What would you say are the primary ingredients of a good life? Can you list four or five?
Around the time my son Jacob graduated from college, I made up a list for him of what in my opinion were the five primary ingredients of a good life. I meant it to be a sort of checklist, to check for balance in his life, but now I realize it is a blessing: May you be blessed with a life that includes all five of these ingredients.
Jacob and I reviewed the list recently, and it occurred to me that perhaps I should share it. So here are the Five Ingredients of a Good Life. Note that there are inevitable overlaps among the five ingredients. And also note that they are not listed in order of importance: The whole point of the list is that all five are valuable!
Meaningful Work. Whether it is what you are getting paid to do or not, may you work on something which brings you deep satisfaction and is of service to the world. (If you also happen to get paid for doing it, that’s a bonus.)
Close Friends. May you have at least one friend with whom you can speak honestly from the heart, someone who is caring and empathic, someone with whom you can be real. And may you BE a good friend too.
Spiritual Practice. Prayer, meditation, music, art, journal writing, long walks… Whatever works for you, may you find a way to nurture your soul and loosen the grip of the ego.
Caring for the Body. May you be physically active, eat healthy foods, sing and dance, and be out in nature often.
Love. May you have the experience in your lifetime of an intimate, loving relationship.
Please share this list with family and friends, and let me know your reactions. Is this helpful? Would you write the list differently?
May we all be blessed with more balance in our lives. And may we continue to find ways to cultivate these ingredients of a good life within the context of our communities, as well as in our families and work places.