Finding meaning is a secondary goal in a more complicated, uncertain, and cynical world. An overwhelming sense of responsibility to make ends meet makes it nearly impossible to pause and think about a more meaningful future.
It’s not always easy to know what is required of us to live well. It can be challenging to balance daily life’s pressures and the need for rest and relaxation. That’s why it’s important to have a sense of what the good life means in our modern context.
What is the good life? Is it to have fun, explore new things, and spend time with friends and family? Or is it to work hard, do what’s expected of you, and save for retirement?
“The good life is that which succeeds in existing for the moment, without reference to past or future, without condemnation or selection, in a state of absolute lightness, and in the finished conviction that there is no difference therefore between the instant and eternity,” says Friedrich Nietzsche, a philosopher. His work has had a profound influence on modern intellectual history.
Are you leading a good or meaningful life? What kind of life do you want? Is it even possible for you to have a good life?
Or is your current situation just the result of luck? These are all valid questions, and they all deserve honest answers.
There is another way to look at these questions: Maybe, as adults, we need to simplify and take a step back from our responsibilities to re-evaluate them with a fresh perspective.
Throughout our adult lives, we are constantly faced with choices about what kind of person we want to become. Do you want to be involved in activities that enrich others?
Do you want to spend your evenings reading books that make you think? Are you interested in volunteering your time for organizations that will benefit from your help?
Many assume that these choices only refer to hobbies; however, this can also be applied to other aspects of life, such as career paths and relationships.
A good life is personal
A good life is gratifying. It’s a life you take pride in and love spending time doing things you love. “There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning,” Christopher Morley said.
It’s a life where you feel like you’re making progress toward your goals and living the life you want. And most importantly, it’s a life where you feel like you’re happy and leading a meaningful life.
Living the good life is more than just spending your free time on activities you enjoy. It’s also about finding meaning and purpose in what you do — and how you do it.
In essence, the good life is defined by those personal activities that align with who you are as a person, not what you have or don’t have (e.g., money, material possessions, etc.).
As such, living the good life means doing things that help you learn, grow, develop social connections, experience pleasure, make sense of your emotions, strengthen your relationships with others and more.
“Your definition of a good life does not have to look like everyone else thinks it should. Whatever feels right for you, whatever aligns your inside with your outside, that’s what you should spend your time doing,” says G.G. Renee Hill.
It’s important to note that living the good life doesn’t mean simply avoiding anything that makes us feel bad or unhappy — rather, it means taking control of our feelings, so they don’t control us.
A good life involves a combination of factors; however, most people don’t understand this on a personal level. Everyone appears to be focused on the here-and-now and how they can get by in the immediate future.
In many cases, we don’t consider what we want out of life or what our future holds. This doesn’t mean that you should only focus on things that are good after tomorrow or discount everything wrong with your present circumstances. Instead, try to identify any negative aspects in your current situation and find ways to improve them if possible.
Today, more than ever, life is fast-paced and full of distractions. We are too occupied with the tiny details that we lose sight of the big picture.
How do we find meaning in our hectic schedule?
The answer lies in taking control of our time. This doesn’t have to be difficult; it just requires a shift in mindset and better prioritization.
There’s no one right way to have a good life. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a few steps in the right direction.
“Most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’ But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow,” explains Marcus Aurelius.
There’s no universal answer to figuring out what makes for a happy, healthy, balanced and fulfilling life. That said, there are some things you can do to make sure you’re living an optimal existence as much as possible.
The question is no longer what kind of life would make you happy — but how will you make that happen.
A good life is about finding meaning in your life and not settling for less than what you want. It may be challenging to know what constitutes a good life, but there are some key elements to look for when evaluating whether or not your current situation is leading to happiness:
- You feel fulfilled: You should be doing things that make you feel fulfilled both physically and mentally. If you aren’t, then it’s time to re-evaluate your priorities and evaluate whether the things currently occupying your time are actually making you happy or if they’re just taking up space on your schedule while doing little else.
- You have room for growth: Growth is key to happiness because it means that there’s still more room for improvement. Sure, you might be happy with the way things are right now, but if there was an opportunity for you to learn something new or grow in some way, then it’s likely that you’d be happier in the long run.
- You feel valued: Value is an essential part of your life. It helps you lead a happy and successful existence, and it also has a direct impact on how satisfied you will be with your life. A lack of fulfilment in one’s life can as a result of many factors, but value plays a key role. If you don’t feel valued by others, or if you don’t believe that others see you as valuable as you do yourself, it could have a negative impact on your life.
It can be helpful to evaluate your life on its own terms and consider whether certain things are contributing positively or negatively to your current quality of life.
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination,” Carl Rogers said.
Often we know when something is missing but aren’t always sure what it should look like if we were able to incorporate those elements into our lives fully.
Other aspects are less obvious — things that might feel like small changes but could contribute significantly towards making a positive impact on our quality of life over time.
Living the good life does not have to be about wealth or material possessions — it can also be about being content with who you are and designing personal and meaningful activities or experiences into your life every day of the week.
To design a good life, figure out what that means for you. The good news is that there are many ways to do this — many of which revolve around one primary goal: creating a happier and more fulfilling existence.
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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
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