6 Foundations for Living a Good Life
The next six points are the six things I live by in my life. Whatever I do as part of my daily activities, these six points will define the very nature of what I am doing. In business terms, you could say they are my mission statement.
1. Preach humanity
195,000 years ago a new species was born- Homo Sapiens. Or what we commonly call, humans. We share the same genetic make up yet culturally we are so diverse. There are countless religions, ideologies and concepts out there in the world, each one claiming to encourage humanity, yet in reality this seems to be so elusive. We are all one species and this is one major aspect to share. Culture is irrelevant next to this, so then why are we unable to care for our fellow kin?
My message to you is to preach humanity. Let humanity define your actions in life. Do good deeds, help those in need, fight against injustice, speak up for those without a voice. At the end of the day we are all the same, so make sure everything you do in life benefits, and certainly doesn't harm, your fellow human beings.
2. Seek education
Prejudice is a cruel warrior but the one weapon that can stop it in its tracks every time is knowledge. If we arm ourselves with knowledge we will be able to fight our own personal war with prejudice and advance into a more peaceful, loving future. Everything that happens to us, be it a blessing or a hardship, is a valuable lesson for us all to learn. Search for life's lessons in the world around you, as though you are an explorer looking for treasure. Wisdom is priceless and can only be gained if we put in the effort and are willing to learn through reflection, active study, experience and passed down knowledge. I urge you to continually seek education. Learn as if you'll live forever.
3. Focus on your health and wellbeing
'You are what you eat'. Eat good stuff, you'll have a good body. Eat a load of rubbish, your body will be clogged up with hazardous debris. This is true of all things, so it is fundamental that you nurture every part of you. After all, if you have a weak body, you are less able to perform in the sport of life.
Health and wellbeing comprises many things- nutrition, sport, immunity, cleanliness, beauty and mentality. Our bodies are a vessel enabling us to perform in life. Our minds can work without any physical effort on the part of the body, but actions require arm and leg movements, strength and stamina. Just as the famous saying teaches us, 'actions speak louder than words'.
I myself know that getting up and doing exercise can be tough, that healthy eating can often be time-consuming or costly and that feeling confident or happy in your appearance can be a lot harder than it's made out to sound. But every little helps and one positive step towards a healthier you will be one less step you have to worry about. Do something today... maybe you don't eat that takeaway or you eat a piece of fruit, maybe you walk instead of drive or you pick up some dumbbells, or maybe you just wash your face more fully, focusing on exfoliation, cleansing and moisturising. Whatever it is, remember every little helps.
4. Be sustainable
We were given to this planet. It is much older than us, yet we do not respect it. Isn't there a time-old saying - respect your elders? We have destroyed parts of the world irreversibly in such a short time frame. We have polluted oceans, killed biodiversity and brought rainforests crashing to the ground. All in the name of scientific development. Yet this issue is becoming ever more key in the modern world. We are embarking on a new adventure into the sustainable world, one where people need to be more environmentally aware, reduce waste and opt for renewable methods of energy production. At the present time, the leap is not an easy one. Our only main options for travel involve gas-guzzling cars and public transport. Most of our foods come wrapped in non-degradable plastics. The animals we eat were probably abused prior to slaughter. Society has made us almost helpless, but we refuse to give in. Just be a little more aware. Read packaging and opt for biodegradable. Switch to a renewable energy provider. Car share or buy a hybrid. Go vegetarian or buy from your local farm. Again it requires effort, but the time of effort is now. If no-one tries, what will become of planet Earth? I will try harder too.
5. Be true to yourself
We are all born unique, so don't idolise others and act like their cloned twin. You are perfect at being you and you are special because of it. Happiness comes from within and if you feel that you have to fake everything just to be liked or successful in this world then negative energy will engulf you and only sadness will result. Instead be true to who you are. Sing your own song from the treetops and let joy and positivity dance in your soul. It will feel as though you have gained magical powers and suddenly you will be a much happier and much more abled individual than before.
6. Set goals for yourself
It can be easy to get drawn into the daily grind, stuck in a routine that displeases you, but if you set goals for yourself and constantly have something to aim towards, life will become the adventure the infant you always dreamed of. Goals can be anything : I want to learn a new language, I want to go to Australia, I want to start my own business, I want to become vegetarian, I want a new car, I want to learn meditation, and so on. It can be as small as 'I want to dedicate 20 minutes of my evening to relaxing' to as big as 'I want to take 5 years out and travel all around the world'. Modern life can be highly stressful, depressing, lonely, busy, and complicated but with the addition of a few simple goals it can suddenly become an exciting journey for you to enjoy.
It goes without saying that these six points are interlinked; they must work in collaboration with one another. When you think about what food you eat or what beauty products you wear, make sure they are sustainable. Be true to yourself and you will probably end up being a better humanitarian. Set yourself educational goals or fitness goals. The list is endless.
Of course there are many other steps to enjoying a happy life but I think these six are key foundations. Get a pen and paper and write down a few ideas that you could change about your life today. Implement these six steps into your life now and then in a few weeks time look back and marvel at how far you've come and how much positive energy you have attracted.
Good luck!
