Some people wait all day for 5pm, all week for Friday, all year for the holidays, all their lives for happiness. Don’t be one of them. Don’t wait until your life is almost over to realize how good it has been. The secret to happiness and peace on the average day is letting this moment be what it is, instead of what you think it should be, and then making the very best of it.
Go ahead and sing out loud in the car with the windows down, and dance in your living room, and stay up late laughing, and paint your walls any color you want, and enjoy some sweet wine and chocolate cake. Yes, and go ahead and sleep in on clean white sheets, and throw parties, and paint, and write poetry, and read books so good they make you lose track of time. And just keep living and making God glad that he gave life to someone who loves and cherishes the gift…
- Think deeply.
- Speak gently.
- Love lots.
- Laugh often.
- Work hard.
- Give back.
- Expect less.
- Be present.
- Be kind.
- Be honest.
- Be true to yourself…
And whatever you do, don’t let the wrong things worry you for too long!
Read that bolded line above again. It’s one of the core lessons my grandma shared with me and reminded me of frequently in the final few years before she died in 2008. She did so because she loved me, and because, at 90-years-old, she had lived long enough to know that most of us let the little frustrations, drama, and distractions of each day blind us to the beauty in front of us.
We get caught up in our own heads, and literally don’t know our lives to be any better than the few things that aren’t going our way. Other times we talk a big talk about a lot of stuff that really doesn’t matter that much. We scrutinize and dramatize the insignificant until we’re blue in the face, and then we sit back and scratch our heads in bewilderment of how unfulfilling life feels.
But the older we grow, the quieter we become and the less pointless drama and chaos we engage in. Life humbles us gradually as we age. We realize how much nonsense we’ve wasted time on.
Truth be told, the afternoon always understands what the morning never even suspected.
Here are some things I learned from my grandma’s wisdom, that I have also gradually validated for myself over the past couple decades — things we all tend to focus on and worry about when we’re younger, that we eventually realize matter a lot less than we originally thought:
1. The inevitable frustrations of an average day.
99% of what’s stressing you out today won’t matter a month from now. Sooner or later you will know this for certain. So just do your best to let go of the nonsense, stay positive, and move forward with your life.
2. The little failures you often feel self-conscious about.
When you set goals and take calculated risks in life, you eventually learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important in the long run. We learn the way on the way.
3. How “perfect” everything could be, or should be.
Understanding the difference between reasonable striving and perfectionism is critical to letting go of fantasies and picking up your life. Perfectionism not only causes you unnecessary stress and anxiety from the superficial need to always “get it right,” it actually prevents you from getting anything worthwhile done at all.
4. Having complete confidence before taking the first step.
Confidence is that inner inertia that propels us to bypass our empty fears and self-doubts. On the road of life, we come to realize that we rarely have confidence when we begin anew, but as we move forward and tap into our inner and outer resources, our confidence gradually builds. A common mistake many young people make is wanting to feel confident before they start something, whether it’s a new job, a new relationship, living in a new city, etc. But it doesn’t happen like that. You have to step out of your comfort zone, and risk your pride, to earn the reward of finding your confidence.
5. The intricacies of what’s in it for you.
Time teaches us that we keep almost nothing in this life until we first give it away. This is true of knowledge, forgiveness, service, love, tolerance, acceptance, and so forth. Most of the time you have to give to receive. Such a simple point, and yet it’s so easy to forget that the giving of ourselves, without a price tag, has to come FIRST! It’s the giving that opens us up to grace and progress.
6. Being an online-only activist for good causes.
The internet was a lot younger when my grandma caught me debating people in an online bulletin board. And she reminded me right then that while online is fine, if you truly want to make a difference you have to walk the talk too. So don’t just rant online for a better world today. Love your family. Be a good neighbor. Practice kindness. Build bridges. Embody what you preach.
