“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life,” counselled Dolly Parton. George Lorimer added, “It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy.” These viewpoints highlight the paradox of human ambition: the diligent effort we expend, sometimes sacrificing our deepest well-being, in the quest for material success. Let’s reflect on the profound distinction between achieving a good living and cultivating a truly good life.
Do you know that the relentless pursuit of financial security and status – what we call a “good living” – can become a self-imposed prison? Many people equate professional achievements, a high salary, or owning expensive possessions with ultimate happiness, yet find themselves feeling hollow. This singular focus often demands exorbitant hours or involvement in unethical acts leading to chronic stress, neglected relationships, and a severe depletion of personal time for rest, hobbies, or community engagement. This trajectory turns life into an unending series of duties, where health, joy, and meaningful connection are relegated to the ‘if-time-permits’ category. While basic financial stability is necessary, the obsessive drive beyond sufficiency – the desire for ever more – frequently results in a life that is materially rich but existentially poor. The good living, achieved at all costs, can leave us feeling isolated, empty and burnt out, diminishing the very quality of the life we sought to improve. The irony is that the security we work so hard to attain is undermined by the methods we use to get it. It doesn’t warrant sacrificing the present for an ever-receding future.
So, enhance your capacity to make deliberate choices that prioritize wholeness over sheer acquisition, transforming your existence into a meaningful experience. This means actively defining what a good life means to you, separate from societal expectations. Know that a good life is characterized by rich relationships, good mental and physical health, a sense of purpose beyond your career title, and the freedom to enjoy your present moments. Initiate boundaries around your work and maintain sometime as sacred time for your family, friends, and personal passions. Practise mindfulness to anchor yourself in the here and now. Don’t let the anxieties of future financial goals steal the peace of today. Invest in experiences that nourish your soul – travel, creative outlets, volunteering, or simply deep conversations – rather than solely accumulating material wealth. Recognize that true fulfillment is found in the depth of your connections and the integrity of your daily actions. By consciously weaving purpose, health, and relationship into the fabric of your life, you ensure that your work serves your well-being, and not the other way around.
As you step out each day, remember that the goal is not merely to survive richly, but to live fully and well. Strive for a balance where your professional efforts enhance, rather than erode, your personal well-being and happiness. May your pursuit of a good living ultimately serve the far grander purpose of realizing a truly good life.
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Esang Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registed chemical engineer, public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, certified management consultant, World Safety Organization Ambassador, recognized Environmental Ambassador, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He is a manager in the oil and gas industry and was recognized by Highstone Global University, USA as the occupational health and safety personality of 2024. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
