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7 ways to live the 'The Good Life' and how to apply them at work

People and behaviour6 min readSam Page

'The Good Life' by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Here are my 7 key takeaways, with my perspective on applying them in a work context.

The book is based on findings from the Harvard study into happiness, an 85-year research programme that has followed a core group of people from Boston, and subsequently their families, throughout their lives. All the data has then been used to form a broad and compelling perspective on what individual happiness, and the good life, is all about. The study and findings are very unique, as no other studies have followed this many people, for this length of time, this consistently.

1. The good life isn’t easy

A good life is joyful and challenging. It’s full of love and pain. It’s not easy. In fact, a rich life is forged from exactly the things that make it hard. And these things often happen as so much is out of our control. When you accept this, you realise that you need these ups and downs to flourish and thrive.

It’s the same at work, a fulfilling job is full of joy and challenge. It’s the challenge which makes the joy, enjoyable, helps you to grow, and find work fulfilling. Embrace it all.

2. Good relationships are critical

To be healthy and happy, the most important factor is good relationships with the people around us (near and far). Yes, your career, exercise and diet matter a lot. But the research shows that good relationships matter more.

Good relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer.

You can make work, work better for you, if you lean into the relationships with those around you, and people that you come into contact with. They all help you connect to a broader world and have a better day-to-day existence.

3. We get in our own way

More often than not, we get in our own way of happiness. We’re not very good at knowing what is good for us, and what makes us happy. Making decisions (rather than simply going with the flow) that create positive relationships are essential, and in turn positive relationships help us make better decisions.

Often at work we make a decision, based on a gut reaction or assumption, which doesn’t lead to the best outcome. Yet, if we can take time to get out of our own way, and make decisions which create better relationships, work will become better as a result. As this doesn’t mean being “nice” to everyone all the time, but I think it does mean being kind, even with constructive feedback or when things go badly wrong.

4. Happiness isn’t a destination

It’s not something that one day will be achieved, or that happens to you. It’s about the journey and making the journey valuable to you. Once you realise it’s about the journey, it makes it easier to endure the ups and downs. To thrive and flourish.

At work it’s easy to get focussed on a win, or a milestone as being the goal, and expecting this to make us happy. Which of course it does momentarily. But if we focus on these too much, the rest becomes miserable. Instead, start by realising it’s the journey, the everyday that can be happiness. And if you can’t find it where you are, it’s time to change things.

5. Time, attention and curiosity

The best generosity we can give to those around us is our time and attention. This builds relationships. Use curiosity as a way of finding out more and placing your attention in someone else. And from a self-serving perspective, where we put our focus, our life will go. So, place it in the right direction.

Giving your colleagues/line reports/managers/clients your attention and being curious is the best thing you can offer and help you to thrive in return. Don’t just sit back and wait for them to come to you. Place your focus on the people that will bring you joy, challenge, change and comfort to ensure you are growing.

6. All relationships are challenging at times

It’s important to bear this in mind, as with life in general, it’s part of what makes a rich relationship. Embrace the challenging times. And remember that relationships help us through the difficult times. It’s symbiotic.Don’t let your “reaction” be your master. Take time to step back, reflect, appreciate their perspective, and try different approach to build a relationship for the future.

At work so many things are outside of our control, and outside of our colleagues and clients, this is critical to keep in mind. Try not to react in the moment, if the reaction is going to have a negative outcome for yourself or others, take the time to create something from the situation based on reflecting on the other persons point of view.

7. It’s never too late and it’s right in front of you

No matter how far through life you are, or where you are right now, the reality is that usually happiness is right in front of you, or only an arm’s length away at most. Reflect on where you are, and what you want, and remember that positive relationships are usually the most important factor in achieving happiness. Often through some minor adjustments to your own approach, afterall, you can only be responsible for how you approach things, better relationships can be achieved. And enjoy standing in the moment with those around you, and going through the ups and down that are present in every human life. And last but not least, seek to enrich the lives of others… and they will enrich yours in return.

Do you really need to make dramatic changes at work? Probably not. The good life at work is only a few minor changes away. And changes that create better relationships with those around you, will make your current working life infinitely more enjoyable and fulfilling as a result. Seek to enrich the lives of your colleagues and clients. If this isn’t possible where you work at the moment, and sometimes that is the case, change things more dramatically. Whatever you do, don’t be lonely - seek and build positive relationships, and you will flourish and thrive.

Whether you’ve enjoyed my outtakes or not, I highly recommend buying a copy of the book, which is available from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3HlEdy2 - there is so much more to learn from it to live the good life.

First published on LinkedIn.

