6 Signs You're Building a Life You Actually Like

For a long time, I thought building a life meant reaching a destination.

I'd be happy when I had more money.

When I'd lost weight.

When I owned the perfect home.

When everything finally came together.

The funny thing is, life doesn't seem to work like that.

You don't wake up one morning with a trumpet fanfare announcing that you've made it.

Somewhere along the way, you realise you're no longer just getting through life.

You're actually enjoying it.

These are six things I've noticed in my own life. They might look completely different for you, but perhaps they'll make you stop and think about your own.

1. You actually look forward to tomorrow

This is probably the biggest one for me.

When my alarm goes off, I'm genuinely excited about what the day might bring.

That doesn't mean every day is perfect.

Sometimes it's raining.

Sometimes the weeds have taken over the vegetable beds.

Sometimes I've got a mountain of eBay items to list or blog posts to schedule.

But I still look forward to it.

I get excited about planting something new.

Writing another article.

Filming a YouTube video.

Finding a brilliant item to resell.

Learning something I've never tried before.

Years ago, I counted down to weekends.

Now, most days feel worth getting out of bed for.

I don't think that's because my life suddenly became easier.

I think it's because I finally started building a life around things I genuinely enjoy instead of what I thought I was supposed to enjoy.

2. You genuinely like the person you're becoming

This one surprised me.

I'm still learning.

I still make mistakes.

I still have days where I doubt myself.

But I actually like the version of me that's slowly emerging.

I love figuring things out.

Sometimes that's with my mum as we tackle another project around our old cottage.

Sometimes it's teaching myself a completely new skill through trial and error.

We're becoming more independent every year.

If something breaks, we'll usually try fixing it.

If we've never grown a vegetable before, we'll give it a go.

If we fail...

We'll probably laugh and try again.

I've also stopped worrying so much about what other people think.

Simply because I've realised their opinions don't have to decide how I live my life.

That feels incredibly freeing.

3. Peace has become more important than comfort

I'm writing this during a heatwave.

It's currently around 25°C in my bedroom, so tonight's sleep might not be my best!

But generally speaking, I sleep better than I have in years.

Life isn't stress-free.

Far from it.

We're building businesses.

We're watching every penny.

Some months are easier than others.

There are days when I wonder whether everything will work out.

But underneath all of that is something I didn't have before.

Peace.

I love living here.

I love waking up near the sea.

I love hearing the birds before the rest of the world wakes up.

I love knowing that today's biggest decision might be whether I work in the garden first or sit down and write.

Stress still exists.

It just doesn't own me anymore.

4. You've found something bigger than yourself

For me, that's my faith.

It's become the thing that steadies me when life feels uncertain.

It reminds me that I don't have to have every answer today.

That doesn't mean everyone has to believe what I believe.

For you, it might be God.

It might be your spirituality.

Nature.

Purpose.

Your family.

Your community.

Something that reminds you there's more to life than ticking off another to-do list.

I honestly think we all need something outside ourselves.

Something that gives us hope when things don't go to plan.

Something that keeps us moving forward when motivation disappears.

Because motivation comes and goes.

Belief lasts much longer.

5. You stop trying to keep up with everyone else

This one has taken years.

There was a time when I measured my life against everyone else's.

Who had the better career.

The nicer house.

The bigger income.

The more impressive achievements.

Social media makes that incredibly easy to do.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped caring quite so much.

Not because I don't have goals.

I have plenty.

I want to grow my businesses.

Write books.

Expand the garden.

Keep learning.

Build a future that feels secure.

The difference is, I'm no longer trying to do it on somebody else's timeline.

I don't feel behind anymore.

I'm simply on my own path.

That shift has been one of the biggest gifts I've ever given myself.

6. Ordinary days start feeling like good days

This might be the clearest sign of all.

Nothing extraordinary has to happen.

I can spend the morning watering the vegetables.

List a few clothes on eBay.

Write a blog post.

Cook dinner from scratch.

Sit outside for ten minutes with a cup of tea.

Watch the sun begin to disappear behind the rooftops.

Years ago, I probably would've called that an uneventful day.

Now I call it a good one.

I've realised I don't need constant excitement to feel happy.

I don't need every day to become a memory.

Most of life is ordinary.

And perhaps that's the point.

Because if you can learn to love your ordinary days, you won't spend your whole life waiting for extraordinary ones.

I still have dreams.

Lots of them.

There are businesses I want to grow.

Books I want to write.

Projects I haven't even started yet.

I'm still building the life I want.

But I no longer feel like happiness is waiting somewhere in the future.

It's here.

In muddy boots after working in the garden.

In evenings spent planning tomorrow.

In having faith that everything will work out, even when I can't see how.

Maybe that's what building a life you actually like really means.

Just reaching the point where, more often than not, you wake up grateful that this is your life.