The good life is something that many of us strive towards achieving, but do we really know what it is or how to get it? Many of us think that a good life equates to having lots of money, but actually this is often not the most important factor.
So how can we shed those preconceived notions of the good life, and set about acquiring the real good life for ourselves?
Be Grateful for What You Have
It is very easy to spend our lives wanting more than we have, but the path to true happiness is to enjoy and appreciate what you already have.
You may not have as much money as you want, but you may have your health. Or you may not live in the home you want, but you may have a happy family.
There are always things to be grateful for, and the secret to happiness is to work out what these are and to enjoy them.
This is especially important when it comes to material goods. In the culture we live in, we may be constantly tempted to acquire more, but this is rarely the secret to a really good life.
Spend Less, Enjoy More
You don’t have to spend lots of money and have lots of things to be happy. In fact, you will often be happier by having less.
Make an effort to spend smarter. Before you buy anything, decide whether you really need it, or whether you just want it. If you just want it, work out whether you can really afford it. Being in debt is never the way to lead a happy life, so try to change your spending habits.
Sometimes spending less involves making products that are investments. This could be something as simple as a Shear Comfort seat cover for your car that protects the seats and means you will spend less on replacing them (and it could even help to protect the value of your car).
You don’t have to avoid buying anything to enjoy the good life. In fact, if you are smart, there are many ways that you can spend less money and still have a great time. For example, you can look out for special offers on everything from food to vacation packages to save money while enjoying yourself.
You can also get great satisfaction from reusing things rather than throwing them away, helping you to save money and help the environment at the same time.
Make Time for Others
Spending time with other people is an essential part of enjoying the good life. Whether they are family members, friends, or complete strangers, spending time with others is part of being human.
Loneliness can hurt your health and lead to depression, whereas spending time with other people can help you to enjoy life more.
Do you have friends who you have not seen in a while? What about family members who you have not spend much time with lately? It’s never too late to see them, or to simply pick up the phone—and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Enjoy the Good Life
Many of us are under the illusion that to enjoy the good life, we need lots of material possessions, but this is not the case. To really enjoy the good life, you need to be able to appreciate the good things in life, such as friends, family, and enjoying what you have. So think about all the things you have to be happy for, and change the habits that need changing, to enjoy the good life too.
Bio: Benjamin Moore is a firm believer in living life as if the glass is always half full, never half empty. A family man, he has recently had to re-evaluate his life, and make some changes, but for the better. He shares his thoughts on living a good life.
My mantra: An Attitude of Gratitude. Being thankful for what I have. I love volunteering and giving back to my community.
I agree with this article. I always try to see the glass as half full. This has become especially important now as my husband’s health has deteriorated.
I have to remind myself to see the glass as half full these days Jo-Ann. It has been a rough year…but I’m very blessed to have a great family which I’m appreciative of.
I love this article. True, a lot of times I complain, but I stand back and have to be thankful for what I have. There is so much to be grateful for! I know you don’t like links down here, but I want you to hear this awesome song and see the video that goes with it. Go to YouTube, search for “Grateful” sung by Valentine Ryder. Some folks might be a little offended at some of the images in the video, but it’s nothing sexual, or “dirty”, just another point of view. There are other versions of this gem, but I think Mr. Ryder’s is the best. Check it out. You will feel truly blessed, and duly grateful. : )