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---
title: "7 ways to live the 'The Good Life' and how to apply them at work"
url: https://sam-page.com/thinking/7-ways-to-live-the-the-good-life-and-how-to-apply-them-at-work
date: 2024-01-16
author: Sam Page
type: Post or article
categories: [People and behaviour]
reading_time: 6 min
summary: "'The Good Life' by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Here are my 7 key takeaways, with my perspective on applying them in a work context."
first_published: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-ways-live-good-life-how-apply-them-work-sam-page-mbwde
---

# 7 ways to live the 'The Good Life' and how to apply them at work

'[The Good Life](https://amzn.to/3HlEdy2)' by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Here are my 7 key takeaways, with my perspective on applying them in a work context.

The book is based on findings from the Harvard study into happiness, an 85-year research programme that has followed a core group of people from Boston, and subsequently their families, throughout their lives. All the data has then been used to form a broad and compelling perspective on what individual happiness, and the good life, is all about. The study and findings are very unique, as no other studies have followed this many people, for this length of time, this consistently.

### 1. The good life isn’t easy

A good life is joyful and challenging. It’s full of love and pain. It’s not easy. In fact, a rich life is forged from exactly the things that make it hard. And these things often happen as so much is out of our control. When you accept this, you realise that you need these ups and downs to flourish and thrive.

*It’s the same at work, a fulfilling job is full of joy and challenge. It’s the challenge which makes the joy, enjoyable, helps you to grow, and find work fulfilling. Embrace it all.*

### 2. Good relationships are critical

To be healthy and happy, the most important factor is good relationships with the people around us (near and far). Yes, your career, exercise and diet matter a lot. But the research shows that good relationships matter more.

> Good relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer.

*You can make work, work better for you, if you lean into the relationships with those around you, and people that you come into contact with. They all help you connect to a broader world and have a better day-to-day existence.*

### 3. We get in our own way

More often than not, we get in our own way of happiness. We’re not very good at knowing what is good for us, and what makes us happy. Making decisions (rather than simply going with the flow) that create positive relationships are essential, and in turn positive relationships help us make better decisions.

*Often at work we make a decision, based on a gut reaction or assumption, which doesn’t lead to the best outcome. Yet, if we can take time to get out of our own way, and make decisions which create better relationships, work will become better as a result. As this doesn’t mean being “nice” to everyone all the time, but I think it does mean being kind, even with constructive feedback or when things go badly wrong.*

### 4. Happiness isn’t a destination

It’s not something that one day will be achieved, or that happens to you. It’s about the journey and making the journey valuable to you. Once you realise it’s about the journey, it makes it easier to endure the ups and downs. To thrive and flourish.

*At work it’s easy to get focussed on a win, or a milestone as being the goal, and expecting this to make us happy. Which of course it does momentarily. But if we focus on these too much, the rest becomes miserable. Instead, start by realising it’s the journey, the everyday that can be happiness. And if you can’t find it where you are, it’s time to change things.*

### 5. Time, attention and curiosity

The best generosity we can give to those around us is our time and attention. This builds relationships. Use curiosity as a way of finding out more and placing your attention in someone else. And from a self-serving perspective, where we put our focus, our life will go. So, place it in the right direction.

*Giving your colleagues/line reports/managers/clients your attention and being curious is the best thing you can offer and help you to thrive in return. Don’t just sit back and wait for them to come to you. Place your focus on the people that will bring you joy, challenge, change and comfort to ensure you are growing.*

### 6. All relationships are challenging at times

It’s important to bear this in mind, as with life in general, it’s part of what makes a rich relationship. Embrace the challenging times. And remember that relationships help us through the difficult times. It’s symbiotic.Don’t let your “reaction” be your master. Take time to step back, reflect, appreciate their perspective, and try different approach to build a relationship for the future.

*At work so many things are outside of our control, and outside of our colleagues and clients, this is critical to keep in mind. Try not to react in the moment, if the reaction is going to have a negative outcome for yourself or others, take the time to create something from the situation based on reflecting on the other persons point of view.*

### 7. It’s never too late and it’s right in front of you

No matter how far through life you are, or where you are right now, the reality is that usually happiness is right in front of you, or only an arm’s length away at most. Reflect on where you are, and what you want, and remember that positive relationships are usually the most important factor in achieving happiness. Often through some minor adjustments to your own approach, afterall, you can only be responsible for how you approach things, better relationships can be achieved. And enjoy standing in the moment with those around you, and going through the ups and down that are present in every human life. And last but not least, seek to enrich the lives of others… and they will enrich yours in return.

*Do you really need to make dramatic changes at work? Probably not. The good life at work is only a few minor changes away. And changes that create better relationships with those around you, will make your current working life infinitely more enjoyable and fulfilling as a result. Seek to enrich the lives of your colleagues and clients. If this isn’t possible where you work at the moment, and sometimes that is the case, change things more dramatically. Whatever you do, don’t be lonely - seek and build positive relationships, and you will flourish and thrive.*

---

Whether you’ve enjoyed my outtakes or not, I highly recommend buying a copy of the book, which is available from Amazon here: <https://amzn.to/3HlEdy2> - there is so much more to learn from it to live the good life.