12 Steps For Creating The Life You Love

If you are honest, how do you really feel about your life? Are you meeting your goals and chasing your dreams? If not, know that you deserve to start creating the life you love, and it's totally possible. Keep reading to learn more!

Believe it or not, less than half of Americans are actually happy with their life. A recent Gallup poll revealed that a mere 41% of people are satisfied with the various parts of their life.

Let’s put that into perspective: the majority of people are settling for less than the best when it comes to their everyday lives.

Yes, all too many of us sleepwalk through life. We make choices because we think we have no other option. We do what other people expect of us and take the easy route.

Before we know it, our lives are less than perfect. But here’s a secret: You are in complete control of your future. So, by living intentionally and making the right choices, you can create the life you love.

Ready to get started? In the following guide, we will take a look at the core 12 steps to creating the life that you love. If you’re unsure where to start, sit back and read this.

How to create a life you love in 12 approaches

Creating a life you love is all about balance. You need to successfully level up the four core aspects of your life — your job, your finances, your relationship, and your lifestyle.

 1. Identify your calling in life

First up, let’s tackle your job and career. Are you fulfilled in this area of your life? Be honest.

If your day job is sucking the life out of you, it may be time for a change.

Consider what it is that you enjoy about your current role and how it aligns with your personal core values.

What parts of the role give you a sense of meaning? And, frankly, what parts make you want to pull your hair out? Think about whether the position works for you.

If the short answer is no, it may be time to look at new career pathways. You can work alongside a careers coach to get started creating the life you love.

Alternatively, you may decide to speak to trusted friends or family members when making this decision.

Should you need some extra help along the way, The Princeton Review has a free career quiz you can complete online. The answers may help to inform your next job decision.

2. Gain extra qualifications or training

If you have decided it’s time to switch careers, you need to do some groundwork. It’s unlikely that you will be able to apply for and find a new job overnight. (But hey, if you are so lucky, that’s great news for you!)

Should you want to try something completely new, you may need to gain some additional qualifications. The first step of the process is figuring out what accolades you need to apply. You can take a look at job boards and adverts to give you a baseline understanding.

Once you’ve got the inside scoop, take a look at your training options.

You may want to take an online course, attend an evening class, or even look at apprenticeships. Having the right qualifications under your belt will give you the basis you need to get that job.

3. Network and apply for new jobs

Did you know that a massive 85% of jobs are filled through networking? If you’re looking to land a new job, it’s worth starting there.

Sign up to attend local networking events in your area. Rubbing shoulders with the right professionals may be half of the job here.

LinkedIn is also a savvy tool if you’re looking for a way to get your name out there. Make sure that your profile is current and reflects the professional you want to be. You should also make an effort to share interesting content there and engage with users.

Of course, you cannot neglect the traditional route to getting a new job: applying for one. Set aside some time to revamp your cover letter and resume.

Next, start looking at entry-level jobs that suit the career path of your choice. Get sending those applications!

4. Take an honest look at your finances

Do you have a clear view of your personal finances? If the answer is no, you are not living your best life.

Poor financial management will ruin every aspect of your lifestyle. Let’s start with the basics.

Review your financial standing. That means looking at your income, regular outgoings, and any long-standing types of debt that you have. Are you on top of things?

Do your expenses exceed your income? Do you have real saving power? Are you on your way to clearing those pesky debts you have racked up? Start by answering these questions (just for yourself!) so that you understand what needs to change financially.

5. Create a reasonable budget

If you’re not budgeting, you’re missing a trick for how to create a life you love. When you're thinking about creating the life you love, you need financial freedom.

So, once you have an understanding of your personal finances, you should learn how to budget.

There are different budgeting methods you can try, so figure out which works for you. You may want to use the envelope or cash system, percentage breakouts, or the reverse budgeting approach, for example, to start better budgeting practices.

Budgeting is about putting the power back in your hands. No longer will your money control you, but you will control it. You will have a reasonable understanding of what your expenditure is and how that is impacting your overall balance. Don’t be scared to start it.

6. Add new streams of income

Let’s say you’ve completed steps four and five, and you’ve hit a wall. No matter how you try to cut the budget, you simply don’t have enough cash to splash each month. When payday is looming, you find yourself scraping together your last cents to make ends meet.

If that scenario sounds familiar, you need to look at ways of increasing your income. One option may be to go for that promotion or find out how to ask for a raise.

However, not everyone has the opportunity to do that immediately. So, you may want to look at ways to boost your streams of income.

There are plenty of options to consider here. You may want to learn about starting a side hustle, getting a second job, consider selling things online, or look at the best passive income ideas. Delve into the opportunities you already have, use your talents, and get some more money.

7. Evaluate your current relationship

Next up, it’s time to take a long, hard look at your love life. We all know that real life is not a Hallmark movie. You can’t expect to be swept off your feet by the perfect partner.

However, if you are settling for less than you deserve romantically, things need to change.

If you are in a relationship, look at it closely for a second.

What do you like about it? What don’t you like? How can you improve things?

Are you feeling satisfied? Do you love your partner? Be clear about whether you are fulfilled by your partner or if it’s time to walk away.

When you are in a relationship for a matter of years, you may not have considered that there’s another option. But if the relationship you’re in is not right for you — and there’s no chance to salvage things — it may be time to call it a day and start prioritizing yourself.

On the other hand, if you have hit a slump, you may want to work with your partner to improve the relationship. Understand that this will take time, energy, and maybe therapy.

8. Work on yourself first (before finding love!)

If you’re looking for a new partner, you may be eager to meet “the one”. Before you can do that, it’s important to work on yourself.

So that you can be the best partner possible and attract the right person, you need to be willing to do the groundwork.

