Here we go again. Another article advising you on how to live a better life. You've heard it all before, right?
真是老套。又是一篇建议你如何过上美好生活的文章。你之前已经听过这种话了，对不？Well, this one is a little different. My good friend Constance gifted me a copy of How to Live a Good Life, by Jonathan Fields, right before the holidays. As a self-help book addict, I was ready to dive in, not necessarily expecting to learn anything new.
好吧，本篇文章有点与众不同。我的好朋友康斯坦斯在节假日之前送了我一本How to Live a Good Life，此书由乔纳森·菲尔兹所著。作为自助书籍的上瘾者，我已准备好畅游其中，并不期望自己能从中学到新的东西。But I did. Fields simplifies the joy of living into three simple buckets: connection, contribution, and vitality. And what could we possibly value more in this overstimulated, overhyped, over-everything age than the core values of being connected, the joy of giving, and the feeling of being alive?
但实际上我真的学到东西了。菲尔兹将生活的快乐简化为三个简单的步骤：连结、贡献和活力。在这样一个过度刺激、过度吹嘘、一切都以过度为好的时代中，还有什么比与人联系、给予他人快乐以及真真切切地活着更值得让人珍惜呢？
Here's how these three elements have the power to transform you:
下面我们谈谈这三个元素将如何改变你的生活：Connection
连结感I grew up with an alcoholic father. My mother was depressed and emotionally absent. My sense of connection came from reading books, from the teachers who noticed my enthusiasm in the classroom, and even from the kind social workers who helped our family when we didn't have anywhere to live.
父亲嗜酒，我从小在他身边长大。我的母亲有抑郁症，总是感觉很茫然。我的连接感来自于书本、注意到我在课堂上充满激情的老师，甚至来自于善良的社会工作者，他们在我们无家可归时帮助了我们。But even beyond that, I formed a relationship with the universe.
但除此之外，我与宇宙也形成了一种关系。As a kid, a local church was kind to us and helped us with food, presents at Christmas time, and, I think, money (I was too young to know for sure). My time at Sunday school meant that, traditional religion aside, I created a relationship with a power that was greater than me. I learned about the world as a loving home where everyone belonged, not just the "normal kids" at school.
作为孩子，当地的教会对我们很好，圣诞节会给我们提供食物、礼物，还有我以为的金钱（当时我太小了，根本就不确定）。周日在教堂的时光，除了传统的信仰，我还与比我更伟大的力量形成了一种联系。我知道这个世界是个有爱的家，不仅学校里的"正常孩子"属于这个世界，而且每个人都属于这个世界。Do you have your people and that feeling of security in your life?
你的身边有没有和你一样让你感到安全的人？Contribution
贡献Fields describes this bucket as, "How you bring your gifts to the world… It's about that deep knowing that you're doing the thing you're here to do."
菲尔兹将贡献描述为，"你如何给予世界礼物……也就是说你深知自己正在做该做的事情。"This often seems impossible, I know. Bills to pay. Rent due.
通常，这看起来是不可能的，我知道。因为你需要付账单、交房租。Vitality
活力This is about feeling energized, free from pain, resilient, appreciative, and, well, happy. Vitality is the opposite of depression, anxiety, and suffering. It's your birthright. But we don't always feel that way, do we?
这是说你精力充沛、感受不到痛苦、懂得欣赏，同时活得开心。活力是抑郁、焦虑和痛苦的反面。这是你生来就被赋予的权利。但我们并不总是活力满满，对吗？