What Makes A Good Life?

This question made me pause for a very long time. It’s not because I don’t have
my answer yet but internalizing such great study is very hard to grasp. First, I can say
it is all worth the wait for the main subject of the study is one of the best and realistic
question for every living individuals. “What Makes a Good Life?”. This may be a
very hard question for those who aren’t living in the will of the Lord. But as a
Christian this should be the easiest question to answer when someone will ask you
such thing. The article started with the short summary of their research saying that it
is not about wealth and fame. That I think is the truth in this world, for interviewing
various kind of people we know that it will lead us to the conclusion that money and
popularity in the end is not the source of joy and happiness.

These actually tells us that by nature we are all the same, we all at some point
equally are in the same need of something. I myself is very concerned about the
future. ,I’m troubled on what is ahead. Especially right now that I am heading to
college, I know it’s a battle between practicality and passion. Will my future choices
make my life good? How can I know by the way? I’m not there yet. The main issue
here is on how you view the present and who you are in the present. You will only
enjoy soon, if that “joy” is constant. If that joy does not depend on the circumstances
of your life.

Why do we long for a good life? Because, why not? And who would dare not to
desire for a good life? But why? Why are we mutual about that? Because whether you
admit it or not, we feel empty. We long to hope to be filled because there is this
particular hole in our heart that needs to be complete. I realize in the research study
that cliches are actually real! We always hear sayings like “ You don’t need money to
be happy”, or quotes like “Love is always the key, anywhere, anytime”. That’s kinda
weird but, that’s what I understand while being blown away by the awesomeness of
the said study.

Let’s go with the first lesson. “Good Relationships Keep Us Healthier and
Happier”. I know I’ve never gone too far in my life yet, I’m still an eighteen years old
lady. But going through my years as a student , I’m aware with the company I am
with and how the people around me affected me. I noticed that when I’m in a circle of
friends that is healthy, I know being constantly going with them will make my life
less stressful. When I am at home, being in a good shape with my family is a good
indication for a well spent rest at night. Laughter is indeed the best medicine in this
world where we always need to chase the mediums for survival.

But the truth is that, there will always be times where even our family hurt us, our
friends forsaking us. We will be left alone, what is my point? My point is that nothing
is constant, time will flee, years will pass, being too dependent from those groups will
not guarantee lasting peace and even the precious gem of joy. I understand the
researcher, if he is coming in a secular, atheistic, agnostic perspective about God. He
expressed their ideas, based on the study. And I believe , I have the ground to share
mine too.

A life for me will only be considered “good” if I know my purpose. If I know

The second lesson we can get is that “ The quality of of our close relationship
matters”. For me I can see this in a high edge level. I can be friends with many but
only the best friend for a specif person. I had a lot of friends but I only have a quite a
few of best pals. Those we spend our time with the most can shape us as an
individual. We get the influence from those we are always prone to their spaces. To
whom we share our space with. Now, this is where we classify the effects. Because
there is the bad quality and the good one. Believe me or not, but everything that is
happening in our life can affect us from deep within.

The first struggle is by being lonely. We are talking about the essence of having a
good relationship, how can someone received such love and beautiful gift without
having the people itself. A robot can’t fulfill that a toy won’t. A real tangible people is
what is needed for us to experience what joy it is to have someone you can depend on.
And this will obviously lead us to a boring and pointless life. Being in such situation
will make a person feel depressed that may trigger deeper mental illness. “No man is
an Island”. Sounds cliche again? Well that’s true.

Loneliness is a silent killer, I do understand there are people who are comfortable
with their state of being an introvert but even those individual will surely need a
helping hand from someone. Isolating yourself is very dangerous, it is a mixed of
emotions to the extent of not being able to explain it. I isolated myself a lot
already,mainly from social media, I don’t want the people around me to know my
problems but when I am all alone I repeatedly realized I do need someone to listen to
me. It is not healthy, it gives a lot of chance to fall even deeper. Sadly most of the
time we feel lonely because we choose to be lonely.

Being too competitive is a great means for a huge downfall. I remember from the
Indian movie “ The three Idiots” where Virus the strict professor always taught his
students that “Life is a race”. Well, isn’t it? But have you observed his life? It was not
the definition of a happy life. But a life full of fear of losing. That’s the tendency ,we
think when we will graduate as the top student, proceed to college with a very jaw
dropping course, complete again being the top, go to the work place where you will
try your best to please everybody, to be promoted to be the best of all the bests. That
we forget that we only have “ One Life” left, and other than that there is no other
chance. You might gain all the awards, all the medals, best certificates from all the
prestigious school but still end your life without even having to understand and enjoy
it. Just think about the relationships at risks, when you’re only care is your own self.
See how many friends you will lose for being so egotistic.

The third lesson that was mentioned “ Good relationships does not just protect
our bodies but also our brain”. We live long when we are in a good physical condition
and that connects to our nervous system. This functions that brings life to other body
organs as well. When we are surrounded with people who contributes nothing but
heartaches and problems. We will think about it deeply.
 The only certain in this life is uncertainty. If our happiness depends on our
money, fame and pleasures , for sure we will lose hope to find joy in adversities . For
even those things will surely pass in a few blink of our eyes. But if we have first a
good and healthy relationship wiht the Lord. All other essential relationships that we
have will follow. Having a good life is a choice, and that only means for me for
choosing to be happy in the presence of the Lord first. Because it is through Him that
you will see your purpose, you will understand your worth. What makes a good life?
Be in a good relationship with God, your Family and your friends