Life is all about taking chances. It’s about doing something you initially thought you could never do. It’s about being a little crazy, following your heart, and not worrying about every detail of what everyone else thinks. And above all, it’s about learning to love who you are and what you have.
Here are twelve things to start caring about on your journey forward.
- Start caring about your own happiness. – It’s important to make people happy, but you have to start with yourself. Your needs matter. Sometimes we get lost trying to live our lives for someone else, trying to meet their expectations, or trying to do things just to impress others. But you’ve got to live, do and love so that YOU are happy. Because when it comes down to it, relationships can end in an instant, but you will live with yourself for the rest of your life. Remember, it is possible to take care of your own needs while simultaneously caring for those around you. And once your needs are met, you will likely be far more capable of helping those who need you most. Read Stumbling on Happiness
. - Start caring about your goals and dreams. – If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders. As Steve Jobs once said, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
- Start caring about how you invest your time every day. – There might not be a tomorrow, not for everyone. Right now, someone on Earth is planning something for tomorrow without realizing they’re going to die today. This is sad but true. So spend your time wisely and pause long enough to appreciate it. Remember, what you do every day matters more than what you do every once in awhile. Use a time management system to control events, rather than have events controlling you. It may take little time to get where you want to be, but if you think for a moment, you will realize that you are no longer where you once were. Do not stop – keep going. You’re getting closer every day.
- Start caring about how you think and what you think about. – In your quiet moments, what do you think about? How far you’ve come, or how far you have to go? Your strengths, or your weaknesses? The best that might happen, or the worst that might come to be? In your quiet moments, pay attention to your self-talk. Because maybe, just maybe, the only thing that needs to shift in order for you to experience more happiness, more love, and more vitality, is your way of thinking.
- Start caring about how you treat yourself. – Your relationship with yourself is the closest and most important relationship you will ever have. When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters? When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there? When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU? The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others. You must love who you are or no one else will either. And when you are truly comfortable in your own skin, not everyone will like you, but you won’t care about it one bit. Read The Gifts of Imperfection.
- Start caring about how you treat others. – Live so that when the people around you think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you. Start noticing what you like about others and tell them. Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places. So be happy for those who are making progress. Cheer for their victories. Be thankful for their blessings, openly. What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.
- Start caring about how others treat you. – Choose your relationships wisely. Being alone will never cause as much loneliness as the wrong relationship. If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. Love the people who treat you right, and distance yourself from the ones who don’t.
- Start caring about your health. – Exercise to be fit, not skinny. Eat to nourish your body. And always ignore the haters, doubters and unhealthy examples that were once feeding you. To truly be your best, you must give your body the fuel it needs. Toss the junk and fill your kitchen with fresh, whole foods. Run, swim, bike, walk… just move! Good health is essential for having the energy, stamina and outlook to tackle your goals and dreams. Bottom line: Your health is your life. Don’t let it go. Eat right, exercise and get an annual physical check-up. The 4-Hour Body is an insightful and entertaining read on this topic.
- Start caring about your education and personal growth. – Achieving higher consciousness comes from your commitment to personal growth. You’re a totally different person compared to who you were at this time last year; next year will be no different. How much you grow and who you become is up to you. But remember, the acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing. Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.
- Start caring about doing the best YOU can. – Don’t worry about what others are doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only. And whatever you do, refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
- Start caring about all the wonderful things you have right now. – Learn to appreciate the things you have before time forces you appreciate the things you once had. No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.
- Start caring about this moment we call ‘life.’ – When I watched the Grammy Awards recently, I realized that many of the speeches musicians make when they accept an award go something like this: “This means so much to me. My whole life has been leading up to this moment.” But the truth is, our whole lives have been leading up to every moment. Think about that for a second. Every single thing you’ve gone through in life, every high, every low, and everything in between, it has led you to this moment right now. This moment is priceless, and it’s the only moment guaranteed to you. This moment is your ‘life.’ Don’t miss it.
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is an insightful and entertaining read on this topic.Photo by: Varun Suresh
Tyler says
I have never left a comment on any website, but I felt compelled to leave one for you. Thank you so much for the positive message that you teach. It is so wonderful to see that happiness and truth can be spoken so that all people of all faiths (or the lack of) can connect to it. Thank you, again.
