Let’s fast forward: You are on your death bed, wondering and imagining what you could have done. You could have pursued that passion, opened that business, or spent more time with your loved ones. But that time has long passed, and the only thing you can do now is think about what is done – what is set in stone. Oh, what you would do to get those moments back and live your life the right way – to repaint the past, take chances, spit in the face of your fears, share your love, and live with no regrets.
Close your eyes and think about it – envision yourself lying there in your final moments feeling like this. Now open your eyes. What do you see? Life and opportunity. You still have a chance. What are you waiting for?
Below you will find twelve bad habits to stop in the next twelve months. Because sometimes the smartest way to get ahead, is to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
- Stop settling for the same old routine. – So many people live daily with unhappy circumstances, and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation. They somehow believe that conforming to their current circumstances will eventually lead to a life of comfort, security, and peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to their spirit. The very basic core of the human spirit is a natural passion for exploration and growth. This growth comes directly from our encounters with new experiences; and hence there is no greater destination in life than to have an endlessly changing horizon – for each day to have a new and different sun. Read A New Earth
.
- Stop ignoring your education. – Love it or hate it, being in school makes personal growth easy. You learn things that you never would have taught yourself otherwise. You are put in situations designed specifically to challenge your mind. But once your school days are over and the assignments have stopped, no one is forcing you to learn anymore. It is so easy to stall without the rituals of active schooling, and gradually slip into a pattern of educational idleness – many people do. As adults there is no curriculum to follow, except the goals we set for ourselves. Even though no one is actively challenging you, you must still choose to challenge yourself EVERY DAY.
- Stop trying to transform the people around you. – The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated as is. Sometimes we try to be sculptors, constantly carving out of others the image of what we want them to be – what we think we need, love, or desire. But these actions and perceptions are against reality, against their benefit and ours, and always end in disappointment – because it does not fit them. The beginning of love is to let those we care about be perfectly themselves, and not to distort them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.
- Stop numbing yourself. – ‘Numbing’ is any activity that you use to desensitize your feelings so that you don’t experience vulnerability or hurt. But by numbing yourself to vulnerability, you also numb yourself to love, belonging, creativity, and empathy. Remember, love is scary. Love is risky. Love is unsafe. Love isn’t for the faint of heart. Love takes courage. And most importantly, love and fear can’t coexist. Love means giving someone the opportunity to break your heart, but trusting them not to.
- Stop belittling your potential. – You are a victim of the rules and beliefs you live by. But you are what you choose today, not what you have chosen before. So let today be the day you love yourself enough to no longer just dream of a better life; let today be the day you create it. Don’t hope for an easy way out. Look inside yourself for the strength you need to achieve your dreams, and then take action. Read The Road Less Traveled
.
- Stop wasting time. – You are customer of bank called TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as a loss, whatever remainder you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you with the same deposit of 86,400 seconds. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success. You’re making withdrawals right this second; make them count.
- Stop disregarding your own significance. – You are one person out of seven billion people, on one planet out of eight, in one star system out of a hundred billion, in one galaxy out of another hundred billion. And you are enormously significant! Why? Because out of a hundred billion galaxies existing in a hundred billion star systems, out of seven billion people, you have your own unique genetic makeup. Your thumbprint and thoughts are yours alone. You can craft art, solve scientific problems, and create life through your love and passion. And you are depended on by others who love you. You are enormously significant.
- Stop getting sucked into needless drama. – No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level; just know you’re better off without their negativity and walk away. If you attach yourself to their negative behavior it brings you down to their level. There honestly comes a time when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and people who create it, and surround yourself with people who make you smile so big that you forget the bad, and focus solely on good. Life truly is too short for anything less.
- Stop being so quick to judge. – No matter how strong a person is, they have weak points. And sometimes all they really need is a listening ear from a compassionate friend. You must consider their circumstances with love rather than judgment. You must move into the right here, right now, with an open heart and a willingness to be supportive, unconditionally.
