Do you want to live a satisfying life? Of course you do! But you and I know a life that satisfies doesn’t happen by accident. We face many obstacles to a achieving a satisfying life, such as a people pleasing habit, fear of change, unclear life purpose, or unexpected and unpleasant circumstances.
That’s why I created this list of Twelve habits that will help us enjoy a more satisfying life. (For an older version of this concept, you can see my 10 principles that lead to a fuller life.)
Please don’t see the list below as Twelve-More-Things-To-Feel-Guilty-About, but instead look for whatever will spur encouragement and inspiration.
And don’t think I have this list down pat. These are habits I’m trying to adopt in my never-ending, slow-but-steady journey toward a life that is more intentionally fulfilling, honoring, and purposeful. Maybe they will help you live a more satisfying life, too.
Twelve intentional habits that help me live a satisfying life
- Start wherever you are. It can feel like our life is too messed up to even try, but no matter where we are or how far we need to go, every step we take can make a difference.
- Be authentic. How can I be the best version of myself if I don’t own up to who I am?
- Notice the good. Our world is full of ugliness and strife, but it is also filled with beauty and compassion. Will you join me in choosing to see the good?
- Seize the moments. I hate to think how much life I’ve missed because I wasn’t paying attention to my now.
- Pick your battles. I learned how wise this was during my years of parenting children, but it applies to the rest of life, too. We can stop feeling guilty for what we cannot do and choose to focus on what we can do.
- Spread joy. “Be the change” is a popular mantra today, but I prefer “spread joy.” Add a little joy to someone’s life today and see what happens.
- Fill your tank. We cannot do effective work when we have no gas left in our tank. I don’t like running on fumes. Do you?
- Climb out of the rut. I am not a novelty-seeker by nature, but if I want a rich and interesting life I’ve learned I must make the effort to get out of my comfortable, predictable, minimal-effort-required rut.
- Get rid of what doesn’t belong. As we go through life we accumulate a lot of unnecessary baggage. I have found there is freedom in letting go of the stuff that isn’t helping me be my best.
- Maintain perspective. Focus can be good, but it can also blind us from the bigger reality. A dose of perspective goes a long way to helping me maintain equilibrium in life.
- Revisit your values. In today’s fast-paced world, we don’t have to be a memory-challenged octogenarians to lose sight of our priorities. It never hurts to revisit our foundation and remember why it’s worth it.
- Face the fear. Pursuing our dreams is not the safe, easy option. It means facing the fear sitting heavy in my gut. Will I let fear defeat me today? Will you?
That’s my list. What habits will you adopt that can help you make wise decisions in your life?
The decisions you make determine the schedule you keep. The schedule you keep determines the life you live. And how you live your life determines how you spend your soul. Lysa Terkeurst
Will you join me in trying to spend your soul as wisely as possible?
