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Blanco, Katrina May T.

Word Count: 770

Identity and the Good Life

The abundance of material things and conveniences can make life rather pleasant. But

what is it that transforms a drab existence into a blissful one? Who or what decides what

accounts for a good life? Each of us has an idea of what it means to have a good life, but what

exactly does that entail? Is it about being of service to others? Or is it more to it than just serving

one's interest? These questions popped into my mind as I learned about Aristotle's guide to a

good life. For Aristotle, he ties the good life with the concept of "eudaimonia," which refers to a

flourishing life lived with purposeful undertakings that encourage the human individual to

become the best version of themselves. It is all about identifying your sense of purpose and

getting satisfaction from it. As for me, I have believed that having a good life was solely

aspirational. I thought of it as someone I should be or something I should have in the future. In

contrast, a good life for me now revolves around what I have in the present. It means living

contentedly and surrounded by individuals who value my presence. I live not just for myself but

also the benefit of those around me. That, at least, is how I describe a good life. No matter how

we define the Good Life, the goal is to be fulfilled based on our identities. What constitutes a

good life is dependent on what we make out of our life circumstances and what we value as

persons.

I have culled out some takeaways from the lectures and modules in this course. First,

flourishing is historically and contextually contingent; it has not always been the same. It varies

on where we are right now, our experiences, and what we want to happen with our lives. The

best example to illustrate this idea is our experience with the pandemic. The global crisis has

impacted our lives, affecting what we aim to achieve and prioritize. As for me, the pandemic
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took away my opportunities as a student-athlete. I was no longer competing in tournaments,

collecting trophies and medals. That was when I realized that it was impossible to bring back the

life I had before. The circumstance may have taken something away from me, but I did not let it

take everything. By putting up a business, I could gain something out of our situation. From

being a student-athlete to an entrepreneur, two very distinct fields have given me success and

allowed me to flourish. Therefore, I am still living a good life despite the shifts in my career.

Second, in relation to the pandemic, there are tensions in a good life. During this time of crisis,

one may have experienced a loss of a loved one, losing their jobs, or experiencing rejection for

their dreams. These difficulties or challenges are inevitable and how we react or what we do out

of these creates our identity. Recently, I have been rejected for my biggest dream of playing in

the UAAP. Of course, it was frustrating, knowing that I had waited for years only not to find

myself in that position. This has affected my confidence and mental health. But, after months of

languishing, I thought of it as a redirection. I continued with my life and am currently trying to

find my light.

I am working on myself, trying new things, and testing what I can offer. With this, my

last takeaway is that one does not have an established identity. Various factors contribute to the

individuality of each of us. Our upbringing, culture, personal interests, as well as the friends we

keep all have the potential to influence who we are as individuals. Humans, as we are, we

continue to evolve as time progresses. We meet new people, gain new experiences, along with

the constantly changing world. All of these affect our decisions in life and what we perceive as

fulfilling. For instance, surrounding myself with business-minded people may have influenced

me to think that making a profit out of passion is a good life. A serial killer may affect me to

believe that killing is fulfilling and that is what constitutes a good life.
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Given these points, a good life does not have an established standard. It can vary from

one person alone to another. It differs from one's happiness and purpose in life. These takeaways

have allowed me to recognize that nobody is continuously flourishing, and striving to figure out

what a good life entails is entirely valid and not a hindrance to attaining it.