Now, that may mean getting counseling, looking at your triggers, or working on your communication style. When we talk about creating the life you love, you need to address all of the above. Improving your mental wellness is one of the best places to start.

When you are in the best possible place mentally, you will be ready to welcome a healthy relationship into your life. It’s all about taking ownership of yourself and your love life.

9. Look for a partner who aligns with your vision

Your romantic partner is the most important person in your life. This individual has the most influence over you, how you feel, and your everyday perspective. If you’re with the wrong person, they could be hindering your chances of true happiness and fulfillment.

Now it's time to look for a partner who aligns with your vision. When you think about creating the life you love, what does that look like, and who exactly is by your side? It's important to practice listening to yourself to figure out what you truly want.

As we have mentioned, your current partner may fit the bill. If they tick all of the boxes, that’s great news.

However, if they are falling short of the mark or you don’t have a partner, look elsewhere. Date with the intention to find someone who suits your future.

10. Learn to say “no” when you're overwhelmed

Do you know about the strength of the word “no”? Many of us are people-pleasers. We want to make those around us happy.

So, when we are asked a favor or to do something, we say “yes”. We always say “yes”.

So much of your time, money, and energy is taken up by the things that you simply don’t want to do. You might end up babysitting for a friend when you’d rather be working out. You might go to a bottomless brunch when you would have preferred a lie-in.

Before you know it, you’ve filled up your calendar with other people’s needs. You end up resenting the fact that you have agreed to these things.

So, how do you say “no” without offending them? Try out these suggestions:

• “Sorry, I don’t have the social energy to attend [insert event] this week!”
• “I would like to help you, but I already have a lot on my plate right now.”
• “Thanks so much for thinking of me, but I don’t have the time for that.”

When someone makes a request — of your time, money, or energy — you don’t have to oblige. Be firm but polite when telling them that you can’t do whatever it is.

11. Schedule some much-needed rest days

When was the last time you simply did nothing? If it’s been a while since you allowed yourself the gift of rest, this is a public service announcement. You are perfectly entitled to having some time to yourself so that you can rest and recuperate.

That may mean having a lazy weekend, reading a book in bed, taking a leisurely bath, or having a stroll in nature.

The modern world is demanding. You might have a whole bunch of commitments at the moment. Make sure you are scheduling some rest days too.

12. Start prioritizing enriching experiences

Your time is limited. Yes, it’s the most valuable resource that you have, and so you need to be spending it wisely. So, when it comes to the new experiences you could be having, you should be selective.

Whenever an opportunity comes up, ask yourself what you are getting from that situation.

How does it serve you? Are you learning something new?

Are you meeting interesting people? Will you enjoy it? Before you commit to something, answer these questions.

Creating a life you love means choosing to do things that align with your needs. Next time you are asked to do something or someone invites you to an event, think about whether you actually want to accept. Quit making snap decisions and be intentional to avoid living a wasted life. 

Expert tip

As you can see, creating your dream life has a lot to do with evaluating where you're at, as well as where you'd like to be. Half the battle is knowing what you truly want. Once you decide that, you can begin to create a strategy to get there.

Why you deserve a life that you love

We've talked about how to create a life you love, but let’s discuss why you should. The first thing that you have to acknowledge is that it is very possible to achieve your dream life.

That vision you have of the perfect existence is not as elusive as you imagine. It’s within your reach. Once you realize that, you can start taking the steps to work toward it.

Helpful theories about fulfillment in life

Chances are, you’ve heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The pyramid illustrates the different levels of needs we each have. They include the following, from bottom to top:

1. Physiological needs (e.g., food, shelter, and clothing)
2. Safety needs (e.g., personal security, health)
3. Love and belonging (e.g., connection and intimacy)
4. Esteem (e.g., self-confidence and freedom)
5. Self-actualization (or fulfillment)

If you have a home, food to eat, health, and a loving family, you're halfway up the pyramid. For most of us, that is reality.

However, to be truly happy, you want to move towards the level of self-actualization. In the modern world, that is wholly possible.

Unlike our ancestors, we don’t have to fight so hard to have our basic needs met. Food and shelter are not as scarce as they once were. Advancements and modern technology have afforded us the first levels of the pyramid as standard.

You deserve a chance at creating a life you love. What’s more, there is no one holding you back here except maybe yourself.

By targeting the different aspects of your life, you can improve it in all areas.

What is the first step to creating a life that you truly enjoy?

The first step to creating a life you truly enjoy is to understand what matters to you the most. Then you can build your life around your values and ideals.

What is an easy way to know if your life is where you want it to be?

The simplest way to know if your life is where you want it to be is to ask yourself if you are content and happy with your life the majority of the time. No one is 100% happy always, but if you feel that most of your life is enjoyable and you are happy, then that's a good sign.

How do you embrace the life you have and enjoy it?

To embrace the life you have, notice the great things about your life in the here and now. You can find ways to improve your life but don't forget to enjoy the process.

Related posts on creating a life you love

If you enjoyed this article on how to create a life you love, here are some others:

• 20 Ways to go about enjoying the life you have
• 16 Steps for getting your life together starting now
• How to create a self-growth plan
• 9 Practical tips for living your best life now

Start creating the life you love now!

Your dream life is there for the taking — are you willing to reach out and grab it? In this guide, we have covered 12 steps you can take toward your ultimate success. It’s a good place to start when you want to transform things.

No matter what your current life looks like, there are ways that you can change it for the better. You can fix salary problems, change your money habits, realize you can't pour from an empty cup, and start prioritizing wellness.

If you do nothing, nothing will happen. Check out each of these steps and see whether you can apply them to your life. Then, find your why and build your dream life.