Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose-Driven Life
,” says we can all live A Good Life. But how? For many, living a good life seems like a dream…like Dorothy standing in the poppy field gazing at the castle of Oz far off in the distance. We view it as something we will eventually attain like a dream of a magical place; not something possible today. If that is your perception of living A Good Life, you may never attain it.A Good Life is not a destination. It is not far off in your future.
Living A Good Life is not doing ten things you hate doing today so you eventually achieve something good in the future. The good life is not about goals or dreams.
As long as you view the attainment of A Good Life as a future phenomenon you will never attain it. That is what A Good Life is not. So, what is it?
A Good Life is:
- Real —many, many people experience A Good Life everyday
- Attainable —it is within everyone’s grasp, everyday
- Immediate —it is possible today and everyday of your life
- Life-changing —once you experience the benefits of A Good Life everyday will be fulfilling
- Who? Only you can define how you will live A Good Life. No one else can describe your good life, but you. What matters to you, what you feel is important, what makes you unique is only defined by you.
- What? What is A Good Life? It is the life you live by sharing your unique gifts in a way that enriches you and those around you. A Good Life is not about money, wealth, prestige or power. If that is how you are defining your good life, you are on the wrong track…A Good Life will remain a distant phenomenon. A Good Life is much more personal and much “closer to home.”
- Where? A Good Life is everywhere you go in everything you do. It permeates every conversation, relationship, and encounter from your home life to the stranger on the street. A Good Life is everywhere.
- When? All the time. Notice, everyday is included in each of the above qualities of A Good Life. Daily is when and how you live A Good Life. What you do today dictates how you feel today. It may also influence how you feel tomorrow, but there are no guarantees for that. Only today can you absolutely impact how you feel and act today.
- HOW? The $64,000 question…Rick Warren states, “The good life is about being good and doing good…giving your life away.”
Consider this question: What do we all possess that we all value?
The answer: Our unique selves.
In this booming age of blogs and Web 2.0, individual ideas and opinions reign supreme. We all want to know what the other has to say…what opinions others express, reviews of products, new ways to apply technology. We want to know what web sites others feel are important or interesting. We place high value on others’ opinions even when the others are strangers. Exchanging ideas and opinions is an expression of our true selves. Each of us brings a different perspective, a new thought, or a unique challenge. All of us learn from what others express. We place high value on the uniqueness of others.
Why? Simple.
- We are all most unique when we express our opinions.
- We are all most truthful when we express our opinions.
- We are all most altruistic when we express our opinions.
Rick Warren also states, “Your value is not based on your valuables.” Your value is based on who you are; the unique you who possesses unique talents. Only when we give our unique value away do we attain what is most valuable…A Good Life. The purpose of our unique value is not to hoard it, but to share it, and only in sharing it will we feel valued. Here are six simple things you can share that will help you live A Good Life:
- Your thoughts, ideas, opinions
- Your experience—show others what you can do for them
- Your smile; your enthusiasm, your willingness
- Your touch—give a pat on the back...shake a hand…show affection
- Your time---a few minutes, an hour, or a day devoted to another
- Your talent---share your creativity, your mechanical ability, your technical skills
Everyday, share what is unique about you. Kindly, generously, share your opinions and ideas. Be truthful, honest and willing. Smile and be optimistic about your gifts. Give of yourself so others can gain. Do it everyday, with every encounter. At the end of the day, reflect on what you did and what made you feel the best about yourself. That will be your clue about what you do and how you live tomorrow. Enriching another’s life with your unique gift is living A Good Life…however and wherever that manifests itself.
“Significance in life comes from giving it away,” Rick Warren guides us to the path of living A Good Life.
What makes you significant? Answer that question…then give it away, everyday. Then, you will be living A Good Life.
-Shelly
