There was a LONG season in my life where I kept up with the Joneses and ended up squandering away MANY years.  As I’ve gotten older, I’m working on soaking in every minute and realize the importance of simply being. While there are definitely still struggles with busyness, preoccupation, and admittedly comparison, I do have a strong desire to just BE, brushing aside worry, fear and doubt.

Jonathan Fields was our opening keynote speaker last weekend at the World Domination Summit in Portland, OR.  If you don’t know Jonathan, GET to know him.  From our weekend workbook:  “Jonathan is on a quest to inspire possibility.  He founded mission-driven media and education venture, Good Life Project, where he and his team lead a global community in the quest to live more meaningful, connected and vital lives.  His next book, How to Live a Good Life: Soulful Stories, Surprising Science and Practical Wisdom, is due out in October 2016.”

Jonathan’s message at WDS is one we ALL need hear.  He focused on 5 BE’s: consistent ways people can truly LIVE as they walk through life. He strongly emphasized a GOOD life is CREATED not awaited and that we MUST combat busyness. He stated, “Busyness is a symptom, not a badge of honor. Don’t let other people set priorities for you.”  (And that punched me right in the gut.)

Here are Jonathan’s 5 BE’s for living a good life:

1. Be Intentional

Jonathan emphasized that we MUST choose OR we lose.  Personally, I don’t want to be on the losing side of this coin. As I approach 40, I am MUCH more intentional about the choices and decisions I make.  In the words of Lysa Terkeurst, I want my YES to be my BEST YES.  And to do that, it’s imperative my choices reflect intentional decisions to help me live my best life yet and inch me closer to my goals and dreams.

2. Be Open

Oh goodness, for FAR too long, I lived in such a narrow, legalistic frame of mind.  Jonathan told us that “fortune favors the open” and honestly, I can definitely attest to this in my own life.  For example, in my 20s, I NEVER would have gotten on a plane with a bunch of strangers to head to a foreign country without knowing the plan of action once my feet hit the ground. But because I was open and sought out a greater purpose beyond my own space, the Lord has rained down blessing after blessing tied directly to that first trip to Guatemala.  Be open to new adventures, opportunities and cultures. You may be surprised what you learn about yourself and others in the process.

3. Be Kind.

“Givers win. Givers grow.”  Kindness was a recurring theme throughout WDS.  And doesn’t it just make perfect sense? I’ve come to the conclusion there is FAR more kindness in our world than what the media would have us believe. It seems everyday I hear stories of random acts of kindness, and sometimes these acts are LIFE CHANGING! What’s stopping you from smiling at the stranger you pass on the street?  Or picking up that piece of trash that isn’t yours?  Or how about just showing others grace and mercy?  We all make mistakes for crying out loud.  Choose kindness.  Your life will be enriched and you just might bless others in the process.

4. Be You.

“How can one person be so unapologetically joyful?  Before you can be unapologetically joyful, you have to be unapologetically you.”  I definitely fall trap to this more times than I care to admit and social media royally exacerbates comparison, but you have to LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN.  We ALL have things we don’t like about ourselves.  But don’t be so hard on you!  You are fearfully and wonderfully made and there is only ONE of you!  Relish in your uniqueness.  Own every piece of who you are.

5. Be Still.

Hmmmm….seems like I just wrote a post on this. 😉 Since my major whirlwind, I’ve come to greatly value still and quiet. It’s rare in our world today, yes? Jonathan said that we can’t be ANY of the above until we can be still.  “It’s in the stillness that we cultivate awareness.” It’s easy to be consumed with our daily hustle and not set aside time for quiet.  For me, I’m like an old lady… 🙂  I have my “sittin’” time every morning, getting up anywhere between 30-60 mins. before I have to start getting ready. It’s precious time I spend in communion with my Father along with a good cup of coffee.  It gets my day started on a peaceful, calm note.  You should try it!  Where ever you can, find time for stillness, for reflection and peace.

I’ve followed Jonathan for years now and love his message of possibility, which in essence, is the underlying theme of the World Domination Summit.  I’ll leave you with Jonathan’s Living Creed from his website www.thegoodlifeproject.com.  These are the key to a good life. <3

This is one of those posts where I’m preachin’ to the choir.  Like ALL day.  Is there anything you would add to this list?  How do you “BE” in your every day life?  I’d love for you to share in the comments below.