What is the right way to live?

Main topic: Humanities

Other topics: Happiness, Philosophy

Short answer:

There is no one right method to go about living one's life. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe for success; each person must chart their own unique course. Some individuals choose to live more traditional lives, while others would rather strike their own path through life. It is entirely up to you to decide how you wish to go through life. The following are a few items that when taken together, might help define the correct way of living and construct one's own "best life."

• Doing what we want instead of what others want for us
• Learn to Forgive
• Believe in the unseen

Way to Live Source, Flickr

There are a variety of approaches to leading a life that is meaningful, and it is up to each of us to discover the path that is most appropriate to us on a personal level. The decisions we make and the way we go about our daily lives may be influenced by factors like our personalities and values, the conditions we find ourselves in, and how we react to the difficulties we face in life.

A good life is one in which one is able to do what one wants while able to earn enough money to support themselves and is able to make use of their own individual approach to accomplishing things and experience the feeling of contentment and fulfillment. It may be significantly different for each individual, and the best way to figure out what it is for you is to actively seek out the things that will help you feel happy and content in your life.

The way in which one should live one's life has been standardized by society. You are free to build your own way of life if you believe that the quality of living that the majority of people adhere to is not appropriate for you. If at any time in your life you get the inspiration that you wish to pursue something different, you have the ability to decouple from the conventional road and chart your own way through life. Pursuing your way of life requires a lot of guts, work, and introspection on your part. Thus only a small percentage of individuals are able to do this.

The following are some items that may be of use as you work toward establishing your own "right way to live".

Do what you love

Do What You Love, Source: Flickr

If you are not aligned with your enthusiasm, it is improbable that you will find satisfaction or be truly satisfied with your life. However, if you make choices that lead you on a path that is more secure, you will be provided with the essentials of a comfortable living and some peace of mind in your regular work. However, it is highly doubtful that you will feel genuinely happy with your life.

One enters a state of "flow" when they have engaged in an activity that one like doing. Flow is a term that was used by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to describe a state of mind in which a person is able to immerse themselves in the activity in that they are engaged completely.

Time moves seemingly more quickly. It is much simpler to enter a state of "flow" when one is engaged in an activity that one finds enjoyable, which in turn results in increased productivity.

Live in the moment

Live in the Moment, Source: Flickr

The phrase "live in the moment" is one that we hear very often, but in reality, it is all we have. Putting worries about the future and regrets about the past makes life's journey a better one. Instead, one should strive to answer the question, "What could someone do to make today better?" This has the effect of bringing attention to what is controllable and focusing on the present.

Believe and dream

There is a great deal of literature that discusses the significance of having hope and believing that we are capable of bringing the things we dream about into existence.

Practice gratitude

Every time one goes to bed, closing eyes and thinking of three things that happened that day for which one is thankful. It serves as a continual reflection that there's always something nice around, no matter where one is looking.

Do what you want and not what others want for you

“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” -Paulo Coelho

Many of us learn to start our lives by learning to live for the approval of our parents and the acceptance of people around us, whether it be our classmates, our instructors, or society in general, from the time we are children. This is a direct result of our need for affection and a feeling of acceptance and belonging. It is natural for us to look to other people for affection and approval, and this need is understood.

Living for yourself is making decisions based on what YOU want your life to be like, rather than taking into consideration the viewpoints of other people. Living a life that you feel connected with, a life that you enjoy, and a life that you are grateful for is what it means to live a life of alignment. What the opinions of others are, you are basing your objectives on what other people desire for you, or you are pursuing what society considers to be successful. Neither of these approaches is healthy.

However, at some point, we will have to come to terms with the fact that we are responsible for our own happiness and discover the love, acceptance, validation, and self-assurance that we have been searching for inside ourselves. This marks the beginning of the process of focusing on one's own internal validation rather than external evaluation.

Ignore the Haters

No matter how you choose to spend the remainder of your life, there will always be an individual who is willing to point out the numerous ways in which you will fail or what it is that you are doing incorrectly at each stage of the process. Be aware that every winner will eventually lose, but not each loser will ever win. Successful individuals don't start off successful. The fact that they never give up in the face of adversity is what drives their success.

Build self-confidence and make it resistant to the outside forces who are attempting to tear it down by working on setting boundaries and practicing self-love the next time you come across a hater. This will make the self-esteem stronger.

Don't Compromise Your Core Values

If you get the feeling that you shouldn't be doing anything, don't do it. If you want to stop feeling lonely and full of remorse, avoid compromising on the inner code of ethics that you have established for yourself. Life doesn't operate like a movie. The situation is fraught with ambiguity. Trust your intuition, and as long as you can look at yourself in reflection and feel love and admiration for yourself, you should feel free to do anything you choose.

Learn to Forgive

Forgiveness, Source: Flickr

The single most uplifting and life-changing thing that a person can do for himself and others is to forgive. To forgive is to confront head-on an individual or something that has caused you pain, damage, upset, or disappointment and make the conscious decision to let go of whatever resentment or anger you may have towards that person or thing. It is not a sign of weakness or inability to defend oneself if you are able to forgive someone. It indicates that you are aware of the fact that keeping the hurt, anger, and resentment inside of you is more harmful to you than it is to anybody else. The awareness that harboring ill intent toward others and passing judgment on them does not pave the route to rehabilitation or resilience.

Believe in the unseen

So many people limit their understanding of the world to what they can see with their five senses and choose not to look farther than what is immediately in front of them. People who are able to alter the world are those who believe in themselves enough to trust what they "know" on the inside, and because of this, they are able to see millions of miles beyond what is immediately in front of their eyes. They have a strong belief in the potential of something happening, and because of their belief, the possibility ends up occurring.