Originally publish: June 14, 2010
What Constitutes A Good Life?
by Jim Rohn
The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The
ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life
is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home.
Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and
that is living a good life. Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for
me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the
list.
A list including areas such as spirituality, economics,
health, relationships and recreation. What would constitute a good life? I've
got a short list.
1) Productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce.
The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather
strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the
seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see
what you can do with it. To try your hand, other people have tried their hand;
here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life
is productivity.
2) Good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support
system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support
system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are
those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you.
A few years ago I lost one of my dearest friends. He died at
age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special
friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere
accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David.
Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get
you.
Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them
they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a party."
So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.
3) Your culture. Your language, your music, the ceremonies,
the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must
keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended
together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to
the world.
4) Spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the
family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach.
Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature; it's what makes us
who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.
5) Don't miss anything. My parents taught me not to miss
anything. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the
movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possibly
can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and
experience all you possibly can. This has served me so well to this day.
Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him
at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was
watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at
church, he was somewhere every night.
Live a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you
live well, you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it
will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and
magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life
but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can
give.
6) Your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and
they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner
circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call
him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers.
Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in
Southwest Idaho.
7) Ask for God's Help.
So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him
just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel I'd have to get up in the
middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call
Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel."
He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real
loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say,
"Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the
stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on
the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now
everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day
for my father, age 93.
If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his
daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks
out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around
his body he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the inner circle
that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that
opportunity.
Here's the greatest value. The prophet said, "There are
many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for
another." There is no greater value than love. Better to live in a tent on
the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself. One
person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions. So make
sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what
you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and
rewards that you desire.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
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