Pursue A Meaningful Life + Free Printable

We all want to live the good life. But what does that actually mean?

According to the mainstream media, the good life is all about what we have in terms of material possessions and free time, and being able to obtain what we want without a grueling work schedule.

It’s about productivity. It’s about money. It’s about finding a way of living that feels relatively easy and brings you success — with extra points if it looks good on Instagram. Or according to the 70’s British sitcom, The Good Life is growing vegetables and keeping goats in your suburban garden…

But as you embark on your journey to the life you want, it’s helpful to realign your personal perception of the good life with what you think and feel about life and the world.

Ask yourself this key question:

Do you want an easy life, or do you want a meaningful life?

You could be forgiven for craving the easy life; your life as it is now, with work and family and endless commitments, probably isn’t exactly easy. But if your life were easy, would you feel inspired? If everything was always straightforward, would you be able to develop profound relationships with those around you? If you never faced hardship, would you understand yourself?

A meaningful life isn’t always easy. It’s not picture-perfect. But as you move through it, gathering grace and strength as you go, you will learn. You will cultivate a connection with yourself and with other people that is fulfilling, supportive, and leaves a mark.

If you strive to find meaning in life, you find a greater ability to take challenges in your stride.

And challenges will come. Even if you live on a beach.

How do you move towards a more meaningful life?

Start with you. To live well and in a way that creates a positive impact, you need to understand your own mind. 

To get to know your inner world a little better, you could start working with a daily practice to develop your skills of awareness and reflection, such as:

•    Mindfulness Meditation. Even five minutes of practice a day can make a huge difference.

•    Gratitude. Each day, write done three things you’re grateful for.

•    Affirmations. Identify two or three personal affirmations that reflect the person you hope to be. Write them down, and then repeat them to yourself every day.

As your self-knowledge grows, you’ll begin to recognise patterns in your thoughts and in your behaviour. Crucially, you’ll start to unpick the roots of the way you see the world: you’ll be able to figure out which thoughts are genuinely you and which thoughts you've inherited from your culture, family, and social circles.

And when you can do this, you’ll be closer to identifying the second important aspect of a meaningful life: purpose. Your purpose might be something you can do for a living, and that’s great. Or it might be something more abstract — a purpose that you can work towards quietly, on your own time, or in everything you do.

When you create a deep connection with yourself, and commit to self-inquiry; and when you identify your purpose in life; you will be able to build a meaningful life. And no lifestyle could be more worthwhile than that.

I have created a Printable PDF that you can download so you can work on the tips and exercises I have mentioned in your own time.

Download your Free Printable PDF Here

As always I would love to hear from you so please feel free to leave me a comment below.

#actingpure #meaningfullife #goodlife