Kara says
I absolutely love your advice. It makes me think about how to approach the day and make the right decisions. Thank you, thank you.
Kj says
Here’s the key in my mind: 1) Help and relate to others. We all have something to give. Someone needs you. 2) Learn. Seek teachers all the time. We learn from and grow from one another. Competency breeds confidence. 3) Be what you think the world needs. If you think it needs people of character, be a person of character. If it needs love, be loving. As long as there is one of you, it exists in the world. 4) we are defined by our hopes as well as our fears. The past doesn’t define us. The path does. Look forward toward your dreams. Whenever possible build the bridge from dream to achievement. For others as well as yourself.
Diona says
Thanks so much for these jewels of wisdom; so simply stated.
siri says
Great advice, as always! Love it!
Galen Pearl says
Smiled in recognition of the truth of your comment about the Grammy Awards speech. Indeed, all our lives lead to this present moment. And this one. I felt great reading this post, because I do care about all these things, and that caring informs the choices I make in my life. Great post!
Mister Mister says
I just wanted to take a minute to simply say thanks for this great article, and this great website. Your site is something that I feel everyone should read. You have such a great attitude, and I always look forward to reading each new post.
Thanks!
Angela says
I needed this today… thank you 🙂
sean says
Simple and inspiring. Thanks for the pointers. I see a couple things I need to address in my life.
Markman says
Great website! I ‘stumbled’ upon this website and bookmarked it. Will be taking up a lot of your reading suggestions and trying to incorporate some of the stuff you talk about into my own life. Thanks!
Vicki P says
Thank you so much. I needed to read this today, and every day in fact! So smart, simple and perfect are your messages.
B says
I bookmarked this website a while ago and never really looked at it. Today, I was about to delete it because it was just one of many I had. I decided to see what it was all about before I hit delete.
I read this article and it literally made me shake! I needed this more than you can imagine today. This is now going to be one of my regular sites to read.
Thank you!!!!!!!
alfie regala says
I really appreciate this website, especially right now that I’m having a difficult time with my life. Hoping for many good entries from you guys. Keep it up!
Jason Scott says
Number four is a biggie for me. I firmly believe that our character is formed by the things we continually think about. Garbage-in, garbage-out is such a true saying.
Many of us believe in the power of visualisation. Continually think about doing great things with happy people. Then, when the chips are down, you’ll be mentally prepared to make a positive impact.
Yet, another great post! You are consistent.
vijay says
Amazing as always . The 12 ways definitely going to mark a change in our lives.
Thanks friends, you are great souls who are doing great support to humanity.
thanks
vijay
[ sharing on hrudayam group on FB ]
Renee Segal says
Great article, great comments. I am a therapist and would love to have my clients read this. Especially the comment about the relationship with yourself.
Adam says
As always, a good read that I was happy to share on twitter. It gives us lot to think about. Thank you 🙂
Ene okwori says
I am grateful for this site and this article. Such wise advice I needed to read. Thanks.
confused.confounded says
Hi, I am a regular reader of your blog and all the posts you write make a lot of sense and contain a lot of wisdom. But this post is extraordinary! It was the just the advice I needed today. Thank you, and keep up the good work!
Talia says
Love this and really needed this today. Great post! Certainly a keeper!
Angelo says
This article was the most important and influential thing I read today, especially the following: “If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders.”
Thanks!
Karen Whittier says
I’ve been a regular reader for a while now and I appreciate the way you inform and suggest do-able ways to enhance our daily lives. This post in particular offers great ways to be grateful and present in the here and now, as well as hopeful and inspired for continued growth/development. With just one chance at living this life, taking steps to make it rewarding and worthwhile makes sense. Thanks.
Debbie @ Happy Maker says
Great post. Number 9. “Start caring about your education and personal growth.” to me this is a big one. Many perople just go from one day to the next without thinking about how important that day was. What they really learned or need to learn. It is like we can be in a tunnel and keep walking without even worrying about seeing or comming to the end. It is like walking in the darkness.
We have to care about what we are learning on this journey called life. it is a wonderful journey and ever second needs to be appreciate and loved.
Yes, it does all start with us. We have to take care of ourselves, then we are ready to take care of others and enjoy the love they bring into our lives.
