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Quality of Life, Essay Example

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Quality of life is a multidimensional notion that is associated with person’s happiness and satisfaction which are in their turn connected with a person’s physical and mental well-being and environment. Viewed broadly, the quality of life comprises such aspects as culture, rights, values, aspirations, social status etc. However, in this paper we will view health-related quality of life which heavily depends on the quality and accessibility of healthcare, ecology and people’s lifestyles. Health-related quality of life is a multilateral issue which may appear elusive in estimation. Some methods of estimating health-related quality of life include global assessments (people are asked to rate their health on a particular scale), healthy days survey (the number of days out of the past 30 when people felt mentally or physically unwell), years of healthy life survey (it calculates the years of life by an individual in optimal health to compare the number with average life expectancy), and life expectancy estimation.

Quality of life is closely connected with health improvement policies, campaigns and services at all levels – global, national, community and individual. It is directly determined by the state’s healthcare ability to fight infectious and chronic diseases, control tobacco use and substance abuse, provide immunization and access to healthcare, raise the population’s health literacy, and create a generally healthy environment. Health improvement is immediately connected with life expectancy rate and the quality of life in older age that is usually associated with the appearance of chronic and other diseases.

For ease of estimation and managing, certain determinants of health have been outlined and the connection between them defined. Individual’s health depends first of all on his/her biology, i.e. inheritance, a complex of physical and mental health problems acquired during life and lifestyle: a person’s diet, habits, physical activity, alcohol or drug abuse and other elements that change the initial picture of a person’s biology. The person’s lifestyle is such an outweighing factor that it is usually described separately as behavior. Behavior and biology are interconnected. While individual health depends on what a person does, some choices are predetermined by health level. This biology-behavior complex is in its turn influenced by physical environment – a person’s conscious or unwilling exposure to toxic substances, irritants, infectious agents, and physical hazards during his/her life. In the aspect of health improvement, physical environment is first of all connected with ecology and providing personal safety in homes, schools, and workplaces. Another important element is a person’s social environment. In some cases it is predetermined by a person’s biology (an individual born disabled may be likely to live in a specific community) and surely depends on the person’s behavior, i.e. choices. However, social environment influences the behavior and biology of a person, especially in terms of opportunities and expectations, the variety of social institutes and psychological comfort. Both physical and social environments are influenced by state policies and interventions at different levels: ecology, promoting healthy lifestyle, immunization campaigns, disease prevention policies etc. It goes without saying that policies and interventions are a result of the healthy-nation-building work of the social environment. Finally, individual health of every citizen depends on his/her lifetime access to quality health care, which is a result of social environment organization just like policies and interventions.

Both the statistics and my personal impressions support me in the idea that the population of our country and my community, which does not seem to differ much in the main parameters, are relatively healthy. 100% of the population both in cities and in the country are reported to be using adequate sanitation and 99% have access to improved water sources. Unfortunately, the access to healthcare is not as high (between 80 and 90%) and depends on having health insurance and income level. Strong connection between quality healthcare access and personal finances breeds health disparities and reduces the general health level. I feel that state financing should provide for a greater portion of healthcare services. Other health disparities include gender and racial ones and are connected with both biology of individuals and healthcare quality and access in each case.

I think we should be encouraged to go in for sports more actively since only 15% of all adults were reported to have enough physical activity in 1997. This figure is really alarming and logically results in high obesity rates (up to a quarter of the population is overweight) and, consequently, cardiac and other associated disease rates. We have quite big percentage of non-smoking sexually responsible population who are not prone to substance abuse and good perspectives to make the figure higher. To my mind, the areas of most urgent concern are financial policies in healthcare and promoting healthier lifestyles.

I consider myself a healthy, fit and health literate person. I have long been involved in regular exercising and cannot imagine myself leading an unhealthy life now. I drink little alcohol, have never tried drugs and do not smoke. I also have never experienced exposure to radiation or toxic substances. There is no history of serious hereditary diseases in my family. I live an active social life and have a rewarding profession, which means I feel comfortable in my social environment.

Healthy People 2010. A Systematic Approach to Health Improvement. Retrieved March 20, 2009, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/html/uih/uih_2.htm

Healthy People 2010. Leading Health Indicators. Retrieved March 20, 2009, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/html/uih/uih_2.htm

United States: Demographic Highlights. Retrieved March 20, 2009, from http://prb.org/Datafinder/Geography/Summary.aspx?region=72&region_type=2

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Essay on Life for Students and Children

500+ words essay on life.

