1.
Memorize
something everyday.Not only will this leave your
brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of
quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your
best options.
2.
Constantly try
to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of
trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end
up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and
you will be much more content.
3.
Develop an
endless curiosity about this world.Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and
observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your comfort
zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as
possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
4.
Remember
people’s namesso that they feel appreciated
and for your own future benefit when you want something from that person. To do
this, say their name back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat
the name in your head a number of times until you are sure you have it.
Continue to use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any
chance of forgetting it. If you’re still having trouble, make up a rhyme about
their name: “Dan the Man” or “Natalie flatters me.”
5.
Get fit!It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of
functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies
lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d
say those are 3 very good reasons to get in shape.
6.
Learn to focus
only on the present.The past is unchangeable so it
is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past
mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the
past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
7.
Even more
specifically, live in THIS moment.Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live purely in this moment
you will always be happy because there is nothing wrong in this split-second.
8.
Smile more
often.Whenever you get a grin on your
face, your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone. Smiling is the
natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five
minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day.
It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and
need happiness more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to
smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.
9.
Drink water.Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has
absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and
syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may
taste plain at first if you’re coming off of a heavy soda-drinking streak, but
you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how
many have you been getting lately?
10.
Don’t take life
so seriously!Learn to laugh at the little
things and this whole “existence” thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused
by your mistakes and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and
won’t mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy!
Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.
11.
Think positive
thoughts.When you find yourself thinking
a negative thought, stop it immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself
in the face, yell something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and
down. Do whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is
essential for continual happiness and success.
12.
Read books.No explanation needed.
13.
Get in the sun.Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and
soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front door (if
you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun feels amazing:
your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.
14.
Help others.I’ll just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST
1.
Helping people
has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help
someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
2.
You grow by
giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
3.
Your
relationship with that person will become stronger
4.
It’s the most
fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing
physically, you also feel like a good person
5.
You might be
able to call in a favor later when you need some help
6.
Karma (if you
believe in it)
7.
Because there
are more people in this world than just you
15.
Set aside a
specific time to worry each day.Ponder all of your problems and anxieties during that time so that
they will not distract you during work or moments of pleasure. This way you can
be extremely efficient with your time and avoid focusing on negative things as
much as possible. If you get all of your worry out of the way and have the
mental fortitude to keep from reverting back to them, you will be much happier
on the daily.
16.
Be honest at
all times.Lies lead to nothing but
trouble. Being known as trustworthy is an excellent trait to maintain and
essential to having integrity.
17.
Sleep less.Fully adjusting to a new sleep cycle can take up to 21 days so
don’t give up if you feel tired after switching to 5-hour nights. The
“required” 8 hour/night is for normal people. If you’re reading THIS article on
THIS site, you are not normal. So figure out how much sleep YOU really need and
adjust accordingly. As enjoyable as sleep is, waking existence is much more
fulfilling and efficient. IF this really sparks your interest, check out alternate sleep cycles with which you can be fine off of 2 hours of
sleep per day.
18.
Read “Bringers of Light” and “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch.These books will help you decide what you want to do in this life
and how to get to that point. They will also profoundly change the way you look
at the purpose of existence. Read them!
19.
Figure out what
your goals and dreams are.So many people wander aimlessly
through life simply go for whatever small thing they want moment by moment.
Instead, decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps
in motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world (yes,
better than sex, much better) is overcoming a challenge and reaching a goal. We
are the happiest when we are growing and working towards something better.
20.
Start your day
off right.Wake up and set aside an hour
for personal development activities (meditation, self-introspection, observing
nature, etc.) Do the things that make you feel blissful, optimistic and
empowered so that you can set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that
once you start doing this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Today is going to be the best day of your life. Duh.
21.
Utilize ‘The Burning
Method.’Whenever a fear or worry or
complaint comes to mind, close your eyes and imagine writing down the thought
on a piece of paper. Then proceed to light the paper and fire and watch it
disintegrate. Even better, actually write it down and burn it. You won’t have any problem ridding your
mind of the thought after doing this
22.
Travel. Anyone who has ever gone anywhere will tell you that traveling is
one of the most exciting and life-changing activities that you can do.
Observing a different culture will expand your mind while making you further
appreciate the life you already live. This goes back to becoming an explorer:
this world is your jungle so go explore! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a place
you love so much that you decide to move. Imagine the positive repercussions a
new environment could have on your life.
23.
The Rubber Band
MethodThis is the third and final way
to rid yourself of negative thoughts (hopefully by now you have figured out
that this is very important!). Place a rubber band around your wrist and snap
it against your skin anytime a negative thought finds its way into your head.
This operant conditioning technique associates a slight pain with negative
thoughts like Pavlov associated food/salivation with the sound of a bell.
Sounds a bit cruel at first but it only stings for a second, I promise. Plus
the outcome, having only positive thoughts, far outweighs a little slap on the
wrist here and there.
