Does anyone recall the old phrase used to advertise Dupont Industries in the fifties: “Better Living through Science?” It was used for years and then discarded. Many felt that there were negatives attached to the phrase that was often associated with a few dark connotations attached to the ideas of science.
It’s too bad, because the concept is a good one. We are all looking for ways to live our lives better. In America, we start with the Constitution that offers us the chance to pursuit happiness throughout our lives. From there we are lured by this notion of the American Dream that has proved elusive for so many; all of us are on a quest to live our lives in a better way.
We dream of upward mobility and material wealth; and yet we search for inner peace and pursuit happiness. We all search in our own ways and at our own pace. But the idea of Better Living has been one that continues to attach itself to the American Psyche. That’s why, in our “Growing Group’ fellowship this year, we are all pondering the notion- what makes up the components of a better life?
Is it better living to pursuit happiness above all? Should we work on inner peace and tranquility in our lives? How do we create change that isn’t simply changing the outward shell or veneer in our life? Is lifelong learning the ultimate answer to the concept of living better? Or is it a combination of the questions listed- with more to come? That’s the general idea of the questions we ask ourselves this year as we pursuit the elements of better living.
Since the advent of scientific breakthroughs and with modern technology, we do live better! We live so much better than our parents and grandparents in terms of the technological advances and the sophisticated technology and knowledge we have attained from computers and tech expertise in our lives.
And yet, we often hear that we are not attaining the same quality of life and satisfaction as the previous generation did! Why? Some of us cannot afford to buy homes, and we cannot afford to build and grow our families. At times, our lives seem to put us on a spinning wheel. It’s a place where upward mobility occurs for some and there is a trap of endless debt and deep dissatisfaction and a need to keep our heads above water just to pay bills and to survive! It makes our lives sound hopeless and the concept of living better may often sound like a frivolous daydream.
Better Living through…?
So what then, is the answer? Should we continue to question our lives and to look for a palatable but milquetoast solution to the question of how to live better? Or should we take a stab at satisfying our inner souls and keep on pounding away at an ever-sliding rock of stubborn defeat and setbacks that never really give us satisfaction?
How can we conquer our curiosity and satisfy a need to pursuit the ideals of better living? For those of us who are older, it’s important to put the situation into perspective. If we are looking for a second act in our lives, we may want to open up a new front in terms of what we are looking for in our lives.
Better Living through asking the Right Questions
In the case of those who are millennials or Gen Z or Gen X, there are other questions to ask. What am I hoping to achieve? How can I change the trajectory?
In some cases, it might be worth looking at making a substantive change in our lives. Careers, relationships, the types of friendships and even the hobbies we pursuit may be …
- A Life Audit: Where am I & where do I want to go?
In The Growing Group, we encourage our followers to journal and to allow themselves to become mindful of the journey we are all on together. It begins with looking at ourselves and taking an assessment of who we are and where we are going. But then, it may lead us in unexpected directions!
For example, when assessing my own life, I began to realize that I had a deep and abiding love for the arts. And in seeking greater fulfillment, I’ve made time to carve out for going to museums and even occasionally hearing lectures. I collect some art graphics online and look at virtual art tours occasionally.
I am also a caregiver. And therefore, for my own happiness, I often carve out time to simply allow space to be with friends and to do something fun! If we are feeling alone or ‘boxed in’ with an outlook that gives us no way out or no opportunity to seek creative or energetic releases, then we may find ourselves feeling depressed or disgruntled or both!
Ask yourself the right questions. What do I need in my life-at this time-to make myself feel whole and fulfilled? If you need to make a change, then think of ways that are realistic and will help you to find immediate relief.
Better Living through Spiritual Fulfillment
In The Growing Group, we are also asking questions about a higher power. A book I wrote, “Life Coach/ Christ Coach,’ talks about the ways that our daily lives and our needs can at times come into direct contact with the practical teachings found in scriptures from the Bible. I also use Zen Koans to give our members an idea of the different ways we can go about in achieving spiritual fulfillment.
If you feel you are not religious, and you need a spiritual outlet in your life, use the different sources available to you. I often invite those who are non-believers to feel open to following our Spiritual Guideposts. And if you journal some favorite thought-passages from influencers and faith leaders, you will find that there is so much you can take from those who read and preach from the Bible and from Zen!
Why? Because they are simply humans who are striving to help their fellow men and women to traverse the trials and tribulations of everyday life. It’s as simple as that. There is no good or bad or right or wrong if you can keep an open mind to the faithful who are healers and faith-leaders. And just as the concept of a “Life Coach’ can help you through difficult times, the same applies for those who will help you along using passages from scripture.
Summing it all up
It’s important to be honest and know who you are. We should question where we are going at the various stages of life we are currently in. We need to ask ourselves how much personal sacrifice we are willing to make. We should look at our own inner strengths, listen to the voices and know something about our ability to change. Think of others also… not only in terms of where you are going and where you want to be. We need to know how it affects our families and our long-term plans and interests that we share with others.
All of these things add up to a chance for happiness, fulfillment, deeper purpose and meaning. The quest for better living gives us a chance to create a meaningful and purpose-filled life. It’s a way to aspire to better living through science and community, through learning and arts, through joy and through love. It all adds up in the end.
Join us at The Growing Group each week…Sign up here and you will be eligible for a Journal Drawing each month…to start your Journaling life and your Personal Growth journey off on the right foot!