A new play has just opened in London’s West End, written by playwright James Graham. It is The Standard of Living and it examines the life and legacy of early 20th-century British economist John Maynard Keynes. A play meant to prompt us, urge us, and implore us to ask the tough questions about what we really want our country’s fiscal policy and laws to prioritize.

Graham points out in his article shared in The Financial Times that Maynard Keyes suggests that difficult times shouldn’t be seen exclusively as crises but also as opportunities to invest wisely in what we value. Case in point: in 1945, Keynes “used this most perilous of moments to persuade the world’s most indebted nation to start subsidizing the making and accessing of art and culture on a national scale, through the creation of the Arts Council.”

On the large scale of governments, policy, and populations, this can seem overwhelming, even if we each acknowledge it is of the utmost importance. So let’s instead focus on our life itself: What are the components of a good life?

By bringing our conscious awareness to the fundamental components, it becomes easier to stop normalizing habits, behaviors, schedules, lifestyles that reduce the quality of a good life.

The word ‘good’ itself is subjective, so let’s take Graham’s shift into the exploration of well-being. Once we are living a life enriched by conscious choices, we then give ourselves the freedom to live well now and for a long time. And if we live a life of contentment, it involves compassion and appreciation (learn about the other five pillars of contentment here), so we will be mindful that we share this world with other humans and creatures.

The World Happiness Report uses six key explanatory variables to determine the overall happiness of a country, and it begins with questioning individuals in that country (view the results of 2026 here), so what better place to start than the indicators that are examined in their report. The six key variables: GDP per capita/standard of living, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, perception of corruption, and generosity.

Too often, when a country focuses primarily on the first item on the list at the expense (no pun intended) of the other components, we do not see that country in the top 10 of the World’s Happiest Countries. And it makes sense. To give more importance to one above the others is to sacrifice the ability to experience real happiness and ultimately abiding contentment. Each plays a role in both being connected and being free to live our lives well.

Now, let’s focus on our everyday life and the tasks, responsibilities, and choices we are making, and consider whether they support or contribute to a good life and to our and others’ well-being. Here is a list of components that came to my mind as being worth prioritizing:

→ Healthy daily food options

→ An enriched environment at home and in our daily life

→Opportunities for continual learning

→ Consideration of others: who we share our neighborhood, workspace, the road, our home with

→ Social connections that suit our temperament

→ Ability to find quiet moments in daily life for repose

→ Restful, deep sleep

→ Simplicity – oxygen in our days, depth in our pursuits and connections, room to explore, peace of mind to be and live

→Access to the arts in any of the many different mediums as it suits our tastes

→ Generosity as it suits what we can give

→ Gratitude regularly, however we feel most compelled to express it

→ Regular connection to and time in Mother Nature

→ Financial peace of mind

→ A feeling of productivity of having given of our abilities to constructively contribute to the world

Living well involves living consciously, asking questions, and making decisions that may temporarily clash with what the masses or what is trending in the culture around us, but as we will gradually notice, as we become more at peace with how we are living because we are actually enjoying our days, not just focused on the future, we exemplify a contentment that is calming to be around. Our boundaries are clear, but we still engage lovingly and with kindness toward others. This quiet strength where others feel at peace to be themselves as well is a priceless gift we give, a form of generosity in its own way. Change takes time, both in our life and in the world at large, but it is possible when we consciously start making choices that support such peace, freedom and humanity.

The important awareness that will help us maintain balance, although a dynamic balance for sure, is to be mindful that we don’t prioritize one of these components over the others. They each have a powerful and beneficial role in the quality of our well-being.

Each of these shared components, and many more, is explored in depth in my new book Savoring the Sojourn because it is along the way of creating something that innately comes from us that we live our daily lives. And if we are living a good life, a life that prioritizes our well-being, then our masterpiece, our many masterpieces that we have the opportunity to share with the world, will have the full potential to be realized.

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