A life of value is a way of looking at oneself and the world that strikes a balance between doing what feels right/what fulfills you and what will benefit others in the world (and the world itself). A life of value is not about being a monk or miser or saint. It is fairer to say that a life of value is what one lives when one feels good, and also does good.
The following, when practiced and exemplified, herald he or she who is truly living a life of value: Knowledge, Wisdom, & Education; Respect, Tolerance & Modesty; Fulfillment, Meaning, & Optimism; Humor, Lightheartedness, & Acceptance of the Absurd; Creativity, Ingenuity, & Vision; Dedication, Discipline, & Will; Honor, Integrity & Morality; Liberty & Peace; Kindness, Magnanimity & Altruism; Self-confidence & Self-Worth; Development, Progressivism & Integration; Passion, Willingness to Risk & Self-Awareness; Strength & Courage; Truth & Justice. These awesome ideas, these humanistic virtues and humane ideals are the thread that weaves the best of humanity together: Gandhi, Churchill, Chavez, Earheart, the Dalai Lama, Einstein, and Mother Teresa. None of these great thinkers and actors we know of had values more noble than the values of the wise; these are the values to which they aspired, for which they sacrificed. They and countless others have come more or less close to living a life of value. It didn’t just happen; they had to build a life of value (a metaphor about life using architecture and building construction).
Why is there not more good in the world? Why so much selfishness, greed, and wasting our potential? A life of value is humanity’s solution. Becoming part of the solution requires no one else’s consent or assistance. There are ten possible solutions for every problem you or I can think of. For example, if you want to give some of your money to someone or something else needy, then do so. If you see trash on the street, go ahead and pick it up. When you have the urge to become combative, do something else. Don’t have six children by birth. Run for office or join a group that is trying to change the system. Find out your core problems and set about making progress solving or ameliorating them. Speak nicely to others, even if they cut in front of you. Find out if meditation or some other source of peace works for you and make it happen. Purchase the safest and most fuel-efficient car you can. Read about magnanimity and practice it, live it. Choose optimism over hopelessness and helplessness consistently. Tell the truth. Do to others as you would have done to you. Study a religious or historical movement that moves you and extol it. Find ways, and start today.
Here is a list of 101 things you can do, starting now, to improve your life. Ideally these simple ideas inspire and challenge. I have divided them up into two categories: more “self-oriented” things (e.g., listening to music or traveling) and more “helpful” things (e.g., write your Congressperson or vote with your dollars). Keep your eyes on the prize!
More “self-oriented” Things
- Take up a new hobby
- Go for a swim
- Get in shape
- Plan to travel
- Eat organic food
- Get a pet
- Write a poem
- Write a book
- Enroll in a class
- Go for that new job
- Speak your mind
- Talk from the heart
- Watch a movie that matters
- Listen to music
- Look them in the eye
- Lighten up
- Tell the truth
- Read instead of television
- Skip fast food
- Feed the birds
- Live as though it’s your last day
- Question authority today
- Save endearing emails
- Write in a journal
- Write your own quotation
- Write down your values
- Explain one of your values to someone
- Ask someone what life is like for them
- Meditate or take a nap
- Have a joke ready for the right time
- Turn off the TV
- Make a piece of art
- Ask the question “Why?”
- Don’t fill space with “um” and “like”
- Write a quotation on your mirror in marker
- Say it before you miss your chance
- Go fly a kite
- Ask where you got one of your values
- Stand your ground
- Ask for what you need
- Examine your past
- Think twice – three times!
- Take a leap of faith
- Make a “to do” list
- Act as if you are who you want to be
- Sit in silence
- Choose optimism when there’s a choice
- Sit in the sun
- Make the appointment you’ve been avoiding
- Focus in on courage
More “Helpful” Things
- Pick up a piece of trash
- Recycle something
- Adopt a dog from the pound
- Adopt a child
- Give a sandwich to a homeless person
- Say hi to someone you don’t know
- Make that phone call
- Ask that woman out
- Volunteer your time
- Shop responsibly
- Write your Congressperson
- Plan to vote
- Organize for a cause you love
- Plant a tree
- Tend your garden
- Speak up when you hear an “ism”
- Eat a vegetarian meal
- Introduce yourself
- Give someone something just because
- Drive respectfully
- Say thank you
- Use the Golden Rule
- Buy a hybrid car
- Fight for something you believe in
- Buy rechargeable batteries
- Get there without driving your car
- Hold a door open for someone
- Invite someone over
- Truly listen to someone
- Pet dogs when you see them
- Read some unadulterated history
- Drop a quarter
- Write a check to a good organization
- Visit a relative
- Join a service organization
- Consider where that garment was made
- Don’t flush every time
- Don’t give advice easily
- Water a plant
- Compromise
- Answer when someone asks “How are you?”
- Stop and chat a while
- Buy it used
- Buy local
- Invest only in good companies
- Write to a prisoner
- Sponsor a Third World child
- Leave a big tip
- Give up something that you really don’t need
- Thank a public servant
- Be kinder than is warranted
As always, checking the Wisdom Archive for ideals and principles that interest you is advised! It’s free, and contains 25,000 great quotations and proverbs, many of which are about a life of value. As well, there are two books in the Values of the Wise Series that are wonderful and handsome additions to one’s library, great ways to learn about a life of value, and superb gifts. Read about them here. Here is an external link you might find interesting, and of course, Wikipedia’s conception of “the good life”!