7. The pressures of making a big difference (all at once).
When we’re young it seems like faster is better, but in time we witness the power of “slow and steady” at work. We come to learn that no act of love, kindness or generosity, no matter how small, is ever wasted. The fact that you can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, is proof that YOU can make a big difference in life and business, even it can’t be done all at once.
8. Quick fixes.
The older your eyes grow, the more clearly they can see through the smoke and mirrors of every quick fix or short cut. Honestly, I used to believe that making wishes and saying prayers alone changed things, but now I know that wishes and prayers change us, and WE change things. It’s our daily dedication that paves the road of progress.
All details aside, when it comes to making a substantial change in your life — building a business, earning a degree, fostering a new relationship, starting a family, becoming more mindful, or any other personal journey that takes time and commitment — one thing you have to ask yourself is: “Am I willing to spend a little time every day like many people won’t, so I can spend the better part of my life like many people can’t?” Think about that for a moment. We ultimately become what we repeatedly do. The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing — growing happens when what you know changes how you live on a daily basis. (Note: Our newest publication via Penguin Random House, “The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts and Reflections to Start Every Day”, is a great tool for this kind of daily self-inquiry and self-reflection.)
9. Having a calendar jam-packed with plans.
Don’t jam your life with plans. Leave space. Over time you will learn that many great things happen unplanned, and some big regrets happen by not reaching exactly what was planned. So keep your life ordered and your schedule under-booked. Create a foundation with a soft place to land, a wide margin of error, and room to think and breathe every step of the way.
10. Being in constant control of everything.
The older we get the more we realize how little we actually control. And there’s no good reason to hold yourself down with things you can’t control. Learn to trust the journey, even when you do not understand it. Oftentimes what you never wanted or expected turns out to be what you need.
11. Blaming others.
Have you ever met a happy person who regularly evades responsibility, blames and points fingers and makes excuses for their unsatisfying life? Me neither. On the average day happy people accept responsibility for how their lives unfold. They believe their own happiness is a byproduct of their own thinking, beliefs, attitudes, character and behavior. And although it takes time to fully grasp this, it’s a lesson worth learning.
12. Obsessing yourself with the numbers.
They’ll try to measure your worth based on what you have, instead of who you are. But you know better than that — shiny objects and flashy figures don’t matter that much. Don’t just chase the money. Don’t just chase the numbers. Catch up to the ideas and activities that make you come alive. Go for the things of greater value — the things money can’t buy. What matters is having strength of character, an honest heart, and a sense of self-worth. (Note: Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the “Self-Love” and “Simplicity” chapters of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)
13. The idea of saving certain people from themselves.
Some people will never understand, and it’s not your job to teach or change them. Prioritize your peace today. Seriously, you simply can’t save some people from themselves, so don’t get sucked too deep into their drama. Those who make perpetual chaos of their lives won’t appreciate you interfering with the commotion they’ve created anyway. They want your “poor baby” sympathy, but they don’t want to change, at least not yet — they aren’t ready. And again, it’s not your job to rush them.
14. The selfish and disparaging things others say and do.
If you take everything personally, you will inevitably be offended for the rest of your life, and that just isn’t worth it. At some point it becomes crystal clear that the way people treat you is their problem, and how you react is yours. Start taking full advantage of the amazing freedom that comes to you when you detach from other people’s opinions and antics.
15. Winning arguments.
Don’t define your intelligence or self-worth by the number of arguments you have won, but by the number of times you have confidently told yourself, “This nonsense is just not worth it!” Exit swiftly when you must, because not much is worth fighting about for long. And try not to regret the kindness and respect you have shown to the wrong people — your behavior says everything about you, and their behavior says more than enough about them. Carry on, with grace.
16. Judging others for their shortcomings.
We all have days when we’re not our best. And the older we grow, the more we realize how important it is to give others the break we hope the world will give us on our own bad days. Truly, you never know what someone has been through in their life, or what they’re going through today. Just be kind, generous and respectful… and then be on your way.
