We’ve all heard the phrase – seen the posts, read the books. There’s even a ‘living my best life’ song on repeat, accompanying countless images and videos on social media. What is this ‘best life’ that everyone seems to be talking about?
Recipe for living your best life:
· Add financial security (hefty disposable income).
· Add owning a home.
· Add intimate relationship.
· Add family.
· Add nice car.
· Add beautiful holidays (with picture proof).
· Add positivity.
Optional extras (to taste):
· Time to pursue hobbies.
· Exercise and whole foods.
· Self-care.
· Pets.
· A white picket fence (just because).
In a culture that promotes ‘success’ and ‘production’, adhering to cultural norms and milestones (as above) can feel exhausting and unachievable. Sprinkle in a dose of ‘comparison with others who appear to have all of the above?’ Well, this is swiftly becoming a recipe for shame, self-loathing, embarrassment, guilt and an overall sense of not ‘enoughness.’ Super acidic on the palate.
Please know that there is no one type of ‘best life.’ It is different for us all. Your best life is all yours. You get to choose what this is. Yes, it might stray from the confines of cultural norms. Yes, it might feel challenging to go in your own direction. AND, you can still choose to do it, to go there. You really can.
Oh, and if you’re not ‘living your best life’ then, hey, welcome to being human. No one lives their best life all the time. They just don’t (no matter what you might think).
I’m taking a break from work this week, but not to ‘live my best life.’ Instead, I’ll just be over here going with the flow of what my body and mind needs.
Come to think of it, is there anything more ‘best life’ than that?
J X
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