As we go through life, day by day, we might find ourselves chasing promotions, dreaming about stamps in passports, and ticking off yet more shiny milestones. Then, one day, we look up and wonder whether we were any good at simply being a person. We start replaying the tape of our lives, looking for assurance that we’ve lived a good life. But there’s no certificate, no scorecard, and no stamp on Earth that can provide that, so we mull the question over and over in our minds: have I lived a good life?
It’s common, when people sit down to answer questions this big, to feel that although success and achievement matter, they aren’t the only things that signify a life well lived. A good life isn’t a tally of countries, promotions, or likes. It’s much quieter. It’s the impact we’ve had on those around us and the way we’ve made them feel that often surpass material gains—the moments rather than the trophies, so to speak. It’s the hand you held at a hospital bedside; the call you returned, bleary-eyed, at two in the morning; and the laugh that still sneaks up on you at the kitchen table. What lasts is how we showed up for people—and the moments we still talk about years later.
If you’re mulling this over, read on. You might find a few of these signs familiar. If so, you’re doing just fine.
1. Forging relationships that last
Human relationships are the threads that form the tapestry of our lives, weaving together moments of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. Whether it’s a familiar, cozy friendship that has thrived for decades or a new connection that sparks a jolt of excitement, relationships enrich our lives in countless ways.
If you’ve made it a priority to spend time and develop strong relationships with friends, family, and coworkers, that’s a definite sign of a life well lived. By offering love, kindness, understanding, and your time, and by simply being there when others need you, you’ll be living well and building a lasting legacy.
2. Leaving your mark on the world
Whatever impact—good or bad—we make on the world around us has a ripple effect that moves outward, touching lives and shaping stories that we’ll never hear. Impact shows up in countless ways: coaching the local soccer team, organizing a food drive, mentoring a new recruit, building a new business that treats people fairly, raising kind kids, and showing up for your neighbors, to name a few. It can be simple or complex, public-facing or quietly ticking over in the background. What matters is that it’s meaningful to you and those around you. If you can point to a place that you’ve left better than you found it, then that’s a strong sign of a life well lived.
3. Prioritizing growth and learning
Embracing personal growth and continuous learning is an essential part of a fulfilling life. It can bring real satisfaction, as well as happiness and joy, and help us become more capable and be the best possible version of ourselves. It’s about pursuing passions that feed our curiosity and ignite flames in our souls.
Whether you’re practicing an instrument, becoming proficient in a foreign language, or traveling the world, learning improves your life and encourages those around us to do the same. Learning and growing are journeys that can last our whole lives, and the way they compound is a clear sign of having lived a good life.
4. Facing and overcoming challenges
Life is full of twists and turns—some joyful, some demanding. It’s the demanding stretches that shape us and give us wisdom. A life with no friction might look easy, but is it really a good life? Without problems, we miss the opportunities for growth and self-discovery that come from getting through them.
But not every hardship is noble, and there’s no prize for needless suffering; the value is in what you learn and how you use it. When we face adversity head-on, we build resilience and get better at dealing with the difficulties that life throws our way. These gains are greater when we respond with integrity, in ways that feel true to our values, because acting in line with our values supports healthier coping and growth.
When we look back, it’s often the hard times that we remember most; their lessons stick. Working through challenges also builds empathy and understanding and allows us to help others facing similar difficulties.
5. Sharing meaningful experiences
Though appetites for company vary from person to person, life isn’t meant to be solitary; it’s better with others. Whether you like company in small doses or by the bucketful, sharing experiences with friends and family is what gives life its texture. Big adventures and even the smallest rituals—a walk, a Tuesday coffee—can all make our lives better.
Studies show that sharing our experiences helps us remember them. The experiences we have—positive and negative—help us grow and carry lessons worth preserving. Recording them ensures that they become a part of your family history and enrich the lives of your posterity.
Sharing also helps us navigate life’s tougher stretches. With the support of friends and family, we find the strength to carry on, and we’re better placed to lend a helping hand when someone in our circle needs us.
Final thoughts
Life goes by so quickly, and our later years are a time for slowing down and reflecting. We think about the times we lived through, the people we’ve known, the memories we’ve made, and the legacy we’ll leave. As we reflect, we come to realize that although we’ve made mistakes and had misfortunes—everyone has—most of us have done our best to live well.
As we age, we also come to understand that we have stories, knowledge, and wisdom to pass along—precious memories and insights that can become an integral part of our family history and can help future generations to live well themselves. You can preserve the good life you’ve lived for those who come after you by putting your memories on paper in a private autobiography.
One individual who decided to her record her experiences with the expert help of LifeBook Memoirs shared the impact her book has had on friends and family as a powerful piece of personal and family history:
My two sons are glad to know more about the life I have led and to learn about Vietnamese traditions they weren’t aware of. My second son even said that when he read the chapter about me taking my family out of Vietnam, he felt as if part of a film was rolling in front of his eyes. Finally, my brother’s three children have told me how glad they were to learn about our family’s history since their father is no longer here to share it with them.
My friends’ reactions have also been positive. Some have commented on the nice arrangement of chapters and pictures; others like the old black-and-white photos—they came out real good. They’ve praised my book as “incredibly beautiful” and “as professional as the ones in the bookstores.” One of my good friends wrote, “I must tell you that I love your book. Wow!” Others have said that it is inspiring, amazing, and engaging and that they did not want to put the book down.
So, if the five signs of a life well lived in this article ring true with you, why not capture them while they’re fresh? Name the relationships that lasted, the marks you left, the ways you grew, the challenges you faced, and the moments you shared. Start small with a page, a voice note, or a kitchen-table chat and then, if you’d like help turning those memories into a book, LifeBook Memoirs can do the heavy lifting, recording a few relaxed conversations, shaping them into a narrative that you review, and producing a beautifully bound hardback for your family.
Written by the LifeBook Memoirs editorial team
