When you quit doing the wrong things, you make more room for the things that make you happy. So starting today…
1. Quit procrastinating on your goals.
Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it. Action and change are often resisted when they’re needed most. Get a hold of yourself and have discipline. Putting something off instantly makes it harder and scarier. What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow. And there’s nothing more stressful than the perpetual lingering of an unfinished task.
The secret to getting ahead is simply getting started. Starting, all by itself, is usually sufficient to build enough momentum to keep the ball rolling. So forget about the finish line and just concentrate on taking your first step. Say to yourself, “I choose to start this task with a small, imperfect step.” All those small steps will add up and you’ll actually get to see changes fairly quickly. Read Getting Things Done.
2. Quit blaming others and making excuses.
Stop blaming others for what you have or don’t have, or for what you feel or don’t feel. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility and perpetuate the problem. Stop giving your power away and start taking responsibility for your life. Blaming is just another sorry excuse, and making excuses is the first step towards failure; you and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions.
3. Quit trying to avoid change.
If nothing ever changed there would be no sunrise the next morning. Most of us are comfortable where we are even though the whole universe is constantly changing around us. Learning to accept this is vital to our happiness and general success. Because only when we change, do we grow, and begin to see a world we never knew was possible.
And don’t forget, however good or bad a situation is now, it will change. That’s the one thing you can count on. So embrace it, and realize that change happens for a reason. It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.
4. Quit trying to control the uncontrollable.
If you try to control everything, and then worry about the things you can’t control, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of frustration and misery.
Some forces are out of your control, but you can control how you react to things. Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether you’re happy or not depends greatly on which aspects you focus on. The best thing you can do is to let go of what you can’t control, and invest your energy in the things you can – like your attitude.
5. Quit talking down to yourself.
Nothing will bring you down quicker than berating yourself. The mind is a superb instrument if used right, but when used incorrectly, it becomes very destructive. Be aware of your mental self-talk. We all talk silently to ourselves in our heads, but we aren’t always conscious of what we’re saying or how it’s affecting us.
As Henry Ford once stated, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” One of the major causes of why we fail is due to self-doubt and negative self-talk. The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful. Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones, over time you will change the trajectory of your life. Read The How of Happiness.
6. Quit criticizing others.
The negativity you bleed out toward others will gradually cripple your own happiness. When you truly feel comfortable with your own imperfections, you won’t feel threatened or offended by the imperfections you see in other people.
So stop worrying about the flaws you see in everyone else, and focus on yourself. Let the constant growth and improvement in your own life keep you so busy that you have no time left to criticize others.
7. Quit running from your problems and fears.
Trust me, if everyone threw their problems in a pile for you to see, you would grab yours back. Tackle your problems and fears swiftly, don’t run away from them. The best solution is to face them head on no matter how powerful they may seem.
Fears, in particularly, stop you from taking chances and making decisions. They keep you confined to just the small space where you feel completely comfortable. But your life’s story is simply the culmination of many small, unique experiences, many of which require you to stretch your comfort zone. Letting your fears and worries control you is not ‘living,’ it’s merely existing.
Bottom line: Either you own your problems and fears, or they will ultimately own you.
8. Quit living in another time and place.
Some people spend their entire lives trying to live in another time and place. They lament about what has been, what they could have done, or what might become. However, the past is gone, and the future doesn’t exist. No matter how much time we spend thinking and lamenting about either, it doesn’t change anything.
One of life’s sharpest paradoxes is that our brightest future hinges on our ability to pay attention to what we’re doing right now, today.
We need to live more in the moment. Living in the moment requires active, open, intentional awareness on the present. Don’t fantasize about being on vacation while at work, and don’t worry about the work piling up on your desk when you’re on vacation. Live for now. Notice the beauty unfolding around you.
9. Quit trying to be someone you’re not.
One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love you, and you’ll love yourself more too. The Road Less Traveled.
10. Quit being ungrateful.
Not all the puzzle pieces of life will seem to fit together at first, but in time you’ll realize they do, perfectly. So thank the things that didn’t work out, because they just made room for the things that will. And thank the ones who walked away from you, because they just made room for the ones who won’t.
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.
Photo by: Jamie Adams
hiddenoldman says
Beautiful advice. Lessons to live by.
Writing Rockstar Jessi says
Nailed it! Thanks for being such an inspiration and calling it like it is.
gmts says
This runs along the lines of the code of conduct we operate our business by. Thank you for spreading the wealth of knowledge.
Bishop Aaron says
Today is my first contact with your articles, they are blessing to this generation. keep it up!
T Hoyer says
This is great. #2 is the one I see most in others that drives me crazy. #1, #5, and #8 are the ones I need the most work with on myself.
jhierren says
True, the positive chance we want to see must begin with us.
tsegaye seyoum says
I found this to me most interesting. 🙂
faith martin says
thank you for the encouragement and the good advice
AARON says
thank you! #10 is so very true. you guys are incredible… i cant thank you enough for your wisdom and direction.
samke says
Thank you guys for giving me the daily bread and for giving me positive attitude. I am a girl with a direction now.