These 12 tips are very important to learn and know. Thanks you for sharing them
Blessing to you,
Debbie
David says
Thank you so much for this blog and this post. I truly believe this blog has a very positive effect on my life and the lives of others.
Mem says
If you only knew how much I needed to read this today! Thank you so much. You are a blessing.
Baker says
I haven’t been here on your blog in a long time. But this post was a great homecoming. I do like the reminder of caring about all the wonderful things you have right now, there truly is something special about mastering the art of gratitude. Nicely done article.
Marc says
As always, thank you, all of you, so much for the kind comments. We love reading them! Your words mean the world to us. 😉
un mediocru says
Thank you for the moments leading up to you writing this. Whatever inspired you, I’m grateful it did.
Niklas says
I absolutely love this blog. Every post is excellent and inspiring and I’ve been following it for two years now. 🙂
Noch Noch says
Thanks so much for these reminders. Caring is important.
Jenny says
Loved this today! Thanks so much for making me slow down and think. 🙂
Diana says
Has to be one of the most moving things I ever read, this needs to be plastered everywhere for everyone to share, experience & reflect upon.
LaRae Quy says
This is my first time visiting your site and I love this article! I’ll be stopping by more often. What a great list, and I was particularly drawn to “care about how other people treat you.” A friend of mine is debating how to get out of an unhealthy relationship and I’m going to refer her to this post.
Great work, guys!
jessica says
This is so inspiring, I love how it gives me hope. I will start caring more about myself and others today.
Lau'ren'tay says
I happen to stumbled upon ya’ll website today & it’s brilliantly inspirational. Everything about this posts is powerful of how it speaks to you, it drew me in. It’s a good reminder of the important things in our lives that matter & not worrying about what other people think. Personal my favorites are #12 & # 2. Enjoying the wonderful moments of the entity called life & following your dreams because it feels right & because we want it. Anyway I look forward to reading the next amazing post (:.
Maria says
Thanks for a great article. I have been thinking and writing a lot about stewardship. Your list is a great list for someone who operated as a steward to themselves and those around them which I think is where our evolution is taking us. So I think this is a timely and relevant article.
Anne says
What a wonderful post! I, as many others, needed this today. Great advice. I have not been following my heart for years, with a gut instinct telling me that I should and I didn’t listen. I am starting now! Thank you for sharing!
Divya says
What a wonderful website!! I stumbled upon it only today. I will visit frequently now when I’m feeling lost.
Thank you Marc and Angel.
Np says
This site truly gets me through the roughest times of my life and allows me to see the bigger picture in life. Thank you.
Anna says
Just what I needed to read right now. Thank you for this post.
ajanaku olakunle says
This is wonderfull. Reading this article has really added to my blissful moment. Thanks for the inspiration.
ImpressionableJosh says
Oh, I love your site so much. Some things I have heard before and I can get a reminder on here and other things are brand new points that I have never thought of in that way.
Keep up the lovely posts. I look forward to them all.
Thank you Marc and Angel
drw says
New here and really enjoyed reading this. It’s warm and realistic…only better 🙂 Thanks
Carolina says
You guys are doing such an amazing job with this blog!!! Thank you. I love it 🙂
Darlene says
Excellent post with some very important reminders. I especially like #7. Sometimes, as a small business owner, I let myself be treated in ways that are not conducive to my personal value. Thanks for this gentle reminder.
Kashif says
Thank you for this post. #7 is so true. Some relationships are so emotionally and psychologically devastating that sometimes you feel guilty for the abuser. But as you said “Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.” – I must make this work work in my life.
Jessie says
I never leave replies or comment on any article I read online, but I absolutely love these articles that you write, I have just experienced the biggest failure of my life, cried my eyes so swollen I could not open them, and I spent the whole day yesterday reading your articles, they make me feel like I have hope again. Thank you. So much.
Beatrice K. says
Loved this! Please keep writing. Thank you so much.
Ed F says
Thanks so much for your article. I am a student in seminary, working on a master’s in christian counseling, and I am involved in researching ways to integrate mindfulness, meditation and Christianity. I feel us Christians spend so much time thinking of our future glory, in the next life, that we sometimes miss living in the present moment. I know this is true of me anyway. So Thank you again, Peace, and bless you.
ruth says
Thanks for the inspiring messages. I have become more positive in life, and everyday I desire to to hear a new positive message. Your site has been my source of positivity.