The Good Life

"This process of the good life is not, I am convinced, a life for the faint-hearted. It involves the stretching and growing of becoming more and more of one's potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It means launching oneself fully into the stream of life." Carl Rogers

What does it mean to live a good life? In American culture, we might think it means to be financially prosperous, successful in a career. Perhaps have a long marriage with children who grow up to be likewise prosperous and successful. Is the good life something on the outside, or does it come from within?

Another trailblazer in the field of psychology, Dr. Rogers spoke of the fully functioning person. The actualized human being, the one living what he called the good life. It truly sounds wonderful to live this way. Here's a list.

• Lives life fully, being open to what is going on in the present moment without defensiveness.
• This results in excitement, daring, adaptability, tolerance, spontaniety, a lack of rigidity.
• Trusts one's own judgment and innate sense of right and wrong.
• Has freedom of choice. Believes that he determines his own behavior and so feels responsible for it.
• Is creative in self-expression.  Also creative in adapting to circumstances without conforming.
• Acts constructively. Is aware of all his needs, and finds even aggressive needs matched and balanced by the innate goodness in similar individuals.
• Experiences joy and pain, love and heartbreak, fear and courage intensely.

So the good life isn't something on the outside. It's inside of us. I have experienced all of it, but just in bits and pieces and fits and starts. But I want it all. All the time.

Susan