decision-making...it's not being afraid...it's not complaining about a situation we could be changing...

An act of Masterful Hedonism can be as simple as taking a nap when you need one.

It's about tuning into what you REALLY want and need in order to feel truly alive, fulfilled, and loving. And then, (this is key) it's giving yourself permission to LISTEN and DO something about it!

This could mean eating a great big savory piece of cake and, at other times, it may mean NOT eating that piece of cake. Or maybe what you really want are three bites, and to have that fourth bite would be careless. Part of the beauty of Masterful Hedonism is that you decide. It puts you in the driver's seat of determining who and how you want to be.

Only you possess the innate wisdom of knowing when you've crossed the line from masterfully to carelessly hedonistic behavior. Only you know if your life has a pleasure deficit.

My theory (with research on the topic currently underway) is that Masterful Hedonism just might cure cancer, world hunger, and disgruntled-employee syndrome. At the minimum, it has a shot at making life more joy-full.

How could YOU benefit from a little more joy? How 'bout a lot more joy? How much would be too much? Where's your joy edge? Are you living on that edge? Or, are you playing it "safely" well below your capacity to fulfill your personal joy potential? If you're someone who feels selfish, in a derogatory sense, for even THINKING about how it would be to have more pleasure in your life (eek!), you need this message most of all.

A byproduct of being truly joyful is the desire to share it. And, a byproduct of sharing it is the experience of that much more joy. (You, no doubt, see where this is going.)

By the way, how's YOUR New Year's Resolution coming along? Does it embody the goal of living your highest joy? If not, why not make one that does, and take note of how doing so changes your motivation level?

YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (which, if you need to rationalize it as such, can be nothing more than a generous act to further the reaches of my research project) IS: Make the commitment to do your own pleasure-filled act(s) of Masterful Hedonism this week, and report your findings to someone...anyone...

In closing, I hereby announce having made an adjustment to my title, which now reads: Tara Gross, Life Coach & Hedonics Case Study Researcher.

All data & case study findings are to be shared unabashedly for maximum benefit to all concerned.

Open enrollment study participation...

Women's Wellness Workshop 2005
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The "Women's Wellness Workshop 2005," is a conference on women's health, sponsored by The Miriam Hospital. This daylong event seeks to empower women to have the information needed to stay healthy. It is being held on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza at the Crossings, 801 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island from 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Transition Coaching & Event Planning, LLC will have a booth at the event. If you're going, be sure to stop by and say hello!

All workshop attendees will receive complimentary gifts and will also have the chance to win great prizes, one of which is ONE-MONTH OF FREE COACHING!


Copyright © Transition Coaching & Event Planning, LLC, 2005.


Contact Information
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email: tara@transitioncoachinginc.com
phone: 401.569.7017
web: http://www.transitioncoachinginc.com
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