{"id":94075,"date":"2023-02-28T14:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T18:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=94075"},"modified":"2026-01-22T22:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T02:52:14","slug":"the-ideal-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-ideal-life\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ideal Life: 3 Steps to Reaching Maximum Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the ideal life for you? How do you decide what you want your life to look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ideal life is different for everyone, so it’s your job to figure out what it looks like. If you’re having trouble picturing it, follow these steps from Vishen Lakhiani’s book The Buddha<\/a> and the Badass.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s dive deep into the three steps Lakhiani recommends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Creating Your Ideal Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lakhiani writes that to realize the ideal life based on your identity, values, and purpose, you must disrupt how you think about yourself to establish new, constructive patterns of thought. He provides a three-step process for doing this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1:<\/strong> Describe your ideal day if you were exactly the person you wanted to be. Consider what you\u2019d do in the mornings, what you\u2019d look like, what your work would look like, who your friends are, and so on. Be as detailed as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: What\u2019s the distinction between visualizing your ideal day, as Lakhiani recommends, and fantasizing<\/em> about it? You visualize<\/em> when you believe an event can <\/em>happen in the future<\/a>, and you fantasize<\/em> when you don\u2019t believe that event can actually happen. Steer clear of fantasies in this exercise, as they won\u2019t help you achieve a realistic future life.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2:<\/strong> Ask what sort of person you\u2019d have to become to live this ideal day. Reflect on four dimensions and secondary factors of this person: <\/p>\n\n\n\n