Did you know that as of 2017, a study by Our World in Data shows that an estimate of 284 million people (63% women) experience a form of anxiety disorder, making it the most prevalent mental health or neurodevelopmental disorder?
While this is an outstanding figure, it is not shocking, and you can expect this number to increase following the effects of the recent COVID 19 pandemic. You see, as humans, there is so much to worry about. We are worried about the present, the future, and how people will view us if they know the true situation of our financials, relationships, and life in general. Admittedly, it is normal for these things to concern you. However, they are not and should not be regarded as the determinants of true happiness.
According to the early Stoics and Aristotle’s teachings, true happiness (Eudaimonia) lies in living a virtuous life. This means we must occasionally act for the sake of things that are counter to our nature by restraining our desires so that they do not compromise sound judgment, and the best way to achieve sound judgement is through prudence – the excellent habit of logical, practical, and careful deliberation that effectively identifies the best methods of achieving a morally desirable aim.
Perhaps this is why Aristotle and Aquinas believed that prudence is a principal virtue on which a variety of other virtues hinge. Prudence, according to Aristotle, is “a state grasping the truth, involving reason, and concerned with conduct concerning human benefits.” It is upon Aristotle’s elaborate idea of prudence that all subsequent debates of prudence in the Western philosophical tradition are built on, including Thomas Aquinas’ complex and profound exposition of prudence. Here, Aquinas believes it is a kind of intellectual aptitude that permits us to make harmonious decisions with (and indeed oriented to) our ultimate goal (ST IaIIae 57.5).
So, in a nutshell, prudence reveals for us the line of conduct regarded most suited for attaining happiness (Eudaimonia). Therefore, we can summarise a prudent person to be someone who has mastered the act of deliberating successfully and choosing the best means to achieve a worthy end, even in difficult situations.
When it comes to mastering prudence, the great philosophers believed that Prudence (or practical wisdom) is learned by instruction, example, and, most importantly, experience. However, they also considered that being prudent would be challenging for the young since they lacked adequate experience, so they must be taught prudence and shown how it works via the example of others.
As Prudent Drifters (TPD), we wholly agree with the above teachings and believe that the best approach to living a happy (virtuous) life is approaching everything with prudence. However, we understand that prudence often gets a bad rap in these modern times because it contradicts the fast world we live in – one where we are continuously prompted to go with our guts and respond to things immediately. It is no wonder why many will consider prudence to be docile and cowardly, but in reality, prudence is the opposite of these things. Instead, to be prudent is to apply wisdom to every action and in turn, make every second of our short lives on earth meaningful, and we will show you how.
Here, at TPD, our mission is to inspire eudaimonia by being a calming voice of reason in a chaotic and modern world. As such, we enlighten the world on ways to infuse positive virtues into every area of your life by discussing topics that revolve around developing healthy personal finance habits, identifying a fulfilling career, fostering healthy relationships and mindful living in an exciting and non-judgmental way. We aim to break down and eliminate every tedious, boring and complicated idea you may have ever had about virtues and prudent living. So, whether you are young, old, depressed, or just curious, TPD is here guide you in your journey to a more fulfilling, balanced, and happy life.
Keep scrolling to see what we have in store for you!
Start with the TPD CREDO!
A key step to living a prudent life is having a set of principles that guide you through your daily choices.
Here are Ten Credos we abide by at TPD.
Catch up with these Drifts…
How to Beat the Sunday Blues.
Contrary to the tag ‘Sunday Blues,’ this dreadful feeling of anxiety isn’t exceptional to people who have a traditional workweek (Monday- Friday, with free weekends). People who have alternative work schedules also experience the blues.
Food and Psychology: Shopping when Hungry.
Hunger goes beyond the desire to feed. It alters perception and influences decision-making. As such, the mind can easily convert ‘I want food’ to a mere ‘I want’, prompting you to buy things you may or may not need.
Beyond Happiness: Eudaimonia
Eudaimonia satisfies that psychological nuance that is difficult to grab with the word happiness by encouraging us to embrace the fact that many of life’s most meaningful projects will at times be at odds with happiness, but they are worth pursuing regardless.
The Prudent Drift 