“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” J.R.R Tolkien
Google ‘rich life images’ and what do you find?
The concept of a ’rich life’ has become synonymous with fast cars, private planes and big houses. It seems that popular culture considers ‘richness’ in your life to be determined by your financial wealth and what it can buy.
Are these images of toys and having the capital to buy them really the secret to a rich life? A couple of rhetorical questions suggest not:
Without your health and happiness to enjoy the above toys, would it still be a ‘rich life’?
Without meaningful relationships to share your experiences, would it still be a ‘rich life’?
So what makes for a “life well-lived” or a “good life”?
Humans have long contemplated the question of what merits a “life well-lived” or a “good life”, two terms we see as analogous to the ‘rich life’. What are some of the themes that have continued to appear in these discussions across different times and cultures?
A rich life is ….
...making the most of your experiences and challenging yourself
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces towards change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” Helen Keller
...being in the moment, cultivating simple pleasures and loving relationships
“In the end these things matter most: how well did you love, how fully did you live? How deeply did you let go”. Buddha
“Family, friends, community - these are the sources of the greatest love and joy we experience as humans..” David Suzuki
...facilitated by a healthy mind and body
“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Mahatma Gandhi
“Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.” Seneca the Younger
...founded in how you think
“Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.” Emily Dickinson
…seeking to understand yourself and the world around you
“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” Bertrand Russell
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates
…living ethically, authentically and giving back to those around you
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” Martin Luther King
“What is the meaning of life? To serve others and do good.” Aristotle
….overcoming obstacles and having the freedom to be yourself and to think independently
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.” Nelson Mandela
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther
So the foundations of a rich life have many potential dimensions, are highly individual and could vary widely over one person’s lifetime.
From “Rich in the moment” to “Rich over time”
Whichever of the many concepts of a rich life resonate best with you, there’s another vital distinction you face – the immediacy of the moment versus thinking, planning and focusing on the future.
Your life choices as an investor of your time, energy and attention break down into two related concepts:
What you have available to invest in each moment
What these moment-by-moment investments are building over time.
A great foundation for a ‘rich’ life is to be Rich in the moment. Utopia would be:
Rich in TIME that is productive, energising, self-regulated and not rushed
Rich in ENERGY to have the strength and vitality to power through the day
Rich in ATTENTION that is focused in the moment
Rich in THOUGHTS to help you question, learn and think creatively about yourself and your world
Rich in INTERACTIONS with your partners, communities and the natural world.
These elements of wealth in the moment (time, energy, attention, thoughts and interactions) we collectively call your Life Currencies because, much like cash in your bank account, you can make deposits or withdrawals at any time but can easily drain the account.
...and also, through the direction of your Life Currencies in the moment, to create Richness over time - where utopia would be:
HUMAN CAPITAL - Richness in who and what you are, giving you the capacity to create a healthy, productive and sustainable relationship with yourself that grows over time
SOCIAL CAPITAL - Richness in who and what you are surrounded by, with the depth and breadth of your relationships and the strength of your communities steadily increasing over time
FINANCIAL CAPITAL - Richness in what you own and control, allowing you to support yourself and those you love
These we call your Tripod of Foundations (or your Life Capital).
Ask yourself:
What themes resonate with me as foundations for a rich life?
How might these themes influence where I would like to focus my time, energy and attention in the long term? in the next year or two? Tomorrow?
Does my current life context leave me rich enough in the moment or am I overly distracted by things I can’t influence or too focused on the future rather than the present?
Covid-19 Addendum
The current circumstances have major implications for your Richness in the Moment. You may now have an abundance of time compared with your normal more rushed life but:
your energy may be diminished by limitations on your normal exercise regime (eg gym or beach closed)
your attention and thoughts may be distracted by inevitable (and possibly excessive) focus on the latest health and economic/financial developments
your interactions with others will be both diminished and more distant.
And when it comes to your Richness Over Time, lots may be deferred or materially changed
your studies or your special project
your international travels or your international sport
your opportunities to build relationships
your income or the building of your financial wealth.
But your life experiences may be enhanced through this period of adversity, as might your relationships through mutual struggle and support, collaboration or fighting a common enemy. And the communities in which you live and work may be enhanced through developing a deeper spirit of co-operation, friendlier welcomes in the street and genuine looking out for each other. And at the political level it is particularly refreshing to see a much more bipartisan approach to the problems that need to be addressed.
So what does this mean for you? How do you maintain your Richness in the Moment during such a challenging and distracting time? How do you best use this period of adversity to build your Richness Over Time?
PS.
For a different perspective about life in earlier troubled times, it’s hard to beat “A Fortunate Life” - that classic autobiography of A.B. (Bert) Facey. Truly inspirational. Not surprising that it’s sold over one million copies.