First of all, Life refers to an aspect of existence. This aspect processes acts, evaluates, and evolves through growth. Life is what distinguishes humans from inorganic matter. Some individuals certainly enjoy free will in Life. Others like slaves and prisoners don’t have that privilege. However, Life isn’t just about living independently in society. It is certainly much more than that. Hence, quality of Life carries huge importance. Above all, the ultimate purpose should be to live a meaningful life. A meaningful life is one which allows us to connect with our deeper self.

Why is Life Important?

One important aspect of Life is that it keeps going forward. This means nothing is permanent. Hence, there should be a reason to stay in dejection. A happy occasion will come to pass, just like a sad one. Above all, one must be optimistic no matter how bad things get. This is because nothing will stay forever. Every situation, occasion, and event shall pass. This is certainly a beauty of Life.

Many people become very sad because of failures . However, these people certainly fail to see the bright side. The bright side is that there is a reason for every failure. Therefore, every failure teaches us a valuable lesson. This means every failure builds experience. This experience is what improves the skills and efficiency of humans.

Probably a huge number of individuals complain that Life is a pain. Many people believe that the word pain is a synonym for Life. However, it is pain that makes us stronger. Pain is certainly an excellent way of increasing mental resilience. Above all, pain enriches the mind.

The uncertainty of death is what makes life so precious. No one knows the hour of one’s death. This probably is the most important reason to live life to the fullest. Staying in depression or being a workaholic is an utter wastage of Life. One must certainly enjoy the beautiful blessings of Life before death overtakes.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

How to Improve Quality of Life?

Most noteworthy, optimism is the ultimate way of enriching life. Optimism increases job performance, self-confidence, creativity, and skills. An optimistic person certainly can overcome huge hurdles.

Meditation is another useful way of improving Life quality. Meditation probably allows a person to dwell upon his past. This way one can avoid past mistakes. It also gives peace of mind to an individual. Furthermore, meditation reduces stress and tension.

Pursuing a hobby is a perfect way to bring meaning to life. Without a passion or interest, an individual’s life would probably be dull. Following a hobby certainly brings new energy to life. It provides new hope to live and experience Life.

In conclusion, Life is not something that one should take for granted. It’s certainly a shame to see individuals waste away their lives. We should be very thankful for experiencing our lives. Above all, everyone should try to make their life more meaningful.

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6 Ways to Improve Life Quality

The percentage of Americans considered to be "thriving" is on the decline while the number of individuals classified as "suffering" is higher than ever before. While this isn't a positive trend, the good news is that people who want an improved quality of life can achieve this goal .

If this sounds like a monumental task, it's worth noting that it's possible to improve life quality, along with happiness and well-being, without having to make drastic changes. Here are six steps that, when taken, help work toward this effect.

At a Glance

Healthy relationships, adequate sleep, and regular physical activity can all contribute to an improved quality of life. A person can also improve life quality by finding meaning in their work, resolving energy drains, and making time for things they like to do.

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Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast featuring actress and author Ali Landry, shares strategies for living your best life. Click below to listen now.

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Maintain Healthy Relationships

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Our interactions with others can affect our mental health. Research shows that not only do healthy and supportive relationships increase happiness, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, but they also reduce the risk of suicide.

Conversely, negative relationships can create toxic situations filled with conflict and stress. Disconnecting from these unhealthy interactions and fostering healthy ones is vital to personal well-being.

Ways to maintain healthy relationships include:

Engaging in positive thinking
Being open about our thoughts and opinions
Assuring the other person that we care through both our words and actions
Developing our own relationships with friends of people we care about
Sharing tasks to help reduce each person's responsibilities

Get a Good Night's Sleep

Not getting enough sleep can negatively affect our productivity levels, emotional balance, creativity, and even our weight. Yet, getting a good night's rest is often lower in priority than other things we have going on.

Even if we're tired, bedtime may be pushed back to get more work done, catch up on social media, or watch our favorite TV shows. But sleep is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, making it a priority if we want an improved quality of life.

Ways to get a better night's sleep include:

Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day
Creating an environment that promotes good sleep (quiet, dark, and the right temperature)
Not eating big meals right before going to bed
Avoiding drinks with caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime

Regular exercise has a positive impact on both physical and mental health. Not only does it trim the waistline, but it can also curb depression, relieve stress, improve memory, and contribute to better sleep —all of which improve mood.

