How to live life to the fullest everyday.

[Carolinejone]

Hey. I watched Stacey Dooley: inside the undertaker last night and it got me thinking. How can I live life more fully?

I have a lovely life, a lovely family, I read, I meditate and I'm very happy. Just interested in other people's thoughts or is there anything advice you would give someone to live life to the fullest? Thanks

Wear/use the nice things - the ones you love but don't use because they're 'saved for best'. Just use and enjoy them.
Do the things - the ones that you think you'll like but scare you a bit, or you're not quite sure you can achieve. Go for it and see what happens. We're capable of more than we think we are.
Try not to borrow trouble- it'll happen or not anyway. Worrying doesn't change that.

I would say live your life for you and that is what will mean you are living life to the fullest.

It will be different for different people - some might want to travel, some live a minimalist life, others have children, others don't have children etc. The more you live up to your own standards and ideals and the less you live up to others, the fuller your life will be for you.

Sounds like you're already doing it, OP.

General question: why is it we're always thinking, one way or another, we're not doing it right, whatever "it" happens to be? Why do we have to be discontented with how we're living and "strive" for something else? Why the fear of judgement, that internalised judgement from some mythical parent/teacher/boss/other?

Gosh, that all sounds a bit Pollyanna-ish to me 😵‍💫
I agree @Catsmere , why can’t you be (largely) content with your life as it is now? I am generally quite happy with just bumbling along at the moment 😊

Sounds like you re doing well.
For me it’s about noticing joy and being joyful. And I purposefully lean into that sometimes. If I don’t want to do something or just feel flat and cba I’ll be thankful that I’m here and enjoy it.

Try different things, as many as possible funds and health allowing obviously. I did a lot until I hit 50 and then I had a period of horrific serious illness that I was lucky to survive. I can take pleasure in very small things these days and I notice more.

I walked in the Peaks yesterday and I sat with DH with our flasks and sandwiches looking at the autumn leaves I just felt very grateful I’m alive. Getting that close to death had a major effect on me. Even the fact that my backside got slightly damp from the bench makes me happy, at least I can feel it.

It’s nothing to do with judgment. I didn’t see the programme but assume that if it’s about undertakers the op is asking how we live a finite life to the fullest. It is limited. We will die one day. Like not wasting water or trashing the environment how can we not waste our lives.

I find mindfulness good for this, feeling like I'm fully engaging with every moment, or most of them anyway.

My circumstances have worked out in a way that I couldn't have imagined. I live an idyllic life that is very full, and part of this is due to past decisions, hard work and taking risks. On the surface level, I enjoy my life because its IS enjoyable, and fun, and rich and all of those good, satisfying things.

I am grateful for these blessings every day, but I know that circumstances can change, very quickly and unexpectedly. My true sense of fulfilment and purpose comes from my Christian faith, which started in my thirties. Once I became a Christian, after years of searching and researching, I felt like I had discovered the meaning to life.

I know my purpose is to glorify Jesus in everything. To do God's will in every aspect of my life. To watch and see His plans unfolding in my life and the lives of others. I know to nonbelievers, it sounds like some strange sense of serving an arrogant, narcissistic god, but really, worship is like looking at a stunning sunset or a baby being born and thinking 'wow', and that sense of awe filling you with joy and wonder.

I love how every day is a new day, and I want to be a vessel to do good on Earth for others. I love that sense that God never wastes anything, and even if my dark times (this week has been a low point), something beautiful always comes out of it, somewhere, somehow. I love how I'm always changing and growing, or being humbled or learning something new.

I love that expectation that solutions to problems can appear suddenly and so creatively. Basically, my day in, day out, run of the mill times, cleaning the toilet times, having a virus and being stuck in bed times, being with friends, being up in the night with the baby, having a nice meal, crying my eyes out because someone hurt me, laughing my head off because of something funny my 6 year old said, watching a documentary, ironing uniforms...all of it, He's there with me, linking it all together and making it all have meaning. Because while I'm ironing, cleaning the toilet, laughing, crying, matching socks, cleaning caked poo off a baby's bum, eating an amazing curry, sobbing, kissing my husband goodbye in the mornings, tasting my first coffee...I'm alive and I'm part of His plan, now, today, for the rest of my life and after I die.

