Recipe for a Well-Lived Life

Michael Touchton
Jul 24, 2017 · 3 min read
photo source

Add 2 parts Soft Heart

This is a non-negotiable. Nothing can be substituted for it. Your heart is the centre of your person. It’s where your identity resides and the place from which you connect with God and other people.

Nothing good comes from a hard, unripened heart. And it won’t mix well in the recipe.

To ripen the heart, try letting it sit in a quiet place until the the starch begins to break down. Sometimes the starch breaks down faster if you talk to someone about it.

Add 1 part Sharp Mind

Although it’s the most important, a soft heart is not the only thing that leads to a well-lived life. Having a sharp mind is also important.

Just like anyone can nurture a soft heart, anyone can nurture a sharp mind.

Don’t think so? This is not just about intelligence; it’s about creativity and elasticity of thought within whatever current mental capacity the person has.

If you’re having trouble seeing how anyone can do this, it might be a sign that your mind is not yet elastic or creative enough for the recipe.

To sharpen your mind: decrease anxiety and increase the time and space you give it to wonder and dream. Once you’ve done these two things, let the mind exercise by inviting it to come up with multiple creative solutions to a problem someone faces. Lastly, feed it a diet rich in rest, quiet, and thoughtful, creative input.

Lastly, add 1 part Calloused Hands

Life is not all only about feeling and thinking — it’s also about action. Hard work, when it’s enjoyed, brings the whole recipe together.

A well-lived life has some component of action. So, get outside yourself and do something.

A soft heart and a sharp mind might make you feel better, but they won’t make others feel much better.

How do you grow calloused hands? Well, it hurts at first. After a while though you’ll live for the work. The type of action you do will be dependent on who you are and what kind of life you’re after. But, don’t discount physical labour — the kind that brings literal callouses. Adding it to the mix might be just what you need.

Bring it all together

Place the soft heart in a bowl, add the sharp mind, and lastly add the calloused hands.

Action is an emulsifier and will bring the first two ingredients together.

The result is a kind of sauce that can be added to any life.

What kind of a person do you want to be?

The good news is that the circumstances of your life don’t have to determine the quality of your life. Although some circumstances make it incredibly difficult.

You can live your life well by growing these three ingredients, mixing them together, and pouring them on your circumstances.

Consider how you can become a person with a soft heart, a sharp mind, and calloused hands.


Hi, I’m Michael and this is my daily project where I write about diverse ideas.

This is Dose #52. If you like it, please click that little ❤️, leave a comment, and follow me. You can see previous Doses here.

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A Daily Dose

A Daily Project Where I Write About Diverse Ideas

Michael Touchton

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From a crowded island in the middle of a river, I write about life, faith, and anything else. Follow along: https://medium.com/a-daily-dose

A Daily Dose

A Daily Project Where I Write About Diverse Ideas

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