Research indicates that even 30 minutes of exercise a day can make a difference. If sticking to regular daily exercise is difficult, joining a group fitness class, working out with a friend, and scheduling a consistent workout time are a few ways to stay motivated and inspired.

Forms of exercise to try include:

Brisk walking

Find Meaning at Work

Working in a job that feels meaningless or directionless can be physically and emotionally draining, no matter how much it pays or the title it carries. The career we choose even affects our identity and shapes how we feel about ourselves.

If work no longer has purpose or meaning, taking these actions can help:

Offer to mentor younger or less experienced co-workers
Look for opportunities to do tasks that feel more meaningful
Show appreciation and gratitude for colleagues who make the workday more enjoyable

Changing careers is another option. But if this isn't possible, that doesn't mean that we can't still find meaning in our lives. Taking part in other gratifying activities, such as charity work and hobbies, can also help.

Engaging in flow-producing activities , or activities that take our complete focus, can infuse more enjoyment into our lives.

Plug Energy Drains

Several things can drain our energy throughout the day. For some, it may be a disrespectful co-worker or an unresolved conflict with a family member . Even small, seemingly inconsequential things like a cluttered table or a task we've been putting off can lower our energy stores.

These types of stressors have a way of accumulating and weighing us down. Learning how to identify and eliminate them or, at a minimum, reduce their effects leaves more energy for doing things that we enjoy.

To reduce energy drains:

Pay attention to people or things that tend to create feelings of fatigue and reduce interactions with them if possible.
Take care of tasks that have been piling up, aiming to complete at least one small 'to-do list' item each day.
Learn to accept situations that cannot be changed or controlled.

Make Time for Leisure

Many of us have enough work to occupy all our time —times two. But if we're not allowing ourselves to relax and have some fun in addition to taking care of our responsibilities, we could be doing ourselves a huge disservice.

Research shows that engaging in a leisure activity not only lowers stress levels and improves mood, but also enhances problem-solving skills. It may even leave us feeling more energized and excited about the things we have to do.

This makes learning to embrace leisure time important for an improved quality of life. Ways to do this include:

Giving ourselves permission to slow down and not be productive every second of the day
Including leisure activities in our schedule regularly
Doing some leisure activities alone and some with others

Witters D, Agrawal S. In U.S., poor life ratings reach record high . Gallup.

Medvedev ON, Landhuis CE. Exploring constructs of well-being, happiness and quality of life . PeerJ . 2018;6:e4903. doi:10.7717/peerj.4903

Southwick SM, Sippel L, Krystal J, Charney D, Mayes L, Pietrzak R. Why are some individuals more resilient than others: The role of social support . World Psychiatry . 2016;15(1):77–79. doi:10.1002/wps.20282

We Think Twice. 5 tools to maintain healthy relationships . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Zeek ML, Savoie MJ, Song M, et al. Sleep duration and academic performance among student pharmacists . Am J Pharm Educ . 2015;79(5):63. doi:10.5688/ajpe79563

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips for better sleep .

National Library of Medicine. Benefits of exercise .

Childs E, de Wit H. Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults . Front Physiol . 2014;5:161. doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00161

Aftab A, Lee EE, Klaus F, et al. Meaning in life and Its relationship with physical, mental, and cognitive functioning: A study of 1,042 community-dwelling adults across the fifespan . J Clin Psychiatry . 2019;81(1):19m13064. doi:10.4088/JCP.19m13064

Knight R. How to find meaning when your job feels meaningless. Harvard Business Review .

Zawadzki MJ, Smyth JM, Costigan HJ. Real-time associations between engaging in leisure and daily health and well-being . Ann Behav Med . 2015;49(4):605-615. doi:10.1007/s12160-015-9694-3

By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

What Is The Good Life & How To Attain It

Yet with more than 8 billion people on this planet, there are probably just as many opinions about what the good life entails.

Positive psychology began as an inquiry into the good life to establish a science of human flourishing and improve our understanding of what makes life worth living (Lopez & Snyder, 2011).

We will begin this article by exploring definitions of the good life, before presenting a brief history of philosophical theories of the good life. Then we’ll introduce a few psychological theories of the good life and methods for assessing the quality of life, before discussing how you can apply these theories to live a more fulfilling life.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Happiness & Subjective Wellbeing Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients identify sources of authentic happiness and strategies to boost wellbeing.

