Eudaemonic vs. Hedonic Pleasure: A Path to Understanding Embodied Joy.
When we think about pleasure, we often default to ideas of indulgence—moments of sweet satisfaction like savouring chocolate cake, taking a hot bath, or binging our favourite show. While these pleasures are important, they represent only one dimension of the full spectrum of joy.
In somatic sex education, we explore the nuances of pleasure, including how it supports our well-being and aligns with our deeper values. This brings us to two concepts from philosophy and psychology: hedonic pleasure and eudaemonic pleasure. While both are valuable, understanding their differences—and how they impact our nervous systems—can help us connect more fully with our bodies, minds, and inner wisdom.
What’s the Difference Between Hedonic and Eudaemonic Pleasure?
Hedonic pleasure is the kind of joy we experience from external sources: physical comfort, sensory delights, and immediate gratification. It feels good in the moment—like sinking into warm sand at the beach or enjoying your favorite meal. This kind of pleasure is essential for signaling safety to the nervous system, especially when we’ve experienced trauma. It’s also a reminder to pause and savor life’s simple joys.
Eudaemonic pleasure, on the other hand, is rooted in meaning, growth, and alignment with our core values. This is the kind of pleasure we feel when we’re living in a way that feels authentic and connected to our purpose—when we pursue relationships, work, and experiences that nourish us on a deeper level. It’s the satisfaction of having a heartfelt conversation, creating something meaningful, or standing firm in a boundary that honors your truth.
Where hedonic pleasure is immediate and sensory, eudaemonic pleasure is often slower to unfold. It’s about the fulfillment that comes from making choices aligned with who you are at your core.
How Pleasure Shapes the Nervous System
Both forms of pleasure play a critical role in how we regulate and heal our nervous systems.
When we engage with hedonic pleasure, like enjoying the warmth of the sun on our skin, we’re activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the “rest and digest” state that helps counteract stress and promotes feelings of calm and safety. Trauma, chronic stress, or disconnection from our bodies can make accessing this state challenging—but small, accessible pleasures can help us reconnect.
Eudaemonic pleasure, while less immediate, also supports nervous system regulation. When we act in alignment with our inner wisdom—choosing relationships and activities that reflect our values—we send powerful signals of safety and congruence to the body. This creates a sense of long-term stability and trust in ourselves, which is essential for healing and resilience.
Celebrating Both Forms of Pleasure
In a world that often prioritizes quick fixes and instant gratification, we can sometimes overlook the importance of eudaemonic pleasure. It may require slowing down, listening to ourselves, and making choices that don’t yield immediate rewards but build a foundation for long-term fulfillment.
That said, hedonic pleasures are not “shallow” or “less than.” They’re essential, especially during times of overwhelm, when grounding ourselves in sensory experiences can bring us back to the present moment. They’re also a fabulous ‘low risk high reward’ pathway to learning how to *feel* pleasure from the inside (strengthen our interoceptive skills).
The magic happens when we create space for both. Savor the small pleasures: light your favourite candles, dance to that banger of a song, or dive into the texture of your favorite blanket. And, when it feels right, reflect on the bigger picture: Are the choices you’re making aligned with your values? Are you cultivating relationships and practices that nurture your soul?
Inner Wisdom as a Guide to Pleasure
At the heart of this conversation is the idea of choice. When we tune into our bodies and listen to our inner wisdom, we can discern what kind of pleasure we need in the moment. Sometimes, that’s the hedonic pleasure of taking a nap or indulging in something delicious. Other times, it’s the eudaemonic pleasure of choosing discomfort in the short term—like setting a difficult boundary—because we know it serves our long-term well-being.
In somatic sex education, we often focus on reconnecting with the body’s wisdom as a way to access both forms of pleasure. This practice of slowing down, noticing, and honoring what feels right can lead to a deeper sense of joy, satisfaction, and self-trust.
An Invitation to Explore
What would it look like to honor both hedonic and eudaemonic pleasure in your life? Maybe it’s allowing yourself to enjoy a sensory delight today—a warm drink, a sunset, a slow walk. And perhaps it’s also pausing to reflect on how your daily choices align with the life you want to create.
Both forms of pleasure are gifts, and when we embrace them with intention, they become powerful tools for healing, connection, and joy.
Your body knows the way. Trust it. Let it guide you toward the pleasures—both immediate and meaningful—that nourish your whole self.