The Good Life
Ah… The Good Life. How wonderful we have just clicked over into a new year filled with the potential of attaining it!
It’s a compelling vision, and I can tell you this: you’ll need to play an active part in its creation. And it’s a role only you can play. Because what makes your Good Life “good” depends very much on your perspective.
One of the drivers of your perspective is your values. Do you lean more toward security or risk? Family or independence? Wealth or wisdom? Power or purpose? Once you know your values, they help frame want you want in your life and what you don’t want (think uncluttering).
The Good Life is enhanced for us with gratitude for the people, experiences and things we have mindfully chosen to have in our life.
What takes the shine off our Good Life? Two things come to mind: (1) when we compare our Good Life to that of others: better can be the enemy of good; (2) the macro environment over which we have no control – illness, weather, world economies, etc.
Both of these make me consider though that perhaps one of the most important Good Life contributors is in Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning written in 1946: the meaning of life is found in every moment.
Ultimately, then, The Good Life for all of us first world-ers who have our basic needs taken care of is created through making choices and decisions that align with our unique perspective. This is the core of my Work/Life Clarity programs. My 2016 blog posts will share some of the concepts of creating your Good Life, from Courage right through to Peace.
I love the part around what takes the shine off the good life … when we compare to others! So true for me. Thanks for the thoughtful reminder!
Anna: A very thought provoking Pondering Point. How true that the “Good Life” is relative to our values and our personal perception of same. I look forward to further exploring this topic over the coming months. I enjoy the newsletter and read it immediately it arrives. Thank you for all that you do and bring to my life.