Do You Have a Good Life? Do You Know How to Tell?
These last two months of 2020 are up for grabs.
We have no idea what lies ahead, but the feelings of uncertainty are all around us. The ultimate expression of life is to life YOUR best life under the best AND the worst of circumstances we are thrust into.
Instead of constantly scanning ourselves everyday for anxiety (and believe me, if you do that, you will most definitely find it), here’s what we must ask constantly, What, for me, would be a good life? And you have to keep going over and over the list—a list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation.
If anxiety is your first feeling, remember, it is a natural emotion NOT a disorder or illness. We NEED it to tell us when something is coming, something is happening. It is a good thing whether or not the things that happen are good or bad.
So, what would constitute a good life? Here is a short list that you can fit into your own life and go from there:
1. Productivity and Rest
You probably won’t be happy if you aren’t being at least somewhat productive. Of course, we must also rest, to gather strength to get back to productivity. How do you sleep?
What’s the reason for the seasons, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It’s to see what YOU can do with it—try your hand to see what you can do.
2. Good Friends and GREAT Friends
Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world, so don’t deny yourself the time to develop it. Nothing can match it. It’s extraordinary in its benefit.
Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. A GREAT friend would come and get you if you find yourself stuck somewhere. This is who you would call for help. Why? Because this friend would come and get you. That’s a real friend—somebody who would come and get you.
And we’ve all got casual friends, those GOOD friends who, if you called them, they would say, “Hey, when you get back, call me and we’ll have a party.”
You just HAVE to have both GREAT friends and GOOD friends.
3. Your Own Culture
Language, music, ceremonies, traditions, dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. The uniqueness of all of us, when blended together, brings real life, energy, power, influence, and rightness to the world. Proudly live and display yours!
4. Spirituality
Whatever your beliefs are, It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds this nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach—don’t be careless about the spiritual part of your nature because it’s what makes us who we are, different from dogs, cats, birds and mice.
5. Don’t Miss A Thing
My mother taught me not to miss anything, not the game, not the performance, the movie, the school dance. Before my mom passed away in 2008, if you were to call her at 9 at night, she would be at the rodeo with my sister, or watching her favorite basketball team on television. She would be in her art room creating beautiful lifelike flowers or landscapes from her memories. Or watching her very favorite actors and movies to see things she might have missed before.
Go do everything you possibly can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possibly can.
Live your life. Try new things, believe in your passions and don’t dismiss them! If you live well, it will show in your face; it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. It will give you an electricity like nothing else can..
6. Family and the Inner Circle
Invest in these people, and they’ll invest in you. Inspire them, and they’ll inspire you.
When I was living full time on the road playing music every night and moving to different towns, cities, states, even countries, I used to call her at every new hotel. The first thing she wanted is the address of the hotel to send me mail.
Remember this…if a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter’s kiss on his face all day, he’s a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife’s arms around his body, he’s invincible all day. It’s the special stuff with your inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don’t miss that opportunity.
A prophet said, “There are many virtues and values, but here’s the greatest: one person caring for another.” There is no greater value than love.