- Stop focusing on the negative. – Anyone can see that it’s imperfect; it takes a wise person to see how it’s perfect. Anyone can describe how it’s getting worse; it takes a wise person to describe how it can be joyfully improved. Anyone can feel overwhelmed and give up; it takes a wise person to take compassionate, persistent and committed action every day. Wisdom is this simple. So start being wise with your perspective. Read The Tao of Pooh
.
- Stop treating change as a bad thing. – In life, loss is inevitable. The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, and so forth, is hard to accept. But everything around you – your body, your possessions, your relationships – is impermanent. Everything around you changes, so you must seek an understanding within yourself which remains forever. You don’t have control over every little thing that happens to you, but you do have control over how you decide to internalize it. One of the keys to happiness is to pay as much attention to the changes that are working positively in your life as you do to those changes that are giving you trouble.
- Stop stressing over what could have been. – Because the chances are if it should have been, it would have been. Change happens. Happiness is about trusting that what has happened has long-term positive rather than negative results. Trust that life is happening for you, not to you. This “inverse paranoia” of believing everything is for the greater good helps the human spirit face and welcome life’s changes cheerfully. Give it a try; it makes all the difference.
Photo by: J.T. Noriega
Rene says
I found this blog to be very inspirational! I have been battling with taking steps forward and then taking steps back. I would have to say the whole blog relates to me.
This is something I can share with a few of my friends that are going through the same thing.
Thank You,
Rene – Northern California
Bex says
Loved this!
Shared this!
Printed this!
🙂
Rick Noll says
Awesome list Marc. Number ten especially resonates with me. There always something positive to be grateful for, especially for the us folks reading this, as we all likely have food, shelter and the basic necessities of life. These are gifts that so many take for granted. Because of our context we, we often forget how lucky we are, and how many reasons we have to let our positivty shine.
Shelley Roberts says
I have been reading your blogs for some time and I find them very enlighting…They always seem to apply to something happening in my life.Thank you, I look forward to them 🙂
Bina says
“You’re making withdrawals right this second; make them count.”
This made me smile. I am reading http://www.marcandangel.com – I am making them count.
Beautiful, inspirational post. I usually get to read your blog first thing in the morning and it always marks a perfect start into my day. Beginning one’s day with good advice, wisdom and a positive outlook is priceless. Thank you!
Bell says
It’s all so good, as it always is. Thank you for sharing with us 🙂
archfruit says
hey Marc!
i stumbled across this article very coincidentally, and i like the way you rendered my previous comment. its more adult-oriented than the previous, teen-oriented version. i read the whole article, very eye-opening. keep doing what you’re doing — making the world your ideal world!
Rold Ralph says
Yet another wonderful and inspirational post! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share your inspirational thoughts and advice with all of us. Reading and re-reading all of your posts has been life-altering experience for me, especially on my philosophy about life and human relationships. Again, thank you Marc and Angel.
Vince in Brooklyn says
“If it should have been, it would have been” That is so liberating.
Amandah says
Good post for a Monday!
I must admit that I’ve been struggling with point #12 for the past 2 years. I can’t help it. The left side of my brain, my analytical and scientific side, wants to know “why” things didn’t work out with a particular situation. I journal about it and know that it’s time for me to give up asking “why” every day. My conclusion is that I had to go backward to move forward. At least, this is what I tell myself.
LeeAnne says
I need to learn to let go as well; I hold grudges and its not good for me, but I cant help it sometimes. I am learning to overcome that but its a process that I’m mastering gradually. Thank you for the isnpiration. 🙂
Arun says
Excellent Blog! No words to express my true appreciation for these reminders. Especially the forth one, “Remember, love is scary. Love is risky. Love is unsafe. Love isn’t for the faint of heart. Love takes courage. And most importantly, love and fear can’t coexist. Love means giving someone the opportunity to break your heart, but trusting them not to.” You are so right. Love is really scary under my point of view, but sooo worth it 🙂
Diana says
I love you guys. Thanks for all that you do!
greg schenk says
I look forward to this column each weekday to help me grow as a person. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
Patrick says
I have been stuck in a rut for a little bit, and I keep coming back to your site to get inspiration and words of advice. This post specifically has helped tremendously. I started a “DO NOT” list after reading a post awhile ago, and some of what I wrote down for me to not do was emphasized and elaborated in this. Thanks, you do great work. Cheers!