This Article Contains:

What is the good life, what is the good life in philosophy, theories about the good life, assessing your quality of life, how to live the good life, positivepsychology.com resources, a take-home message.

The word ‘good’ has a very different meaning for very many people; however, there are some aspects of ‘the good life’ that most people can probably agree on such as:

Material comfort
Engagement in meaningful activities/work,
Loving relationships (with partners, family, and friends)
Belonging to a community.

Together, a sense of fulfillment in these and other life domains will lead most people to flourish and feel that life is worth living (Vanderweele, 2017).

However, the question ‘what is the good life?’ has been asked in many fields throughout history, beginning with philosophy. Let’s look at where it all began.

According to Socrates

Interestingly enough, the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates never wrote anything down. His student Plato reported his speeches in published dialogues that demonstrate the Socratic method. Key to Socrates’ definition of the good life was that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (Ap 38a cited in West, 1979, p. 25).

Socrates argued that a person who lives a routine, mundane life of going to work and enjoying their leisure without reflecting on their values or life purpose had a life that wasn’t worth living.

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According to Plato

Plato’s view of the good life was presented in The Republic (Plato, 380-375 BCE/2007) and supported the views of his teacher, Socrates. The Republic examines virtue and the role of philosophy, community, and the state in creating the conditions needed to live well.

In this dialogue, Socrates is asked why a person ought to be virtuous to live a good life, rather than merely appear to be virtuous by cultivating a good reputation. Socrates answers that the good life doesn’t refer to a person’s reputation but to the state of a person’s soul.

The role of philosophy is essential because philosophers are educated in using reason to subdue their animal passions. This creates noble individuals who contribute to a well-ordered and humane society. A person who is unable to regulate their behavior will be unstable and create suffering for themselves and others, leading to a disordered society.

Therefore, educated reason is crucial for cultivating virtuous conduct to minimize human suffering, both individually and socially. For Socrates and Plato, rational reflection on the consequences of our actions is key to establishing virtuous conduct and living the good life, both inwardly and outwardly.

For a fuller account check out the Wireless Philosophy video by Dr. Chris Surprenant below.

According to Aristotle

For Plato’s student Aristotle, the acquisition of both intellectual and character virtues created the highest good, which he identified with the Greek word eudaimonia , often translated as happiness (Aristotle, 350 BCE/2004).

Aristotle believed a person achieves eudaimonia when they possess all the virtues; however, acquiring them requires more than studying or training. External conditions are needed that are beyond the control of individuals, especially a form of state governance that permits people to live well.

It was Aristotle’s option that state legislators (part of Greek governance) should create laws that aim to improve individual character, which develops along a spectrum from vicious to virtuous. To cultivate virtue, reason is required to discern the difference between good and bad behavior.

For more on Aristotle’s version of the good life, click out the Wireless Philosophy video by Dr. Chris Surprenant below.

According to Kant

Immanuel Kant was a Prussian-born German philosopher active during the Enlightenment period of the late 18th century (Scruton, 2001). He is best known for his seminal contributions to ethics, moral philosophy, and metaphysics.

For Kant, a capacity for virtue is unique to human beings, because the ability to resist bodily desires requires the exercise of reason. Kant claims that human reason makes us worthy of happiness by helping us become virtuous (Kant, 1785/2012).

Kant’s argument describes the relationship between morality, reason, and freedom. One necessary condition of moral action is free choice.

An individual’s action is freely chosen if their reasoning determines the right course of action. Conduct is not freely chosen if it is driven by bodily desires like hunger, lust, or fear, or behavioral coercion that applies rewards and punishments to steer human actions.

For Kant, individuals should act only if they can justify their action as universally applicable, which he termed the categorical imperative (Kant, 1785/2012). He argued that all our behavioral choices can be tested against the categorical imperative to see if they are consistent with the demands of morality. If they fail, they should be discarded.

A virtuous person must exercise reason to identify which principles are consistent with the categorical imperative and act accordingly. However, Kant claimed that reason can only develop through education in a civilized society that has secured the external conditions required for an individual to become virtuous.

For example, an individual who lives in fear of punishment or death lacks the freedom required to live virtuously, therefore authoritarian societies can never produce virtuous individuals. Poverty also erodes an individual’s freedom as they will be preoccupied with securing the means of survival.

For a deeper examination of these ideas view the Wireless Philosophy video by Dr. Chris Surprenant below.