17. Society’s obsession with outer beauty.
As you grow older, what you look like on the outside becomes less and less of an issue, and who you are on the inside becomes the primary point of interest. You eventually realize that true beauty has almost nothing to do with looks — it’s who you are as a person, how you make others feel about themselves, and most importantly, how you feel about yourself.
18. Fancy and glamorous physical possessions.
Your personal wish list for big-ticket physical possessions tends to get smaller and smaller as you age into your sunset years, because the things you really want and need are the little things that can’t be bought.
19. Shallow relationships that just keep you busy.
It’s nice to have acquaintances, and it’s great to be friendly. But don’t get carried away and spread yourself too thin. Leave plenty of time for those who matter most. Your time is extremely limited, and sooner or later you just want to be around the few people who make you smile for all the right reasons.
20. Distant future possibilities.
As time passes, you naturally have more of it behind you and less of it in front of you. The distant future, then, gradually has less value to you personally. But that doesn’t really matter, because the good life always begins right now, when you stop waiting for a better one. Remember, some people wait all day for 5pm, all week for Friday, all year for the holidays, all their lives for happiness, and you don’t be one of them. Right now if LIFE! Don’t miss it.
Your turn…
Yes, it’s your turn to walk in my grandma’s footsteps — to live a life that moves and shakes and makes you laugh out loud. Because you don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that your life is a collection of meetings and “somedays” and errands and receipts and empty promises… So count your blessings today, value the people and things that truly matter, and move on from the drama and distractions with your head held high.
And before you go, please leave Angel and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this essay. Your feedback is important to us. 🙂
Which one of the points above resonated the most today?
Finally, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.
Melissa Bells says
For me, this article contains several really important reminders, but the one that really sticks out right now is #8. I actually invested in your happiness course and live event last year when I found myself completely stuck in a deep rut of frustration about where I was in life. I was definitely stuck on the idea of finding a quick fix, but I took your lessons and put them into action, one tiny step at a time. The daily rituals I’ve implemented have been pushing me in a very positive direction ever since. Of course, I’m not exactly where I hope to be just yet, but I’m a long way from where I was last year when I was stuck in a rut.
Thanks for the continued support. This post was excellent! A hat tip to your grandma too.
Darleine Clement says
All of your grandma’s advices resonates with me! Thanks so much for sharing them!! 🙂
Nicole says
In this crazy busy world – your grandma was right – we need to be reminded of these things. It can sometimes be hard to relax and do nothing and see the beauty in the world. Thanks for sharing!
Rainelle says
Beautifully inspirational, thought-provoking, and so very accurate! Thank you and thanks to your Grandma, God rest her soul for sharing such wisdom! Blessings to you both!
Diana Segur says
Hi Angel and Marc, My great friend sent your article to me. It’s always a good thing to be reminded of what’s really important as we go through life. It does take a life time for most of us to realize these important lessons though. I resonated with #4 the most. I’m not confident in many things like my cooking skills, gardening skills and taking on leadership roles. I suppose I am guilty of avoiding engaging in many things due to this lack of confidence. I’ll work on doing more of these things so I can gain the confidence as time goes on and so I don’t miss out not the rewards awaiting me ahead:)
roger Simmons says
Life is to short to waste it. Be happy, generous, because all you have belongs to God. Life will soon come to pass. What will you have done with yours. God bless you all.
Nev says
This one arrived in my email just in time! I kinda got a rough start today and this helped me with a mindset shift! Thank you, thank you! The first five really knocked some sense into me.
PS: Looking forward to your next Think Better, Live Better conference too. Hoping to hear more about it soon.
Aparna says
It really hit me…that point about getting into others’ drama and taking things personally. Sometimes I tend to forget that. This was a really nice read. You people never fail to make me feel better when I am down. You emails and posts are always on point for me.