24.
Learn to be
unaffected by the words of others.Most people get very upset when they are called negative names by
others, but there is a simple trick to overcoming this. Here it is: If I went
up to you and called you a fire hydrant, would you be upset? Of course not.
Obviously you are not a fire hydrant, you are a human being. The same concept
applies to when someone calls you something that you know you are not. They are
foolish for saying such things, so why would you react with such anger? The
only exception is when someone calls you something that is true! In this case,
you should thank them for alerting you to a weakness, one that you can now work
on changing.
25.
Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss.This book will give you the knowledge and instruction to be happy
at all times regardless of the circumstances. Yes, this sounds like an
oversimplification of happiness, but I assure you that this book will change
you in an amazing way.
26.
Develop the ability
to forgive.Forgiveness is something that
most people fail miserably at even thought it’s so simple. Grudges only bring
more misery to those who hold them and prevent good relations with the target.
YOU makes mistakes all of the time so why not have mercy when other do?
Remaining angry feels horrible while forgiving someone brings a refreshing
sensation to the mind and healing to the relationship.
27.
Be the person
that makes others feel special.Be known for your kindness and sympathy.
28.
Learn to lucid dream, or to realize when you are dreaming so that you can control your
dreams. Sleep feels good, but it’s rather boring and unproductive. With lucid
dreaming under your belt, night-time can be even more exciting than when you
are awake. You can do anything: fly, travel to other planets, party with a
celebrity, get intimate with your dream boy/girl, etc. Many lucid dreams have
also reported being able to speak directly with the subconscious during dreams
by demanding to be taken to it after becoming lucid. For those that know a
thing or two about your subconscious, that is a BIG deal.
29.
Visualize
daily.It has been said and proven
time and time again that what you focus on is what you get. If you complain all
of the time, you will run into more of the things you complain about. The same
goes for good things like health, wealth and happiness. So spend some time in
the morning imagining yourself achieving whatever it is that you currently
desire. Focus is key in this exercise, so choose a quiet environment where you
won’t be disturbed. If you’re having trouble focusing and continually find that
your mind has wandered to something else, read about meditation in the
following life tip. There is a lot more to this concept, so check out the full
article on visualization and the law of attraction here.
30.
Meditate
everyday for at least 20 minutes.In this modern world where everyone is so connected to everything
else via cell phones, TV and internet, most people rarely enjoy the beauty of
silence. The ability to quiet your mind and relax your body is an art and skill
that everyone should develop. Simply sit somewhere, preferably in nature, and
focus on your breathing or try to think about nothing. This is going to be
extremely hard at first! You might find it boring or just plain impossible to
think of nothing, but you will get better and you will learn to love it.
Post-meditation, you will feel extremely clear-headed and.. well, just plain
wonderful. The only way to really understand this sensation is to try it.
31.
Learn to
control your mind.What kind of skilled human are
you if you cannot even control your own thoughts? While the human mind is
described as being a stream of consciousness, that does not mean you can’t
decide where your stream flows. Techniques like meditation and the 3 ways to
flush out negative thoughts will aid you immensely in learning to control your
mind.
32.
Learn to
control your emotions.The only person that can make
you unhappy is you! You are the one that decides to be affected by the words
and actions of others. Realize this so that the next time you experience a
negative emotion, you can find the strength within yourself to overcome it.
33.
Take a class in
speed reading.Books are full of information
that can enhance your knowledge-base, vocabulary and yourself as a person.
Speed reading is an easy way to get at this info faster so that you can have
more time for other endeavors.
34.
Relax!This one is for you workaholics out there (myself included). Yes,
work is very important and productive but you need to take some time to chill
out everyday or you are going to burn out faster than a candle with no oxygen.
Additionally, you need to reward yourself for a job well done. What’s the use
of doing all of that work if you can’t have a little fun from time to time
anyways?
35.
Work on making
good first impressions.Practice a strong, firm
handshake and the small talk that generally goes along with meeting someone for
the first time. People won’t know what to think of you if you have nothing more
to say beyond “My name is _______, nice to meet you.” Also make sure you
remember names, as mentioned previously. Who knows, you may be going into
business with or marrying this person you’re meeting for the first time if you
make a good impression. Be sure and make an excellent one.
36.
Learn to use
your eyes to their full potential:
1.
Make constant eye contact when
in conversation. Looking away (especially down) is a sign of inferiority and
uncertainty. Instead, look at your conversation partner dead in the eyes and
keep them locked on
2.
Master the piercing stare. You
know when someone looks at you and it feels like they can see into your soul?
Well that’s not a hereditary characteristic, it just takes practice. Work on
sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You’ll know you have it when it’s
intimidating to continue looking at yourself
3.
Master the one-eyebrow raise.
This one isn’t necessary by any means, but hey, why not? Pick a brow to learn
with and go look in a mirror. Raise both of your eyebrows but use your hand to
hold down the brow that you want to stay down. This will probably feel very
stupid at first but if you keep trying, you will eventually pin down the muscle
you need to flex to get that one brow up
37.