According to Dr. Seligman

Dr. Martin Seligman is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of positive psychology. For Seligman, the good life entails using our character strengths to engage in activities we find intrinsically fulfilling, during work and play and in our relationships.

For Seligman, ‘the good life’ has three strands,

Positive emotions
Eudaimonia and flow

Dr. Seligman’s work with Christopher Peterson (Peterson & Seligman, 2004) helped to develop the VIA system of signature strengths . When we invest our strengths in the activities of daily living, we can develop the virtues required to live ‘the good life’; a life characterized by positive emotional states, flow, and meaning.

Here is a video to learn more from Dr. Seligman about how cultivating your unique strengths is essential for living the good life.

Theories about what constitutes the good life and how to live it abound. This section will look at some of the most recent psychological theories about what contributes to the good life.

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Set-Point Theory

Set-point theory argues that while people have fluctuating responses to significant life events like getting married, buying a new home, losing a loved one, or developing a chronic illness, we generally return to our inner ‘set point’ of subjective wellbeing (SWB) after a few years (Diener et al., 1999). This is largely inherited and tied in with personality type.

In terms of the Big Five personality traits , those predisposed to neuroticism will tend more toward pessimism and negative perceptions of events, while those who are more extroverted and open to experience will tend more toward optimism.

According to set-point theory, the efforts we make to achieve our life goals will have little lasting effect on our overall SWB given we each have our own ‘happiness set point’ (Lyubomirsky, 2007).

Furthermore, set point theory suggests that there’s little we can do for people who have been through a difficult time like losing their spouse or losing their job because they will eventually adapt and return to their previous set point.

This implies that helping professionals who believe they can improve people’s SWB in the longer term may be misguided. Or does it?

Other research provides evidence that achieving life goals can have a direct effect on a person’s overall contentment (Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2021). Specifically, pursuing non-competitive goals such as making a family, building friendships, helping others in our community, and engaging in social justice activities improve our sense of wellbeing.

On the other hand, pursuing competitive life goals like building a career and monetary wealth exclusively undermines SWB.

For set-point theory, the good life depends more on innate personality traits than education. For a surprising account of this, using a practical example, view the video below.

Life-Satisfaction Theory

Typically, life satisfaction refers to a global evaluation of what makes life worth living rather than focusing on success in one area of life like a career or intimate relationship, or the fleeting sense of pleasure we often call happiness (Suikkanen, 2011).

However, there tend to be two dominant theories of what causes life satisfaction: bottom-up theories and top-down theories.

Bottom-up theories propose that life satisfaction is a consequence of a rounded overall sense of success in highly valued life domains . Valued life domains differ from person to person. For a professional athlete, sporting achievement may be highly valued, while for a committed parent having a good partnership and stable family life will be super important (Suikkanen, 2011).

Of course, these are not mutually exclusive. For most people, multiple life domains matter equally. However, if we are satisfied with the areas that we value, a global sense of life satisfaction results (Suikkanen, 2011).

Top-down theories propose that our happiness set-point has a greater influence on life satisfaction than goal achievement. In other words, personality traits like optimism have a positive impact on a person’s satisfaction with life regardless of external circumstances, whereas neuroticism undermines contentment.

The debate continues, and life satisfaction is likely influenced by a combination of nature and nurture as with other areas of psychology (Suikkanen, 2011). You can read an extended discussion of the evidence in our related article on life satisfaction .

So, while life satisfaction is associated with living a good life, it’s not necessarily related to education, the exercise of reason, or the cultivation of virtues as proposed by the philosophers mentioned above. For example, a successful financial criminal may be highly satisfied with life but would be deemed a corrupt human being by such lofty philosophical standards.

Hedonic treadmill

Meanwhile, the concept of the hedonic treadmill proposes that no matter what happens, good or bad, a person will eventually return to their baseline emotional state. For example, if someone gets married, moves to a new home, is promoted, loses a job, or is seriously injured in an accident, eventually, they will default to their innate set point (Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2012).

This has also been termed hedonic adaptation theory (Diener et al., 2006). It means that no matter how hard we chase happiness or try to avoid suffering, ultimately, our innate tendencies toward pessimism or optimism return us to our baseline level, either dysphoria or contentment (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).

If you tend to see the glass as half empty rather than half full, don’t be discouraged, because recent research by Sheldon and Lyubomirsky (2021) acknowledges that while we each have a happiness set point, we can also cultivate greater happiness. We’ve offered some tips in the ‘how to’ section below.