Lou Rodriguez says
Since I stumbled upon your blog, it’s almost been as though you guys are talking directly to me. This blog post resonated so much with me that I built my latest blog post around 3 of the habits that were already a part of my recovery process.
lady_joy says
Thanks for all of these, really helps … Illumined 😀
lalababa says
Amazing. Thanks 🙂
joey says
Wow, amazing! Thanks for these tips. See you all on the other side – full of true happiness. 🙂
TT says
Beautiful post. Wow.
NISHA says
I LOVE IT. Such a happy read.
Joe says
Personal glory lasts forever. its best for one to live his/her own life and never try to be like the other person.
Dorothy says
I don’t know how I came across your blog, but I am so glad I did. It is so helpful and uplifting. Thank you very much
AJ says
Every year I create and print a list of 10 goals I want to accomplish. I add positive quotes to the goal list. After reading this post, I’m going to print it and staple it to my goal list. That way I have additional positive support as I work on and accomplish my goals.
Ghanieh says
Namaste!
Jess says
I came across your site from another post, but this one definitely has some great points. The ones about change being inevitable and quit trying to control the uncontrollable are phrases that are so true. Often times I get very worked up when seemingly negative changes take place, but in the great majority of cases they are out of your control. You can only try and realize that change will happen and adjust how you react when it does. Great post!
Lisa @ Your Physical Health says
This is truly an awesome list! And I must say I am guilty of a lot of these! But the one I need to work on the most is to quit being ungrateful! I have been a through a lot in the past, as most people have been, but at times i focus on the NOT so amazing things.
It’s time to thank God for the little things, as well as all the blessings!
thanks for reminding me to live in the now, taking action on the things I want and to be grateful!
Lauren Hawse says
Great tips and really like this website!
kavetha says
I would add: Quit beleiving you are your thoughts. Thoughts and feelings come and go. In the space between thoughts and action, lies your choice.
Awesome list! Can we be friends Angel? 🙂
-Kavetha
arif says
Never a dull post. Every sentence just explodes with thought provoking positivity! And that’s awesome. Thanks for the push in these tough times in life. Keep it up guys. Stay awesome. =)
shivi says
Awesome article 🙂 You nailed it!
Meera says
Again an interesting post, loved it. Impart now with immense positivity.
Thanks for sharing the truth.
Carol says
I needed to be reminded of these. Perfect timing. Thank you.
Keith says
This was a great article to read; I am currently in the throes of advancing my career and jump-starting my lifeless love life. Statements 2, 4, 5, 9 were extremely relevant to my life as it is today. Thanks for making such commonsensical points.
Dianne Shorte says
Very good article. It is succinct and to the point. Happiness is a choice and that choice will require all of the ten points listed above. Great read.
Marcus says
This is the most positive article I have read since… like 1997. That’s saying something!
Regards, and keep up the good work over here.
steve werner says
Fantastic post.
Just what I need to wake up to.
Especially the beating myself up part. I’m a pro at that.
Gotta stop.
Thanks
sw
zahra says
This is perfect! Thank you.
Nedya says
Lovely post.
John L says
I am really thankful I bumped into this post. It taught me many things and one is to never ever lose the courage to face our problems. Be thankful for the worst life situations because it will help us grow. It will make us stronger. And the most important thing is to have self-discipline. It is not enough that we dream on things, we have to work for them. Thank you so much for these lessons!
Jen says
I have stumbled across your blog several times, and it always seems to help me with different situations that I am struggling with and puts things in perspective. Thanks.
Annisa says
I always smile after reading your post :’) It never fails to motivate me.
Keep up the good work! We all appreciate it so much.
Nishtha says
A very nice and motivational article.. Thank you so much for these enlightening points 🙂
chyna says
Amen!!
Shehzad Aslam says
Thanks. This article was very much helpful!
joshuher says
Great post! Keep it up!
Slamet says
Great article. Very inspiring. The tips are simple and doable. I like #7 Quit running from your problem and fear.
deepak says
I love this! I feel a little happier after reading this article. Thanks 🙂
David Ingham says
Hi there, I am going through some struggles at present and I need to make some changes.
It’s just to find the strength to do what is needed. But thanks for the positive approach this article shares.
Now I just need to dig deep and do what is necessary to make me happy 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Dave
Jane says
Wise words.. I read your posts every morning. It is a step I’m taking to positively change my life.
Evaldas says
I can’t thank you enough for this amazing article! In a small way, you just saved my life.
Jess says
happy rule #11 – learn to love everything like a puppy dog, quick to forgive, endless love, patient etc.
Jarmila Gorman says
Beautiful in its simplicity! I’ve found that creating the habit of committing to 15 minutes every day to your goals, at a bare minimum, adds up to significant forward progress. It’s not only an exercise in self-discipline but an exercise in self-love! I make time every day for my goals, no matter how much I’m giving to others, even if it’s just 15 minutes. They’re happy 15 minutes, too!