Be mysterious.Don’t let off everything about you and definitely leave out some
major details. There is something both alluring and mesmerizing about someone
who no one knows fully about. I’m not saying to confide in no one or to
alienate yourself. Just think James Bond.
38.
Come up with a
life mantra.You know, like “Carpe Diem” or
“Live life to the fullest,” but not as cliché. Make it something that really
hits home with you so that you will actually stick to it. Make sure it’ not so
specific that it rarely applies but also not so general that it’s not personal.
39.
Get good at
something.Call it a hobby or a passion,
whatever it is, just get damn good at it. Your occupation does not count! Make
it something that you can practice often enough to excel at. Examples: Magic
tricks, surfing, ping-pong, creating short films, and unicycling. It can be
anything but I would recommend choosing something that: 1) You are passionate
about 2) You can bust out at any moment to display your skills for any
discerning crowd. My mind goes immediately to aerobatics and break dancing, but
that’s just me.
40.
Work out those
abs.Above any other muscle group in
the entire body, the abs are the most important. They constitute your core, the
center point of your body. Your ability to balance comes almost completely from
the strength of your abdominal muscles and balance is vital to performance in
any physical activity. Summary: they’re very important. For more info on how to
work out your abs, check out this video.
41.
Keep your brain
sharp.The majority of people are
stuck in ruts. They go to the same job everyday, hang out with the same friends
and eat at the same places. While that may feel safe, it’s not the most
stimulating lifestyle for your brain. Those synapses have been built up enough,
so try something that you do NOT know how to do! Buy a model car kit, master
the art of sudoku or crosswords, or go pick up another major at your nearest
college. The point is you need to be learning new things to keep your brain
honest. Form new synapses by forcing your mind to work in ways it has not worked
before. Just like physical workouts, doing too much of the same exercise will
eventually give no results. Switch it up!
42.
Read something
inspirational right before bed and after waking.This will set get you in a great mood for sleep and for the day.
Read anything from a famous speech to your favorite self-improvement book. Try
to read something that get’s you really excited in the morning especially so
that you’ll leave your house beaming with energy and wonder.
44.
Choose your
friends wisely.You are affected far more than
you think by the people you spend your time with. Do your friends share your
values? Do they encourage you when you speak of your goals and dreams or do
they scoff? Make sure the people around you are conducive to the lifestyle you
want to lead or you will find yourself being dragged again and again into
behavior that distances you from your desires. Friends with a habit of
producing negative thoughts will especially hinder you. This can be a hard task
to follow through with if you realize you good friend is one of these
saboteurs, but you must be firm! Don’t let anyone get in the way of you being
all that you can be.
45.
Don’t burn
bridges.By that I mean maintain your
relationships with people even if you think you are never going to see them
again. For example, if you are quitting your job, don’t chew out your boss
before leaving! You might run into him/her again later and life and wish you
had never severed ties so harshly. You never know when you might need the help
of someone you knew in the past. Plus there is already too much hatred in this
world, why add more towards the people you interact with?
46.
Keep a
journal/diary.It sounds like a very
monotonous habit at first, but when you get into it, that little book will
become a great way to organize your thoughts and track your growth over the
years. Most of us already stay awake in bed at night pondering the events of
the day anyways so why not document those thoughts in an organized fashion?
That will allow you to look back and observe how your way of thinking has
changed over time.
47.
Read “New Pyscho-Cybernetics” by Dr. Maxwell Maltz.This book will explain why the content of your thoughts has such a
profound effect on your life through religious, philosophical and scientific
arguments. A must read for completely understand who this life thing works.
48.
Learn to use
and trust your subconscious/intuition.When you spend time in silence everyday, listen not for words but
for a feeling that tells you to do something. Do not mistake your own reasoning
and thoughts for those of your subconscious. If you can track where the thought
came from, (this thought led to that thought which led to this thought, etc.)
then it was not from your subconscious. Learning to accurately discern between
the two will allow you to tap into knowledge that you don’t consciously have.
49.
Develop a
charismatic personality.You know, the kind of
personality that is surrounded by people constantly and is the life of the
party. Start visualizing yourself as THAT person. Maybe take a short course on
dynamic speaking and learn some jokes. Take the time to learn some party tricks
and sleight of hand. Most importantly, believe that you already are charismatic
even if you fail at being the center point of the next party. Lie to yourself
constantly and tell yourself that you are more warm and gregarious than Ronald
Regan. Belief is the first step! Reality will come soon after.
50.
Love is all
there is.If you truly want to be a
master of life, let love be in your every action. Love your friends, family and
enemies alike. This is the most difficult thing to do out of this entire list,
which is why it is listed at #50. But if you accomplish this, you will be seen
as a leader among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other
negative emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world
when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you will
immediately see yourself and the people around you change. Love. Love. Love.
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