Nevertheless, assessing the quality of life has led to an abundance of international research using quality of life indicators (QoLs) in a variety of scales and questionnaires (Zheng et al., 2021).

Gill and Feinstein identified at least 150 QoL assessment instruments back in the mid-1990s (Gill & Feinstein, 1994). Since then, scales have been refined to measure the quality of life in relation to specific health conditions, life events, and demographic factors like age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (Zheng et al., 2021).

Our article Quality of Life Questionnaires and Assessments explains this in more detail and guides you on how to choose the best instrument for your clients.

Meanwhile, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) has developed the Better Life Index to measure how people from different demographics define a high quality of life. You can find out more in the brief video below.

How can each of us live the good life today given our array of differences? Below are five steps you can take to clarify what the good life means to you, and how you can apply your strengths to set goals that will lead to greater fulfillment.

1. Clarify your values

Clarifying what is important to you helps invest your life with meaning. Download our values clarification worksheet to get started.

2. Identify valued life domains

Investing in activities in valued life domains is intrinsically rewarding. Download our valued life domains worksheet to find out more.

3. Invest in your strengths

You can find out your character strengths by taking the free survey here . Playing to your strengths helps you overcome challenges and achieve your goals leading to greater life satisfaction. Read our article about how to apply strengths-based approaches to living well.

4. Set valued goals

Finally, we all benefit when we set goals and make practical plans to achieve them. Try our setting valued goals worksheet for guidance.

5. Ensure high-quality relationships

Healthy relationships with partners, family, friends, and colleagues are essential for living the good life and achieving your goals. To assess the quality of your relationships, take a look at our article on healthy relationships with free worksheets.

You can also look at our healthy boundaries article with more free resources. Healthy boundaries support you in living the good life in all life domains, while poor boundaries will leave you feeling unfulfilled.

17 Exercises To Increase Happiness and Wellbeing

Add these 17 Happiness & Subjective Well-Being Exercises [PDF] to your toolkit and help others experience greater purpose, meaning, and positive emotions.

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We have an excellent selection of resources you might find useful for living the good life.

First, take a look at our Meaning & Valued Living Masterclass for positive psychology practitioners. This online masterclass follows a practical process of identifying values, investing in strengths and then applying them to living a more fulfilled life.

In addition, we have two related articles for you to enjoy while exploring the role of meaning in the good life:

Realizing Your Meaning: 5 Ways to Live a Meaningful Life
15 Ways to Find Your Purpose of Life & Realize Your Meaning

Next, we have an article explaining the role of human flourishing in living the good life.

What Is Flourishing in Positive Psychology? (+8 Tips & PDF)

Finally, we have an article on how to apply values-driven goal-setting to living the good life.

How to Set and Achieve Life Goals The Right Way

We also have worksheets you may find useful aids to living the good life:

Our How Joined Up is Your Life? worksheet can help your client identify their interests and passions, assess how authentically they are living their life, and identify any values that remain unfulfilled.

This Writing Your Own Mission Statement worksheet can help clients capture what they stand for, their aims, and objectives. Having a personal mission statement can be useful to return to periodically to assess our alignment with our values and goals.

Finally, this How to Get What You Deserve in Life worksheet can help clients identify what they want as well as justify why they deserve a good life.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others develop strategies to boost their wellbeing, this collection contains 17 validated happiness and wellbeing exercises . Use them to help others pursue authentic happiness and work toward a life filled with purpose and meaning.

We all want to live the good life, whatever that means to us individually. The concept has preoccupied human beings for millennia.

If you currently struggle, which we all do at different times, we hope you’ll consider trying some of the science-based strategies suggested above to steer your way through.

All the evidence we have shared above shows that you can improve your life satisfaction and subjective wellbeing by living in line with your values. But you have to be clear about what’s important to you.

Values-based living invests your life with more meaning and purpose and is key to living the good life.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Happiness Exercises for free .

