A happy person enjoying nature by sitting on a river dock.Photo bySong_about_summer via Shutterstock

“Wow, she’s living the good life!”

We’ve all heard friends and neighbors describe distant acquaintances as “living the good life.” Most of the time, we say it with mixed emotions. Happiness for them because they can live blissfully, but with a hint of envy that your life is so different.

What if I told you that you could “live the good life?”

What Does Living the Good Life Mean?

Living the good life doesn’t have a set definition.

We all have a different idea of what a “good life” is.

But everyone’s idea of a good life has similarities.

When we live the good life, we’re safe, enjoy financial security, have healthy bodies and minds, and experience the full breadth of life’s bounty.

How To Live the Good Life

Living the good life may seem out of reach, but the secret is you can have it.

You can be the person people talk wistfully about, wishing they were you.

Here’s how to get more out of your life.

Prioritize Self-Care

Practicing self-care is essential to feeling better every day. You can’t live the good life if you’re constantly stressed out and at the end of your tether.

You must make you-time. Get a massage, take a long walk, or indulge in a bubble bath. Do things for you that help you relax and destress.

Turn off Social Media

Social media keeps us wrapped in a blanket of anxiety. All it offers is sadness and despair. We see the worst takes humanity can possibly imagine, along with all the bad news of the world. In addition, we’re bombarded with highlight reels that make it look like everyone else is thriving.

The combination keeps us angry, sad, lonely, and anxious. Turn it off and go outside. The real world isn’t nearly as bad as social media makes it seem.

Take Care of Your Physical Health

You need to prioritize your physical health to live the good life as long as possible. Exercise, eat well, and limit nasty habits that take years off your life.

Caring for your body will give you extra years to pursue and live your dream life.

Practice Gratitude

Sometimes, we’re so focused on what we don’t have that we don’t see all the good surrounding us. You might be living the good life already but can’t see it because you’re too focused on wanting more.

Take a step back and count your blessings. Acknowledge all the good things you already have. Start a daily gratitude practice to show more appreciation.

Cultivate Friendships

The good life is better with friends. Cherish the friendships you have, and make an effort to cultivate new ones.

As a species, we accomplished so much because of our ability to cooperate. Great friends will help you live your best life.

Ignore the Haters

Not everyone will make the friendship cut. Some folks see others thriving and do everything possible to bring them down.

Ignore the people who say you “can’t” or fill your head with excuses. You can – they just don’t want you to because your success will reveal their laziness.

Control Your Finances

Many people say you don’t need money to live the good life. That’s not true.

In our current society, money is vital. Nearly anything you want to do, from learning a new skill to traveling the world to simply existing, costs money.

If you want to live the good life, you need to get control of your finances. Make a budget, set cash aside to fund your dream life, and start a side hustle if you’re short on funds.

Invest in Yourself

The happiest people invest in themselves. They join professional organizations, take classes, try hobbies, and seek mentorship.

Spend your time and energy on becoming the best version of yourself, and you’ll be well on your way to living the good life.

Shift Your Mindset

Our mindsets hold us back. Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to live the life you’ve always wanted.

Stop thinking you can’t, and start believing you can. Cultivate a growth mindset and realize that everything you want is within reach.

Accomplish Goals

When do you feel best about yourself?

Usually, we feel proudest after we’ve accomplished something we put a lot of time and effort into. We finished that triathlon, graduated college, slayed a big presentation, or perfected that dish.

Setting and achieving goals will make you feel so good about yourself that you’ll stop thinking about other people’s “good lives.”

Challenge Yourself

The best feeling of accomplishment comes from overcoming a massive challenge. Step outside of your comfort zone and do something extraordinary.

Take a solo trip, try a complicated hobby, master public speaking, or go bungee jumping. Do something so crazy that you’ll look back with awe for the rest of your life, impressed that you faced your fear and did it.

Get Out in Nature

Sometimes, we find the good life in the simplest places.

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life or suburbia to connect with nature. Smell the flowers and listen to the bees buzz as they go about their business. Enjoy the bounty of sensual experiences planet Earth offers. You’ll wonder why you ever needed anything else.

Drop the Ego

We’re often our own worst enemy. We struggle to find happiness because we’re too busy worried about ourselves. Our egos won’t let us enjoy life’s simple pleasures. It’s constantly whispering about what we should be doing and how we deserve more.

Let it go.

Humans would be much more advanced if we all dropped our egos and let ourselves be happy.

Forgive

Part of dropping your ego is letting go of past wrongs. Forgive the people who’ve hurt you. Move on and let yourself be free of it.

Of course, forgiving isn’t the same as forgetting. You don’t have to let someone back into your life. Forgiveness is for yourself – not for them.

Live by your Values

It’s time to dig deep and discover your inner belief system. Stop skating through life, doing whatever, and start adhering to your values.

Many people struggle to find happiness because their actions directly conflict with their values. They say they’re a “family person” yet cheat on their spouse. They claim generosity yet hoard everything they have.

To live a good life, you must understand and live by your values.

Find Meaning

Finding your purpose will help you live the good life. Far too many people merely exist, flittering through their lives without any idea of what they should be doing. They float from job to job, relationship to relationship, without finding fulfillment because they don’t know what fulfills them.

Don’t waste your time here on meaningless junk. Find your life’s purpose and pursue it with every fiber of your being.

Seek Help

You don’t have to do any of this alone. Help is available for every aspect of living your good life.

If you’re struggling to fund your lifestyle, seek a financial advisor or career counselor. Hire a life coach if you need help finding your purpose. See a therapist for assistance in dropping the ego or forgiving past wrongs.

Whatever you’re struggling with, there’s someone available to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for it.

A Good Life is Within Reach

Living a good life isn’t about acquiring a bunch of money or stuff. Most items on this list don’t require vast fortunes to achieve.

Almost anyone can live a better life – so start now.

This article was produced and syndicated by Partners in Fire.