As humans, we always think the grass is greener on pretty much any side we’re not on. It’s so easy to convince yourself that you’re lagging behind or that your life sucks based on what you see on social media, on TV, or even what you concoct in your own twisted brain. However, the fact is that if you relate to any of the following, you’re doing incredibly well in life despite what you might think.
1. You have a roof over your head and food on your table.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, 44.2 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2022, and I’m pretty sure the number has gone up from there. At the same time, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found that nearly 600,000 people are unhoused on any given night, while the COVID-19 pandemic saw 30-40 million Americans experience housing insecurity.
All that is to say, if you can pay your rent or mortgage every month and you can go to the grocery store and grab what you need from the shelves without worrying about what other bills you won’t be able to pay because of it, you’re doing pretty well in life. Be grateful for it.
2. You have a job and receive a regular paycheck.
You might not love your job, and that’s fair enough. You might be overworked and underpaid, and that’s not cool. However, the fact of the matter is that if you’re lucky enough to have a job with guaranteed hours and wages that you receive bi-weekly, monthly, whatever, then you’re in pretty good stead. Sure, that doesn’t mean there’s nowhere to grow or that your situation is ideal, but it still puts you in a better position than many.
3. You have access to the internet.
You’re not doing well in life because you can follow Kim Kardashian on Instagram. In reality, the internet literally puts the entire world of all knowledge ever accumulated at your fingertips, just a few taps away. Do you realize how incredible that is? I’m old enough to remember learning the Dewey Decimal system in school and having to pore through stacks of cards looking for a single library book. Now you can have Chat GPT tell you a full recipe for the ingredients in your kitchen cabinet and how many calories are in it. It’s mind-blowing. If you have free, unfettered access to the World Wide Web, you’re doing well in life.
4. You have clean drinking water.
A whopping 2 billion people around the world don’t have clean water to drink at any given moment, per the CDC. That’s two BILLION people who literally can’t turn on the faucet in their kitchens — many of them probably don’t even have kitchens — and fill a glass of water that’s safe to drink. Think about that. Clean water is not a luxury, it’s a basic human right that many lack. If you have it, you’re incredibly fortunate. Don’t take that for granted.
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6. You’ve been in love before.
Love is a wondrous thing, and even if you’re a jaded old so-and-so now, if you’ve ever experienced the feeling of falling head over heels and feeling sick to your stomach with anticipation of even catching a glimpse of someone you’re crazy about, you’re doing well in life. Some people aren’t quite so lucky (or unlucky, if your experience has made you cynical, haha!), but you were/are. What a gift!
7. You know what you don’t want.
A lot of people in life end up getting in some terrible situations because they accept less than they deserve since they don’t know what they want. When you figure out what you won’t put up with, suddenly a lot of things in life become much clearer. Being able to definitively say what’s not acceptable and what you want no part of eliminates a lot of toxicity from your day-to-day and ensures you’re treated with the respect and consideration you deserve.
8. You have long- and short-term goals.
Why does this mean you’re doing well in life? Because you have something to look forward to. Having goals means a) you recognize your own potential and b) you’re going to use that to grow and evolve and achieve some amazing things. You could be the next great inventor or someone who changes the world with your contributions to a specific field. Or, maybe your goals are something like learning how to quilt. Whatever it is, get out there and do it.
9. You’re in touch with your spirituality.
You don’t have to believe in God or a higher power to have a connection with your spiritual side. Maybe this looks like having a mindfulness practice or doing positive affirmations for your self-worth every day, and that’s cool. Whatever the way you develop this deep bond with yourself, feel good about the fact that you’ve developed the self-awareness and ability to reflect in this way. Many other people haven’t (and never will).
10. You have the ability to forgive.
This might not seem like a huge deal, but if you know someone who’s always holding grudges, think about how miserable they are on a daily basis. That kind of anger eats you up and turns you into a nasty, bitter person who can never fully let bygones be bygones. If you can, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re already ahead of the game and will live a much more peaceful life because of it.
11. You have an amazing group of friends and a family that loves you.
Loneliness is a killer, and being without support and connection with our fellow human beings can seriously destroy you inside. That’s why, if you have an incredible support network made up of loyal friends and a loving family, you’re doing well in life. It means you’ll never truly be alone and whenever you need help, guidance, or just a bit of encouragement, they’re right there by your side.
12. You’ve been through tough times and you’re still here.
You might have thought that certain experiences you went through were going to break you, but they didn’t. (And if they did, you put yourself back together again and kept on going.) The tough times you go through didn’t turn you into a shell of your former self. Instead, they rebuilt you into a stronger, more resilient, more evolved version of yourself. Without that adversity, you wouldn’t be you — and you’re amazing.
13. You have your health.
That’s not to say that your health has to be 100% perfect to appreciate this. Maybe you have a chronic health condition that is tough to cope with sometimes, but you can still get up and get out of bed every day. You can walk your dog, go to work, stand in the kitchen and make yourself a coffee. Maybe it’s a struggle sometimes, but you can do it, and that means you’re doing pretty well. You don’t realize just how precious and important your health is until it’s gone. Appreciate it while you have it.
14. You’re not bogged down by other people’s opinions of you.
You can’t please everyone all the time, and while some people will waste their entire lives trying in vain, you’re over it. You live only to please yourself, and you believe that as long as you’re not hurting anyone else, you’re doing okay. Being able to walk through life with your head held high even when others disapprove or disagree isn’t something that comes easy. It’s often hard-wrought, so if you’ve got it, you’re golden.
15. You’re open-minded and curious about the world around you.
How boring would life be if you just settled for the status quo and never stepped out of your comfort zone? Not only would you get so frustrated that you’d want to scream, but you’d also fail to learn or grow as a human being. You’re doing well in life if you’ve maintained a sense of curiosity that leads you out into new territory in the world. It means you’ll always reserve judgment and give new people/situations a chance. Who knows what might happen when you have this mindset?
16. You have hobbies and passions that fulfill you.
It seems weird to say that some people don’t have this, but it’s true. Some people literally don’t know what they like or what activities they might find fun or fulfilling. If you have a passion — maybe you love to draw or you’re amazing at building model trains or whatever — then you have something that enriches you and makes you uniquely yourself. That’s pretty cool, don’t you think?
17. You’re always striving to be better.
Again, stagnation is the worst. This is possibly the most important sign that you’re doing well in life — you’re sure you could do even better. You know you have more to offer other people, your career, and even yourself, and you’re going to make sure you do just that. You’re not a defeatist, and in a world that’s constantly trying to tear you down, that’s an amazing thing and you should be proud of yourself.
18. You make the people around you happy.
What more can you really ask for?