Aristotle. (2004). Nicomachean ethics (Tredennick, H & Thomson, J.A.K., Trans.). Penguin. Original work published 350 BCE.
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Lopez, S. L. & Snyder, C. R. (2011). The Oxford handbook of positive psychology . Oxford University Press.
Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology , 9, 111–131.
Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). The how of happiness: A scientific approach to getting the life you want . Penguin.
Plato. (2007). The Republic (D. Lee, Trans.; 2nd ed.). Penguin. Original work published 380-375 BCE.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.
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Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2012). The challenge of staying happier: Testing the hedonic adaptation prevention model. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin , 38(5), 670–680.
Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2021). Revisiting the sustainable happiness model and pie chart: Can happiness be successfully pursued? The Journal of Positive Psychology , 16(2), 145–154.
Suikkanen, J. (2011). An improved whole life satisfaction theory of happiness. International Journal of Wellbeing , 1(1), 149-166
Vanderweele, T. J. (2017). On the promotion of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 114(31), 8148–8156.
West, T. G. (1979). Plato’s “Apology of Socrates”: an interpretation, with a new translation . Cornell University Press.
Zheng, S., He, A., Yu, Y., Jiang, L., Liang, J. & Wang, P. (2021). Research trends and hotspots of health-related quality of life: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2019. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 19 , 130.

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For me a happy life is having the necessary things to have a good life in the physical aspect, economic aspect ,social aspect, achievement and also family, love and health . The luxuries are also good but they are extra things in life. The most important thing in life is love and peace.

This article made my day. Thank you for putting it together.

I lost approximately 14,000 dollars because of a bank fraud. This money is a product of my hardwork as a nurse and I have been saving it so I have a money when I travel back to be with partner. And the bank refused to refund my money. This incidence has made me feel devastated about life. It affected me emotionally and mentally. But I tried to contain this emotion for a few months and avoided to work and avoided my friends. But I am lucky that my parents, my sisters and especially my partner have been very supportive and understanding to me. They showed me the love and care I needed especially those tough times. Only a few days ago that I realised I should start to help myself and this is why I started to listen to a different talks and read articles that will help me to stay positive in life. Having this article read, it reminded me that I should be grateful that I am surrounded with great people. So thank you for sharing this article and making it accessible to everyone.

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Quality of life - List of Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Quality of life is a multi-dimensional concept encompassing an individual’s physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs, and their relationship to salient features of their environment. Essays might delve into the methods of assessing quality of life, the factors affecting quality of life, or the implications of quality of life measurements in healthcare, social policy, or economic development. Discussions might also explore the philosophical or ethical considerations surrounding quality of life, and the societal efforts to enhance quality of life for individuals and communities. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Quality of Life you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Technology in Everyday Life

Technology is progressing more and more every day and it already takes part in the average citizen’s everyday life. It is progressing greatly as technology is aiding in many people's lives and even helping some people survive. People may view technology progressing so quickly as a bad thing because they are taking jobs and some people believe that technology will eventually take over the world. Technology progressing so quickly may have many factors in the world, but humans will most […]

The Multifaceted Concept of Wellness

The notion of wellness has garnered significant attention in recent times, yet its essence transcends the surface-level portrayals often seen in mainstream media. At its essence, wellness embodies a comprehensive approach to well-being that encompasses not only physical health but also mental and emotional vitality. This holistic perspective acknowledges the necessity of harmonizing various facets of existence, from maintaining physical fitness and managing stress to nurturing meaningful connections and pursuing personal development. The physical dimension of wellness stands out as […]

Enhancing Urban Livability: Strategies for Sustainable Quality of Life

In an era where the pulse of humanity beats strongest in urban landscapes, the pursuit of urban livability stands as a paramount challenge. Within the confines of concrete jungles, where dreams meet the reality of limited space and resources, the quest for sustainable quality of life becomes a narrative of innovation and adaptation. Central to this narrative is the orchestration of accessibility and connectivity within urban arteries. Efficient public transit arteries not only alleviate the congestion and pollution that clog […]

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Balancing Work and Well-being: Prioritizing Quality of Life in a Digital Age

In a world where the digital realm intersects with our daily lives more intricately than ever before, the quest for equilibrium between professional obligations and personal wellness has become paramount. The advent of remote work, intertwined with the omnipresence of technology, has blurred the once-distinct boundaries between work and leisure, often at the expense of individuals' well-being. Balancing work commitments with the pursuit of a fulfilling life has emerged as a critical challenge in this digital age, necessitating a proactive […]

From Stress to Serenity: Cultivating Mental Health for Improved Quality of Life

In the tapestry of modern existence, stress weaves itself intricately into the fabric of our lives, often overshadowing the quest for tranquility and mental equilibrium. Yet, amidst the cacophony of demands and distractions, lies an untrodden path toward reclaiming inner peace and fostering mental well-being for an enriched quality of life. Imagine a sanctuary nestled amidst the chaos—a verdant oasis where tranquility reigns supreme, and the mind finds solace in the gentle embrace of serenity. Much like a master gardener […]

