Living Well, No Matter Where

[DISCLAIMER]

I traveled a lot when in the military, as in the photo above I had a relatively brief layover in the Denver International Airport. Fortunately, I was able to visit with family members during the wait. Although unfamiliar with “eudaimonia”, I lived well. About this, one source states:

Eudaimonia is a Greek word literally translating to the state or condition of good spirit, and which is commonly translated as happiness or welfare. In the works of Aristotle, eudaimonia was the term for the highest human good in older Greek tradition.

It is the aim of practical philosophy-prudence, including ethics and political philosophy, to consider and experience what this state really is and how it can be achieved. It is thus a central concept in Aristotelian ethics and subsequent Hellenistic philosophy, along with the terms aretē (most often translated as virtue or excellence) and phronesis (‘practical or ethical wisdom’). […]

Definitions, a dictionary of Greek philosophical terms attributed to Plato himself but believed by modern scholars to have been written by his immediate followers in the Academy, provides the following definition of the word eudaimonia: “The good composed of all goods; an ability which suffices for living well; perfection in respect of virtue; resources sufficient for a living creature.”

What I discovered in the Marine Corps, no matter which continent I visited, was that life was as an age-old saying declared, “No matter where you go, there you are.” Living well, no matter where, was a matter of personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”).

I could make the best or worst of my situation, no matter where I went. Why? Because that’s where I was! In essence, there wasn’t some far off destination which I could visit in order to live well. Further contemplating this matter all these years later, I now think of a book.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Seneca stated, “At this moment you aren’t on a journey, but wandering about, being driven from place to place, even though what you seek—to live well—is found in all places. Is there any place more full of confusion than the Forum? Yet even there you can live at peace, if needed” (page 238).

When serving in the Corps, Marines were discouraged from smiling in photos while wearing our military uniforms—a lesson I sometimes flouted. Nevertheless, in the above photo, I maintained my military bearing (the projecting of a professional, confident, and disciplined image).

This, I did despite contrastingly holding a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed hat box. In any event, in the absence of a smile upon my face, it may not appear as though I was living well. Yet, I was overjoyed with my position in life, as I was comforted by family members at an airport.

That was the case even though I’d just been relieved of my diplomatic duties in South America—a matter that was unexpected and with a less favorable outcome than for which I’d hoped. Thus, I took personal ownership of my outcome. This is also something that you can do.

Living well, no matter where, is up to you! Given this relatively brief psychoeducational lesson on wellbeing, what are you prepared to do regarding your experience in life? I invite you to I make the best (hopefully not the worst) of your situation, no matter where you are! Live well!

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2025, October 28). Beauty in excellence. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/beauty-in-excellence

Hollings, D. (2025, July 10). Conditional happiness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/conditional-happiness

Hollings, D. (2026, February 12). Consciousness: Reach your soul. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consciousness-reach-your-soul

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, April 26). Eudaimonia. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/eudaimonia

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2025, January 6). No matter where you go, there you are. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/no-matter-where-you-go-there-you-are

Hollings, D. (2024, June 16). On virtue. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-virtue

Hollings, D. (2022, November 7). Personal ownership. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-ownership

Hollings, D. (2025, September 9). Personal responsibility and accountability. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-responsibility-and-accountability

Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, March 11). We live in an imperfect world. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/we-live-in-an-imperfect-world

Hollings, D. (2024, September 29). Well, well, well. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/well-well-well

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