Creating a Well-Lived Life
What truly constitutes a well-lived life? When something as subjective as “well-lived” can have so many definitions, how does one characterize or qualify the meaning? And yet so many are in search of, nay, yearning to design a well-lived life. Some say that a well-lived life is rooted in purpose, nurtured by relationships, and driven by accomplishments that align with your core values. Others say that it's about developing your full potential, feeling true to yourself, and leading an authentic life.
I believe a well-lived life should be about making your life feel right for RIGHT NOW. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve - and each word, page, or chapter - you have the opportunity to draft as your life and story plays out in real life. Later will take care of itself. It always does. So what is right… now?
BE SPECIFIC.
A good place to start is by reviewing what is going well. It’s human nature to pinpoint the negative and focus on what is not going well. But so much is - dare I say has to - go right to “keep the wheels on the bus” day after day. To begin, grab your device or one of the many notebooks you’ve collected over the years, and create a list of all the tiny, big, and in between things that have gone right.
Did you keep your closet organized for the week? Read a book this year? Open your mail? Text your mother? It could be monumental like receiving a promotion or buying a new car. Once they’re written down do you see a pattern or are there any links between things that you have identified as going well?
Now is the fun part, think about an element of your life that, if it were ideal, makes you smile. I’ll share my very own example: I enjoy my first cup of coffee while peacefully sitting at a vanity getting ready for the day with my favorite YouTubers playing on my phone that is sitting in a cute phone stand. That is VERY specific!! That’s a good thing. Now I can begin to pinpoint where exactly there are gaps between what my morning looks like currently and what my ideal morning could be so I can begin to take action.
BE REALISTIC.
I get it… it’s easy to day dream. In order to move from wishful thinking to reality you must be able to identify actionable steps you can realistically take to progress towards your goals. In using my “ideal morning” example, I began to assess:
What was I currently already doing?
What am I not currently doing?
What is needed to bridge the gap?
For example, I am already drinking coffee in the morning. Check! I am not currently getting ready at a vanity. I need to identify: 1) a location to place a vanity and 2) buy a vanity (the cute phone holder can come later). Check! Check!
REVISIT AND REVISE OFTEN.
The amazing thing that happens when you break down well-lived into small, actionable goals, is that you can feel progress. For me, making a small change to start my day in an “ideal way” for me, created the space and energy to assess other areas of my life. Don’t be afraid to refine and change things as you learn more about a situation or even yourself. The key is to revisit and revise often. As life changes, so, too, will your vision for life.