Sean says
I’m reminded of the old saying, “At 20 you worry about what everyone thinks about you. At 40 you don’t care what anyone thinks about you. And at 60 you realize no one was ever really thinking about you because they were so worried thinking about what you thought about them.”
My favorite, and most valuable, take away wasn’t one of the points… it was this line:
“And just keep living and making God glad that he gave life to someone who loves and cherishes the gift…”
The way I might summarize this is by sharing how I invite my clients to live their life…
TRUST DEEPLY in who you are, whose you are, and what you’re up to in the world. BEHAVE BOLDLY based on that knowing. And GIVE GENEROUSLY in every area and action of your life.
hailey says
I really connected with 14, 15, and 16. Such crucial points about how unimportant the act of engaging in drama is, and how darn often we are drawn into it. Thank you for this timeless insight…and all the timeless insight in your 1,000 Little Things book, and all the awesomeness you drop into my email inbox each week.
j says
Each bullet point spoke to me but #13 caused me too gasp a wee bit…one adult child seems to stuck in a “rocking horse” and not moving forward beyond their issues.(in my eyes anyways)..any cash thrown from me acted as a quick dissolving band-aid and really didn’t help…as painful as it is to watch…….I see now it is ultimately MY issue wanting to fix and make everything right for the kids….and that is all I can have control over….plan b begins now. ….thank you.
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Judy says
Thank you! This all so true! #20 especially. I’ve been retired from teaching almost 4 years. The last few years of my career were particularly bad, which ended up being a gift. I actually believe that idea now because it all forced me into a decision to take care of myself & leave. Because I needed to put education in the rear view mirror, I’ve learned about so many new things that I might not have tried otherwise.
Amy Stainthorpe says
I absolutely LOVE this post. No. 9 – leave space. It’s great looking at the calendar for the weekend ahead and it not being full of activities. It’s great to get out and about but it’s also great to have some time free. My favourite point is No. 19. we waste too much time worrying about acquaintances and what they think of us when actually it really doesn’t;t matter. Really trying to change this in my life this year. Brilliant article, love it!
Tana says
I’ve been following Marc and Angel for a number of years and I think this essay was the best one yet! So many truths and lessons packed into one very useful read. Thank you!
Anne Pentney says
Number 7, thanks.
SUSAN G MALATESTA says
For my entire life I have tried to live by remembering #1, The Inevitable Frustrations of an Average Day. My motto is “Don’t get lost in the temporary”. I am working on #14. I have a complaining neighbor who is very derisive and rude. I need to realize that she must be a very unhappy person. And #3, wishing some things could be different for my ‘perfect life’……then I realize that my ”imperfect life” IS perfect!
EZEKIEL says
These articles are real reminders to me to be who Ia m. Well, I know who I am but many times I trip, but I am grateful that I got these reminders to get back on track.
Janice H. says
Hi there
I’ve rediscovered you guys after a 7 year absence and I am so glad to have you guys as a companion. I am moving through my husband’s terminal illness and my 18 year old son is figuring out what he wants to do with his life. As I move into this new chapter of my live where I am more solo and less of a person in a family, I need direction to grow in new ways.
Debbie says
Just forwared this to me 24 year old(and of course saved it for myself) as it contained so many “meatballs of wisdom” …many thanks to you both and of course…grandma!
Emma Harvey says
Thank you so much for sharing. This was right on time for me. Every point resonated. Keep up the good work.
Katherine says
Absolutely loved this article. Especially 10, 13 and 14! I’ve had some friendships end in the past few years and it really hurt me. I couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong! Learning to let go and realize whatever drama is going on with them and how they feel about me is not my problem ! Thank you for this article!
Morning Glory says
At 82 years old… I can attest to everything 90-year old Grandma says. There’s nothing I would change nor that I would add. Accepting all these Truths, living them, will add greatly to ones quality of Life!!
Lisa Lowry Taylor says
To learn and grow as human beings we must leave the person we think we are to become the person we were meant to be.