1. Be Present In The Here And Now
Don't spend too much of your time going over what happened in the past or planning for the future as it will stop you from forgetting to experience the present moment. Keep your mind focused on what is happening to you right now and remember that happiness can only exist in the present moment. The past is gone and the future is yet to come, so the present is all we have.
Our minds have a habit of running at a hundred miles per hour which stops us from rarely just being in the here and now. So, if you notice your mind is racing with thoughts, stop and look around you. See what is happening around you right now. Be mindful of where you are in this moment or simply be aware of your breathing. When you do this, your mind will start to open up and appreciate all that you have right now. Doing so will help you feel like time is no longer slipping away.
2. Don’t Rule Your Life By What You Think You Should Or Shouldn’t Do
We may be pressured into doing things based on our family's or peer's expectations. We all think about the 'should's' and 'shouldn'ts', but notice who exactly are we trying to get permission from and why is this acceptable? Living your life the way you want to is the only way that you can find your true happiness. So stop limiting yourself because of other people's expectation. You only need to live your own life, no one else's.
3. Don’t Make Things Bigger Than They Are
In some instances, our minds can work against us, and as a result, fears may take over. Most of our problems appear to be a lot bigger than they actually are. Think about something you were recently upset about. At the moment it may have seemed like a big deal, but a day, week or month down the line it may not be something we think about anymore.
The mind likes to focus on worries and problems, blowing them out of proportion. So next time you find yourself in this situation take a moment to ask yourself: realistically, will I still be thinking about this tomorrow, next week or next year? Most of the time, your answer will likely be 'no'. This should help you eliminate all the unnecessary worry you put yourself through.
4. Face Your Fears More
We all have fears, but not all are justified, yet these very fears may grow, taking a lot out of us. But in order to take our life back, you need to face your fears. Many of the fears that we hold are simply a product of the mind. They don't actually exist.
Upon realizing this, you will learn to find things less intimidating and scary and they will actually become easier. Facing your fears head on is exhilarating and is one of the best and most rewarding feelings you will ever have. Another bonus is that facing your fears will always never feel as scary as your mind thought it was going to be.
5. Slowly But Surely Wins The Race
In our younger years, we tend to aim high wanting to have everything quickly. We set goals, yet we tend to give up easily because we don't get the results we want immediately. Our modern world has conditioned us to expect and obtain anything in the blink of an eye. So, what's the true secret to success?
Small steps for big changes will attain the results you want. Goals are there to help us achieve and grow. But if things are attained quickly, then there is no room for learning or getting a sense of achievement from it. So, set small and attainable goals that will help towards your dreams and know you are on the right path no matter how long it may take.
6. Stop Assuming What Other People Are Thinking
How often do you make assumptions about what other people are thinking or whether they are judging you for something you did or said. The world doesn't revolve around you. Bear in mind that everyone is dealing with their own problems, worries, and insecurities and most likely, they're not paying much attention to you as you may think. So, stop caring about what other people think and stop assuming what they are thinking.
7. Appreciate Everything In Your Life
This important lesson is something that we often take for granted. Yet the older we get, the more we learn to appreciate the things in our life including people, experiences, lessons we've learned and even our possessions. Once we learn to establish this habit early on, life becomes easier because the true key to happiness is gratitude and appreciation.
Learn to integrate the art of appreciation into your everyday life and always be thankful for what and who makes your life feel good. Learn to appreciate the small things too. They could be as small as taking a shower in the morning, appreciating the nature around you, loving your pet, so on and so forth. Appreciation will transcend into the rest of your life, helping you to establish the positive mindset needed to live a happy and healthy life.
