The Good Life Part 1

November 15, 2024

The Good Life Part 1

What is the meaning of the phrase "The Good Life"? When we trace its roots, we find that the nearest thing to "The Good Life" was first referred to as "a" good life. The Greek philosopher Socrates held that to live a good, meaningful, and virtuous life is the purpose of life. For him, a good life is aligned with virtue. Socrates said, "Virtue is knowledge," and he held that a good life is not only virtue but is lived by reason and moral principles.

Later in history, the Torah and other scriptures addressed the concept of a good life in terms of humanity's relationship with God. An example is Proverbs 19:23. "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (NIV)

Then, Christ's teachings provided a newer understanding of living a good life. John 10:10 — "The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly."

In today's popular culture, the phrase "A Good Life" has undergone a metamorphosis and is now known as "The Good Life." The very first time I heard those words, "The Good Life," they made me think of those who live above the fray with access to all they need and therefore with little worry and much happiness. That phrase connoted to me the idea of “a life lived by people who’d made it.” I came to understand that “The Good Life” was the reward for those who had enough assets to live comfortably and without worries. It was a popularized phrase that reflected the American dream and was not directly related to wisdom, faith, closeness to God, or moral principles.

I wonder how many people who live "The Good Life "would call it a satisfying, abundant, or virtuous life. I wonder if they would say, hands down, that they are "comfortable and peaceful” — not in the sense of wealth, but in self-esteem, lack of guilt, lack of resentment, a clear conscience, and sense of contributing to the welfare of all.

Consciousness brings more and more of the good life but not in the sense of having a particular level of material assets and financial freedom. Rather, the conscious good life is our increasing awareness of who we are, our inherent goodness, and the peace we receive in forgiving and being forgiven. It is being conscious of our interrelationships with all others, with all other species, and with the environment. It is the absence of egocentricity and tribalism. The spiritually Good Life goes across all standards of living. The spiritually good life means that whatever our standard of living, it is in service to the soul. These things are the basis of our spiritual well-being.

In the spiritual life, the primary importance is not how much we have earned or inherited, or how insulated we are from the world's problems. Instead, the most important thing is our spiritual well-being, which is not synonymous with being problem-free. Indeed, our struggles are the crucible for soul making. Peace and Joy come to us because we submit all our cares to the One True Source of All Being and live from our higher selves, our souls. That's when "The Good Life" becomes "A Good Life" again.

Spiritual practice: After meditating, list all that is good about your life. What about your life is abundant? List those things, then post them on the fridge and your dashboard. Be conscious of how often your eyes land on the lists during the day. How do you feel after you are reminded of the goodness in your life?

Self-inquiry: What are the reasons why your life is “a good life?”

Dear God,

I give you thanks and praise for the goodness that surrounds me every day and the goodness which you placed in us at our making. Amen