The term “a good life” is subjective, and its meaning depends on one’s personal philosophy and values. For me, a good life is related to spiritual and sensual well-being. Moreover, even if people are rich and possess all the material objects they want, they will not feel happier with these objects (Górnik-Durose 307). Thus, I can identify the term “a good life” with the senses of gratitude, meaning, and love.
The feeling of gratitude is associated with focusing on what a person has rather than what they do not possess. As a clinical mental health counselor, I am grateful for being able to help people and make them happier. Having healthy children and parents, being able to breathe and walk, traveling, living in a comfortable apartment or a small wooden house – all these can be identified with a good life. I believe that every person will find a different meaning in each of these aspects and moments, but as long as they are grateful and mindful, they will feel happy. Being mindful means appreciating every moment and understanding its purpose. For instance, I comprehend that my education will help me resolve crises and mitigate the stress other people face. I am grateful for this opportunity since it makes my life meaningful.
Moreover, life cannot be good without a sense of love. People may lose all material possessions and become poor, but if they have loving and caring friends, relatives, and partners around them, they will be happy. Therefore, a good life is a complex term with different meanings, but all the interpretations have a particular point in common – well-being is associated with gratitude, meaning, and love.
Reference
Górnik-Durose, Małgorzata E. “Materialism and Well-Being Revisited: The Impact of Personality.”Journal of Happiness Studies, vol. 21, 2020, pp. 305-326. Springer. Web.