Understanding Quality of Life: a Comprehensive Overview

The notion of human well-being holds a profound intricacy and indispensability. Essentially, it encapsulates the holistic welfare and contentment experienced by individuals or communities, transcending mere economic prosperity to encompass emotional, physical, and social fulfillment. This intricate construct assumes paramount significance in appraising the effectiveness of healthcare systems, social policies, and general living conditions, rendering it a focal point across diverse disciplines, including sociology, psychology, and public health. Human well-being is intrinsically subjective, exhibiting significant variance across divergent societies, cultures, […]

Crafting Better Lives: Pathways to Enhanced Quality of Life

Elevating the standard of living transcends geographical, cultural, and socio-economic confines, aspiring to heighten the holistic welfare and contentment of individuals, communities, and societies. At its essence, augmenting the quality of life entails multifaceted endeavors addressing physical and psychological well-being, financial security, social cohesion, environmental stewardship, and personal gratification. This exposition delves into diverse methodologies for fortifying the quality of life across these spectrums, emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual endeavors, communal ventures, and societal directives. At the individual echelon, the […]

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Essay Samples on Quality of Life

Architecture: a means to improve people's quality of life.

Introduction “Architecture is about finding imaginative, creative solutions to improving people’s quality of life.” - Alejandro Aravena Architecture was born approach back in the prehistoric age, once the first man determined to come back up with shelters made up of twigs and bones. architecture isn't...

Architecture
Interior Design
Quality of Life

How Technology Improves The Quality Of Life

Nowadays, technology is closely linked to the life of every human being because it facilitates and optimizes most of the activities that are performed daily. Besides, technology makes great contributions to society, making it safer and more functional. Without technology, the world would not be...

Effects of Technology
Impact of Technology

Patience As A Standout Quality Of Perfect Life

To begin with, patience is one of the obvious standout themes as one begins to read through the book of James. According to Merriam Webster, “the ability to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems...

Personal Qualities

Improvement Of Life Quality Of The Hamilton Road Community

The Hamilton Road community appears to have a diverse physical environment with two-thirds of the community older in appearance while the other third located on the outskirts of London seems to be expanding with many new homes being built. The majority of buildings and homes...

Community Development

The Impact of British Industrial Revolution on the Quality of Laborers' Life

The high supply of unskilled labor in the urban centers helped to keep wages profitably low for the factory owners that demanded their employment. Capital was highly mobile as the the working class was on a subsistence level and could not afford to own their...

British Industrial Revolution
Industrialization

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Good Will HuntingÖ Exploration of Low Quality of Life

The movie “Good Will Hunting” is based on Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a twenty-year-old self-taught genius, who has a job as a janitor at MIT. Will comes from a low-class neighborhood in South Boston, living in a bad house with violence and crime all around....

Good Will Hunting

Best topics on Quality of Life

1. Architecture: A Means to Improve People’s Quality of Life

2. How Technology Improves The Quality Of Life

3. Patience As A Standout Quality Of Perfect Life

4. Improvement Of Life Quality Of The Hamilton Road Community

5. The Impact of British Industrial Revolution on the Quality of Laborers’ Life

6. Good Will HuntingÖ Exploration of Low Quality of Life

Perseverance
Personal Experience
Personality
Childhood Memories
Coming of Age

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Experience / Quality of Life

Essays on Quality of Life

Modern technology improves quality of life.

Modern technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, revolutionizing the way we communicate, work, and live. From smartphones to artificial intelligence, technology has greatly improved the quality of life for individuals and societies as a whole. This essay will explore the various...

The Impact of Scientific Advancements on Human Quality of Life

Science has played a crucial role in the progress and development of human civilization. Through continuous advancements in various scientific fields, our quality of life has significantly improved. From healthcare to transportation, communication to agriculture, science has revolutionized every aspect of human existence. In this...

The Foot Health and Its Relation to Quality of Life Among Nurses

Foot well-being is an essential component for various situations requiring nursing expertise. In this profession, nurses' feet are presented to prolonged standing & walking for broad ranges, causing foot torment, edema & uneasiness. The nursing profession chiefly affects the lower limbs because physically stressful work...

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