How To Make The Rest Of Your Life The Best Of Your Life - Page 6

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Life is short. Live each day to the fullest. Life isn’t about how many breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away. We’re all familiar with these cliché, but loaded, phrases. They speak volumes to how we should model our lives, even if we hear them more times than we’d like to and often times when we’re not in the mood to hear them.

Up until recently, these phrases were simply mottos, words that I spewed out when I’d decided abruptly to try and get my sh*t together for the umpteenth time. But after having to make some serious decisions about my life as of late, these words have become so much more. After meditating, praying, and reading tons of self-help books, I’ve begun implementing these things in my life to make the rest of my life, the best of my life. Here are some of the things I’ve learned.

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Change Your Mind

This concept sounds simple, but it really is one of the hardest things to do. Embedded in most people’s minds are years of doubts, fears, and many times, negative thinking. You have to make up in your mind that you are ready to change your way of thinking and will work hard to live the best life you can live.

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Practicing The “I Am” Technique

On a recent episode of SuperSoul Sunday, megachurch pastor and author Joel Osteen emphasized the power of “I Am,” saying that whatever you attach after the phrase becomes true in your life. For instance, saying “I am tired,” creates more fatigue and grogginess. If your goal is to live a happy life, complaining and saying “I am never happy,” will not get you to that point. To be even more clear, if you want to get married, don’t keep uttering the words “I am never going to find a good man.” Chances are, you won’t.

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Do At Least One Thing A Day That Genuinely Makes You Happy

Boggled down with mundane daily duties, most times we forget to take a few minutes to do at least one thing that we truly enjoy doing. If it’s reading, take a few moments daily to curl up with your favorite book. If it’s indulging in reality TV, go ahead and watch without feeling guilty.

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Create A Bucket List and Get Serious About Completing It

The idea of bucket lists scare some people. Possibly because they actually have to consider the fact that one day you will actually die. A bucket list is simply a list of things you want to do before you revert to dust. Your list could contain things as big as traveling the world to simple things like learning to cook a new dish.

Plan Your Day The Night Before

Here’s another cliché phrase: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is why you should definitely plan your day the night before. This way you can actually go through the day without rushing and feeling as if you’re always playing catch-up. This feeling makes for an unproductive and stressful life.

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Learn To Let It Go

Whatever ‘it’ is that is holding you back, don’t be afraid to eliminate it from your life. This is especially true for harboring resentment over past situations. That boyfriend who did you wrong back in 2001 has moved on. So should you. Don’t let your past feelings prevent you from experiencing good ones.

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Take People Inventory

If the person isn’t making you better or adding value to your life, why do they have a place in it? This, of course, doesn’t mean that you walk around selfishly using people to get what you want. It does mean, if a person is consuming a large portion of your life, they should be beneficial to your well-being. If not, let them go.

Stop Making Comparisons

Social media has made it easier than ever for us to compare our lives to others. Sometimes our perceptions of what we see are true, often times they are not. Either way, if you’re not careful, they will affect you and have you disliking your own life. Make it a point to not get into the habit of comparing your life to others. If it means taking a break from social media, then do just that.

Take Time Alone Daily

Before I started on a quest to make my life better, I wouldn’t make time alone a priority in my everyday life. Though I spent time alone, I didn’t get the most out of it. I didn’t sit in silence and reflect on my day. Now I make it my business to spend at list five minutes in the morning and evening, simply sitting alone in silence.

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Perform More Acts Of Kindness

Whether deciding to volunteer or choosing to do at least one nice thing for your co-workers each day, the practice of being kinder never hurt anyone. As a person who normally gets into a zone at work where I may appear to ignore my co-workers, I decided to compliment at least one a day. Small gestures can go a long way. Not only can they make the recipient happy, but also the giver.

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Worry Less About Image And More About What Makes You Happy

It’s easy to miss out on good opportunities and even good mates when we worry too much about what others think. Instead of trying to live up to an image, ensuring that you are meeting others people’s expectations, consider what makes you happy first. Don’t let go of a good man because he may not be who others thought you would be with. Don’t choose a career simply based on the prestige that you know will ultimately make you unhappy. In this case, other people’s image of you isn’t everything.