How to Live Your Best Life

Now that I’m in my 40s I find that living my best life is top of mind in a way it’s never been before. Maybe it’s because my life is statistically halfway over…but I think some of it has to do with my personal development journey that’s caused me to be hyper-focused on topics such as this.

Before I start outlining ideas around living your dream life, I want you to know that I’m not 100% there. Sure, I live a fulfilling life, but by no means have I got it all figured out. However, living my best life is a concept that I’m really intrigued with right now…and my goal with this blog is to help build your awareness around the idea. 

What Does Living Your Best Life Look Like? 

Living life is going to look different to every person. Living my best life looks like one where I feel fulfilled, where I feel I have some self-respect…not necessarily happy which is a fleeting emotion. Also, I feel living my best life is one where I’m providing value to the world.

Do you know what this looks like for you? 

For Robin Sharma, the author of The Everyday Hero Manifesto (amazing book, read it!), living his dream life is one where he does a lot of speaking and coaching. Also, one where he takes intentional getaways in cute towns for the weekend to write, because it gives him mental clarity. I find it inspiring that he has come up with a way to instill inner peace by working out of town and drawing inspiration from where he’s camped out for the weekend. 

Sharma isn’t the only one who has put in a lot of time and effort to live his best life. Because of The Morning Upgrade Podcast, I have the opportunity to speak with people from all over the world about their perfect day. Bryan McFarland was on my show and he shared about how he has multiple businesses, he’s a family guy, takes part in ultramarathons, and focuses a lot of energy on personal development. On the other hand, Jonah Larkin, another person I interviewed, is committed to living his best life through surfing and working with high performers. 

How To Live Your Best Life

What’s most important here is that you figure out what living your best life looks like to you. To get started on figuring this out, use the ideas below to help you journal out the answer. You’re not trying to come up with the  perfect life immediately, but more like a framework to work towards. 

What Does the Perfect Day Look Like to You?

Start by journaling the elements you want in your day-to-day life. For me, these elements include having a morning routine, doing something for my health, working on my businesses, reading and spending time with friends and family. Your days, compounded over time, create your life. 

What Have You Achieved So Far?

Part of figuring out what it means to live a balanced life is to think about what you have achieved so far so that you can stretch yourself with new goals. Journal the things you’ve accomplished in your work and life. 

For me, I’ve been able to grow Morning Upgrade into a popular personal development resource…I know I’m helping people, and it pushes me to work harder and reach more people. Appreciating life means respecting where you’re currently at, and while I’m proud of where I am, I know I still have a way to go. 

Also, my family and I have been traveling more, and it’s kindling our desire for more adventures to explore. I think we’ll spend more time traveling and seeing the world while we still have our kids under our roof…with the new remote world we live in, I can easily travel AND work.  

What Do You Want To Achieve Next? 

I believe that when you continue to create new goals and reach new milestones it leads to you living your best life–we are all wired to progress, achieve and impact. Start by getting crystal clear about what you want to achieve in life both personally and professionally. 

Not sure what you want to work towards? Some things are true for everyone…such as investing in: 

• Relationships – How can you live your best life if you are lonely? Even if you’re introverted, you need people.
• Health – Practicing healthy living habits is a great way to maintain self-care and makes it easier to enjoy life. 
• Finances – Money doesn’t buy happiness but it enables you to create experiences and to help people. 
• Work – Focus yourself on the things each day that matter the most. Meaning, your Big Rocks.  

Creating healthy habits around these four areas can help you figure out what living your dream life looks like. Sure, crappy things may happen to knock you off-kilter, but the perfect life (most days) is achievable. It takes getting crystal clear on what life changes you want, creating goals, working hard, and investing in YOURSELF every day.

Start the Journey To Living Your Best Life

When I look back at my life five years ago, it’s night and day from where I am today. I’ve been on an intentional journey to slowly restructure my life to be what I want it to be. Not just for me, but for my family also–and it’s not just my doing. My wife plays a big role in this.

What do you want? What are you waiting for? What things can you restructure in your life to help you get on the path of living your best life? Your life begins now, if you want it to.

Life is short.

As Darren Hardy says (paraphrasing):

“Going after your dreams is hard…but so is getting to the end of your life with regrets…so you might as well go after your dreams.”

I hope something I shared here has raised your awareness for how life can be different, and get you on the path to ultimately achieving what it takes to get there. 

Key Takeaways

-Get crystal clear on what a perfect day looks like for you.

-Come up with milestones and goals.

-Know what you want to spend time on.

-Accept that things are not perfect. 

-Decide what impact you want to have on the world.

-Create a purpose statement and personal values.

-Learn what fills your cup.

-Journal out your ideas and come up with a real plan.