Beech Tree News Network

In James, Mercy Triumphs (2011), Beth Moore asked, “What is the good life?” The online Merriam-Webster's dictionary defined “the good life” as a life marked by a high standard of living (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/good%20life). The phrase “the good life” can mean different things to different people.

First, many have explained their understanding of a good life. Some of those explanations include the following statements (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/good-life-quotes):

-The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. ~Bertrand Russell

-There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning. ~Christopher Morley

-The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination. ~Carl Rogers

-Life comes from physical survival; but the good life comes from what we care about. ~Rollo May

-I grew up in a family where everybody had a good time and we were at the lake every weekend and going to the beach and living a good life. It’s been the way we always lived, and my wife’s the same way – enjoy every day and have fun. ~Luke Bryan

Second, an article entitled “What Is the Good Life?” written by Steve Mueller attempted to answer that question (http://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/2016/what-is-the-good-life/). Mueller described a good life as “A life that is in balance and fully satisfies and fulfills.” He concluded that the one who is living the good life seeks to attain self-control and contributes to the betterment of the world, adding value to it. According to Mueller, the good life could look different for different people.

Third, Tess Marshall wrote – and listed – “61 Tips to Help You Live the Good Life” (http://theboldlife.com/2011/10/61-tips-live-good-life/). Three of the tips she provided were:

-Look for the best in people.

-Go out of your way to help somebody.

-Appreciate your life as it is today.

Marshall’s 61 tips would certainly help a person be more content – thus, more likely to live the good life.

What is the good life? Oscar Wilde said, “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201201...). For me, living the good life means (1) finding my purpose, (2) finding my people, and (3) adhering to my faith and values.