Our world is complex. Our lives within this world don’t have to be, yet often are quite a complex experience. Our pursuit of happiness can be intricate and never-ending. When we distill it to its essence, happiness can be much simpler than imagined.
Fundamentally, we need three principles to have a very happy and fulfilling life:
1. Good Health
2. Meaningful Work
3. Love
These are the principles of which contentment and fulfillment reside. I realize it sometimes takes a lifetime to discover, realize, or embrace these principles. The sooner we do, the happier and more gratified we are in this moment. Once we experience moments of happiness and fulfillment, we seek to rebuild our entire lives to have infinite moments like this.
Ancient philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle summed up happiness as a “life worth living” and is tied to meaningful lasting ideals like Truth, Reality, and Goodness. These ideals encompass life’s morality, relationships, and purpose to discover the nature or cause of mankind.
Today, an ideal example of what a long and happy life looks like in the Blue Zone regions of the world – Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Icaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California, USA). These regions have the most centenarians per capita due to their approach to living which is good health, meaningful work, and love.
Whether it’s ancient philosophers or today’s Blue Zone regions we can agree that happiness, fulfillment, and longevity come with good health, meaningful work, and love.
Good Health: Physical, Mental and Emotional
Good health is paramount to well-being and happiness. It encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being. With good health, we are better equipped to appreciate life’s beauties and face life’s adversities.
Strong physical health allows you the energy, capability, and capacity to pursue interests, activities, and lifestyle.
Strong mental health supports your mindset, ability to interact socially, and psychological aptitude.
Strong emotional health reinforces resilience, disposition, and your capability to acquire and grow meaningful relationships.
All these uphold your state of body and your state of being.
Achieving good health requires a conscious effort toward a balanced lifestyle. Partake in physical activity regularly, consume nutritious foods, carve out time for relationships and relaxation, and utilize stress management techniques. For any of these, be willing to seek assistance, support, or preventative care at the onset of need.
Meaningful Work: Purpose-Driven Value
Meaningful work aligns with your values, interests, and desire to contribute positively to yourself, to others, and to the world at large. This may be through our careers, volunteering, or personal projects to contribute and engage with society at our optimal level. Here’s the key – having a true purpose is selfless. Yes, working for money is necessary, but it’s not a life purpose. You can continue with work that provides, while also contributing to work that has purpose.
Meaningful work will vary significantly for each of us. We do not need to become a leader to have meaning in our lives. We do not need to be a public figure to have meaning in our lives. We do not need to invent something to have meaning in our lives. We do need to take action on what provokes our soul, whether that’s volunteering, teaching, creating, listening, writing, learning, helping…etc. Finding meaning often involves an attitude of mindfulness and gratitude, and an ability to recognize the value and impact of our efforts.
There is no age limit to purpose! Everyone at all ages and stages will find that meaning and purpose foster a sense of belonging, contribution, mental astuteness, and emotional satisfaction.
Love: Connecting, Cultivating and Cherishing
Love, in its many forms, is the emotional bond between us, our loved ones, the world, and each other. It encompasses romantic love, family, friendships, and a broader love for humanity and nature. Love enriches life, and provides comfort, joy, and support. Love ultimately creates a sense of belonging and community (big or small).
Loving relationships require our effort and empathy. We show and receive love through kindness and generosity, which fosters connection and unity with those around us. Love also includes more subtle acts like appreciation, support, helping with adversity, and active listening.
Blue Zones regions prioritize family connection, social networks, and active community participation. This in turn provides emotional support, buffers against mental and physical stress, and contributes to a sense of belonging. Deep and meaningful relationships enhance both happiness and longevity.
Here are some actionable tips to truly embark upon a happy, fulfilling life:
· Prioritize nutritious foods. Eat a rainbow of plant-based foods as much as possible. (insert rainbow). Be conscientious about your food intake and add more colorful fruits and veggies to your diet. This alone will help your good health path.
· Move more daily! Find ways to naturally walk, move, or skip throughout the day.
· Discover your purpose. Get a journal and write the answer to this question: if you didn’t have your limitations (real or perceived), what would you be doing to better your life, the lives of those around you, and the world? Do these things align with your passion and values? Keep writing about various ideas for a month or two, and see what ideas or themes are prominent.
· Invest time with family, friendships, and community groups. Once a week, add an activity, group, walk, or coffee with a friend(s).
· Practice mindfulness and gratitude. The best way to be grateful (and happier) is to acknowledge the simple parts of life and your appreciation for them. For example, I’m grateful for my daily warm cup of coffee or tea. I’m grateful for the sunshine today or the rain that is helping our garden. The simpler your gratitude, the more happiness there is to embrace.
The pursuit of happiness and fulfillment is ultimately good health, meaningful work, and love. These three principles are deeply interconnected and enhance our well-being, which can lead to a longer and more enjoyable life.