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Figuring Things Out

The duty to flourish

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

The duty to flourish

Read on my website​

Dear Reader, Suraj here –

I was talking about dating with a friend recently, and we kept returning to a single idea: dating a winner.

Our partner didn’t have to achieve something remarkable already, but they should actively pursue what they want to do.

A winner pursues their desires; achievement comes later.

I know this because if I do not love myself, I cannot love my partner. If I feel defeated, resourceless, or incapable often, I am more likely to be consumed by my own survival or misery.

A while back, I wrote about how happiness is a moral obligation; winning is the same.

To have a winning attitude isn’t bound to outcome or external victories such as finances or status. If so, my kindness would be conditional; I’d offer it only when I’d feel “up.”

The obligation isn’t to win in the outcome sense, but to maintain the will to strive, to pursue something difficult and meaningful.

The philosopher Aristotle spoke of Eudaimonia—often translated as happiness or flourishing—as the highest human good. It is the active exercise of our faculties.

We have a duty to actualize our potential because a fully actualized human is the most beneficial to society. Duty to society is a duty to your neighbor, your family, and yourself.

To flourish is to serve those you love.

I will see you next week.

Warmly,
Suraj

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Figuring Things Out

By Suraj Chaudhary

One lesson, thought, or resource to living a fuller life every week.

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