Twelve Keys to a Meaningful, Flourishing Life

Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back, and reviewing the keys to a flourishing, balanced and rounded existence. Many of these keys are common sense, at least for those who have chalked up a bit of life experience. But we can easily lose sight of them, especially when life gets busy and demanding. So here are a few reminders, for myself and my readers…

1. Never forget that love and friendship are more important than “success.”

Even with all conceivable goods in the world, such as wealth, health, virtue, and knowledge, human life would be unbearable without friends. The biggest regret people often have, late in life, is having devoted themselves so single-mindedly to their careers that they did not spend enough time with their children or loved ones. The allure of professional success is appealing, but it cannot be allowed to destroy or displace that without which our life becomes meaningless: friendship and love.

2. Take care of yourself, if you want to take care of others.

We are not machines with infinite batteries. We are physical beings with recurrent physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. There is a risk of chasing after productivity, “do-goodism,” and external goals, while neglecting our own physical and spiritual health. If I want to be of service to others, I need to take care of myself. That means, eating a healthy diet, getting a reasonable amount of exercise, sleeping a reasonable number of hours - if possible - and finding ways to regularly relax, re-juvenate, and burn off stress.

3. Time out, or burn out.

If you don’t find time every day to step back and just be still, in a “non-productive” attitude of receptivity, you will just bumble along through life and lose your inner poise. Without these pauses, for prayer, reflection, or stillness, life will be just become “one damn thing after another.” And without those time-outs, burn-out is probably just around the corner.

4. Enjoy more, worry less.

Many of us spend an inordinate amount of time not just planning, but worrying about the future, projecting ourselves into all sorts of unpleasant hypothetical scenarios, many of which don’t even materialise. Ceaseless worry and fear are like radio static that prevent us from tuning in to the present moment, or savouring the good things in life. Fear and worry need to be gradually conquered, so that life can regain its original beauty and charm.