How to Become a Great Leader: Define Your Version of a Good Life
What is a good life?
What makes life good?
At the end of your life, what will you look back on and smile about?
And if you keep living the way you are now, will you get there?
We live in a world with endless opportunities, products, and distractions. Without a clear sense of “enough,” we end up chasing a version of success that has no finish line. It is exhausting. And it quietly pulls our leadership away from what matters most.
A good life is not about having it all. That is a myth. No one has it all. A good life is having what truly matters to you.
Defining your own version of a good life gives the satisfaction of knowing your life aligns with your values, your vision and your unique calling. You get to live a life that matters to you.
So, how do you define your own version of a good life?
Know that there is no “normal” life. Humans are beautifully diverse and life paths are also beautifully diverse.
Cultivate a healthy sense of self. As you discover what you enjoy, what your values are and what your unique contributions to the world are, you’ll be better able to see what you want in life.
Be curious and brave about trying various versions of a good life for yourself without the pressure of it having to be perfectly worked out.
Understand that this isn’t about making a life of no hardship or avoiding responsibilities. This is about cultivating a good life in the midst of the real, the raw and the unenjoyable all humans have.
Prepare for a lifelong journey. Defining your version of a good life is not a one-time decision because life is full of twists, turns, ups, downs and changing seasons. One is essential for you in one season, may not matter in another.
My definition of a good life involves gentleness, simple joys, creativity, innovation and deep friendships. Knowing these things has helped me make choices about what to include and what to remove from my life. I have turned down some great opportunities because I knew my soul would not thrive in those spaces and projects. I was worried that turning down opportunities was unwise but closing those doors led me to create my own paths. And those, in turn, have created paths and opportunities for others.
Defining your version of a good life will be life-giving for you and life-giving for others. You being you is so important!
When you are clear on your definition of a good life, decisions become simpler. You can say yes to what aligns, and no to what does not. You can pursue opportunities without being driven by comparison, pressure or the need to prove yourself.
This is slow, reflective work. It grows out of questions like:
What do I want my life to feel like?
What would bring me genuine joy, even in hard seasons?
What will I be glad I invested my energy in, ten years from now?
Leaders who know their definition of a good life are not pulled in every direction. They are grounded, steady, and able to navigate seasons of pressure without losing themselves.
Your leadership will always flow from the life you are cultivating. Make sure it is one worth living.
With you in the journey,
Justine
Reflection question:
Begin defining your own version of a good life.
Imagine yourself having a good day. Not a good “day off”, but a good day within the realness of your everyday life. Ponder: What does it look and feel like? What are the elements that make it good for you? What is absent and why? What would it look like to start forming a life like this?