Amy says
I’m inspired by your blog almost every time I read it. In agreement with absolutely everything in this one!!!
Cami says
Again guys… the right words at just the right time. How do you do it?! 😉
Susan B says
This is my New Year’s challenge!
sameera says
Thanks again for the so very inspirational advice….
‘stop getting sucked into needless drama’ – I love and needed this bit!
Sarah says
Thank you 🙂
Dhruv Shukla says
Meaningful and Inspiring tips that helps me in many ways. All 12 tips are not only good to read, but equally good to implement for better Living with a sense of Wisdom and Responsibility.
Tom says
This post is what I needed. It has helped me to realize that I have been avoiding the truth, that a lot of my stress and sadness is a product of my own habits and reactions.
Thank you truly.
Nick Goodall says
#3 made something said by Jim Rohn pop to mind: ‘Don’t try and put apples on a pear tree, or even a sign, it will still bear pears’. What a great way to think. 🙂
Also, your ‘analogy’ (if I can call it that..) on time I thought was EPIC, that’s such an inspiring way to look at it. You’ve got me fully motivated to priority manage my time now! Thanks 😀
Jake says
Wow, flawless advice. Thank you so much
Christo says
thank you – for myself – for my loved ones – we ALL need to be reminded of these things – perspective and values.
Joel says
Very inspirational as always Marc. Words hit me like a train. I actually feel more confident now. Thanks.
Sherese says
I have been reading this website for inspiration for a few months now. I always like the format that the information is presented in. Stop numbing yourself is something that I see as a struggle every day. I appreciate your inspiring words.
Ankit says
Your blog is so inspirational. Every time I read a new post I find some insightful idea to implement in my life.
You make perfect use of words and I appreciate it.
Jeff says
Hi Marc,
Loved this post. You nailed it with Number 3~! As a coach/therapist, I find so many of my clients struggle with wanting to change OTHERS instead of looking in the mirror. Of course, I struggle with this too…just like everyone. Thanks for the reminder that the most important changes are the ones we make to ourselves, not others.
btw-I love your book list…you might enjoy reading my book: “Shift: Let Go of Fear and Get Your Life in Gear
” — it is totally congruent with your blog.
Primmy says
This is the most inspirational and one of the best blogs I’ve ever read. Thanks for sharing all of these posts, they make me think different. I wish you all the best to continue with the blog.
maha says
Ive done almost 8 of 12 already , and i have a problem with 12 …… thank you so much for giving me hope … and ill try my best to do them all.
kathryn says
I started reading this blog entry last night. I didn’t even get to the first point because the intro made me rethink a decision I had just made. Thanks for helping me grow as a human. I finished reading all the steps today, way to go.
miamibuzz says
I honestly don’t know how you came up with this post that is 100 percent relevant to my life. (Are you watching me?)
I will print it, share it, and probably carry it in my pocket for the foreseeable future. I intend to make progress on each and every of the issues you listed.
Charlotte says
Love this list! I think all of these suggestions are also applicable for dieters trying to lose weight. Especially #10, it is easy to get stuck in a rut and only think about the negative, but that attitude change can make a tremendous difference.
Niklas says
I think this might be your best post yet 🙂
Keirra says
I just llllllooooooooveeeeee your site! This post hit home.
Rox says
When I feel like I’m doing pretty good in life, Marc and Angel always remind me that there’s more to add to my personal growth. This blog is a great reminder! Thank you for that!
Anil Mehta Junagadh. says
Inspiring… problem solving… making life comfortable. Loved this post!
Pebri says
Thanks. Great post.
JUGAL says
Very good article… gives hope.
Drew says
#6 does it for me! Thanks again.
Yram says
Thank you for sharing. I’m really relate at # 11 I am really confused if I will go back to my husband or move on. I left him due to DV but my dream is to have complete family I still love him despite of that and we have 3 kids