Someone must be chopping onions because my eyes are watering 😄

Thanks OP, for the lovely reminder ❤️ 💙 💜

I hope you have a lovely day full of blessings!

Things like enjoying school run rather than being in a constant rush. Ours takes us through the local woodland which is spectacular with the leaves changing colour at the moment. And we saw a roe hind with two half grown fawns last week.

Or smiling & saying nothing at ds' exam-stressy grumbling. It'll pass. Or not worrying about what other people think of my muddy car or my 5yo jeans. That's just normal life. I'm happy as I am.

You need to do what YOU want to do, and live how YOU want to, not try to please other people, not do what you think you should.

I agree with using/wearing ‘best’ things. I really try to do this - wearing perfume/make up/nice clothes/drinking lovely coffee/skincare etc every day rather than waiting for ‘best’. I deserve little luxuries every day. This really does have an impact on my mental health because when I stop doing it I really feel it!

Yes. I agree with wearing and using nice things too.
I buy food and sometimes save it in the fridge for a nice day but then i leave it that long it goes out of date. Lol 😂

Love this ❤️

I think you missed to point in the question. It's a positive question.

Try not to borrow trouble- it'll happen or not anyway. Worrying doesn't change that.

Great advice

That was @persisted i forgot to credit x

Agree with everything you said 😊

As I said, I was asking a general question. I see a lot of these posts and think, if you're enjoying your life (as OP here said she is) then why isn't that enough?

It's the phrase "living life to the fullest" that gets me, I think. Like it's some sort of goal one has to strive for. I dunno, it rubs me up the wrong way.

Staying healthy as you get older is very important to me in my fifties. Unfortunately, in my case, that means keeping BMI 23 or below. Other than that, things I have been doing to get the most out of my life
Solo travel
Saying yes to everything
Making new friends through Meetups, book clubs, choirs
A new creative pursuit
Taking up open water swimming next year

Some advice I got from someone recently was:

Fear nobody or no situation. Especially when it comes to work and your boss.
It's hard to get sacked theses days so don't worry. Lol

This is a lovely heartwarming thread.

I spend ages sitting doing nothing more than staring out of the window at the birds on the feeder with my dog cuddled up beside me. I don't feel the urge to be out doing things any more, especially now it is rainy November. Other people say I should get out more but we set our own agendas and I'm happy being a shut in. I have an emotionally demanding job and sitting quietly at home suits me.

OP - your life sounds fine. Don't be yearning for something more. It's all about the small things.

I love watching our log burner with a glass of red wine when the little one sleeps. Bliss.

Thank you ☺️

On a day by day level I haven't completely sussed it, but have noticed that I'm happier when I feel I've achieved something or been productive. That can be a simple as tidying or housework that that my home looks nicer and is more pleasant to live in. And surrounding myself with things that are both functional and attractive, or simply make me smile.

It can also be going out for a walk and taking note of my environment. That doesn't need to be in a beautiful area, it's just being curious and being aware of my surroundings, eg the birds in the trees, the plants growing in gardens, the cars going past.

Longer term, having a bucket list and, within reason, trying to do the things on it. Having goals and things to look forward to is hugely beneficial to my mental well being.

This might sound a tad soppy but every night I try and find five things I'm pleased that have happened in the day. For example last night my things were

that I'd made it to Slimming World

I did my weekly shop afterwards

I cooked from scratch both and lunch and supper

I found a good film to watch (Allied on Sky)

I got into a jacket that had been a bit too tight a couple of months ago

Once you start thinking of this every evening it can become quite therapeutic.