What Does It Really Mean to Live Well?

What Does It Really Mean to Live Well?

There was a time—not too long ago—when I thought I knew what it meant to live well. It looked like ticking boxes, keeping up, staying busy. And for a while, that worked. It felt productive. Even comforting.

But somewhere along the way, I began to ask a different question:
What does it mean to live well, really?
And what was I missing while I rushed through it all?

These days, the answer looks very different.

It’s slower. Softer. And a whole lot more honest.

It’s not about having the perfect house or a packed schedule.
It’s about waking up and not dreading the day ahead.
It’s about feeling at ease in your own space.
It’s about moments—not milestones.

A New Kind of Series

This post is the first in a new five-week series here on the blog:
Living Well, Right Where You Are.

Each Wednesday, I’ll be sharing gentle, reflective thoughts on what it really means to live with intention, presence, and meaning in our real lives—mess and all.

If you’re craving a slower, more grounded pace, I hope these posts offer comfort and clarity.

Letting Go of Busy for the Sake of Busy

We live in a world that praises busyness. We wear it like a badge of honour.
But here’s the thing—being busy doesn’t always mean we’re living meaningfully.

Sometimes, it just means we’re distracted.
Or burnt out.
Or afraid to slow down in case everything catches up with us.

Living well, for me, has meant unlearning a lot of what I once thought was essential.
I’ve had to let go of the constant doing and allow myself to just be.

Some days, that’s easier than others.
But the shift is happening. And it’s changing everything.

Rethinking What a “Good Life” Looks Like Today

For years, I thought a good life meant success—in the traditional sense.
A career. A full schedule. A home that looked a certain way.

And I had those things. But I also had stress. Guilt. Pressure.
And a constant feeling of not quite being enough.

Midlife has brought me a new kind of clarity.

Now, a good life looks like time to sit down for dinner as a family.
It looks like messy moments, quiet mornings, deep breaths.
It looks like having space in my day—and in my mind.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be more, do more, achieve more…
Maybe it’s time to ask what you actually want.

Because living well doesn’t have to look like what everyone else is doing.
It just has to feel right for you.

Anchoring Your Days in Presence, Connection & Peace

One of the biggest changes I’ve made is paying attention.
To the small things. The things I used to rush past.

Opening a window to let in the morning air.
Sitting in a quiet room with your thoughts.
Folding laundry with music on.
Lighting a candle at night when the house is quiet.

These aren’t groundbreaking moments.
But they’re grounding ones.
And they anchor me in something real.

Living well isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about gentle rhythms.
It’s about noticing the life you’re already living.

Mini Reflection: What Does Living Well Mean to You?

Grab a notebook—or just pause for a moment—and ask yourself:

• What does living well actually look like in my life right now?
• What are three small things that already bring me comfort or joy?
• What might I need to let go of to create more space for what matters?

If you’d like to explore this a little more, I’ve created a simple printable journaling sheet you can download here:
👉 Download Your “Living Well” Reflection Sheet

Final Thoughts

Living well isn’t about having it all together.
It’s about letting go of what doesn’t matter—and holding onto what does.

It’s about choosing presence over perfection.
Peace over performance.
Depth over doing.

And it’s not something we arrive at once and for all.
It’s a practice. A choice.
A slow return to yourself.

Let’s Chat

I’d love to hear what “living well” means to you.
Pop over to Instagram or drop a comment below and share one small way you’re anchoring into the life you have today.

You’re already doing more than you think.

Chat soon,
Ciara

If this resonates, you might also enjoy this post about letting go of perfectionism at home