Despite their simple wording, some of the most cliché pieces of life advice are really hard to achieve – partly because they involve a lot of moving parts, and partly because life is anything but easy. Here are five to strive for as much as possible, if not on a daily basis.
- Be happy. There’s no right way to do this. The only wrong way to do it is by making someone else unhappy in the process. Start by finding your “happy place.” For people like me, it means going to a quiet corner at home or at work and writing for a bit. For others, it’s going on a drive and blasting music that makes them smile. If you find your happy place, you might get closer to figuring out what you can do to stay happy throughout your day. Or even better, challenge yourself to join the #100HappyDays movement that has become popular on social media. I haven’t taken it myself, but I hear that after 100 days of actively seeking out happiness, it gets easier to be happy without trying.
- Think before you speak. Or write. Or tweet. Or Insta. Or Snapchat. The list goes on. Though the next item on this list asks you to avoid negativity, considering the worst case outcome of your snap or tweet or verbal response could save you a headache later. You should first consider if it will harm or offend someone else. Then consider if hitting send will do more bad than good. If you come up with a ‘yes’ for either of those, abort mission! Know your audience. Subtweeting a follower is usually a bad idea. Making a snide remark directed at a sensitive co-worker or friend, even in a joking manner, is most likely not worth the trouble. With today’s technology, we have more opportunities than ever to say things quickly without having to look someone in the eye or even direct it at a single person. In that way we also have more opportunities in which we should step back and say nothing at all.
- Let go of negativity. Speaking of Twitter, I don't know about everyone else, but I definitely have my fair share of tweeters on my timeline who are constantly sub-tweeting and getting bogged down in negativity. It takes everything in me to not sub-tweet right back at them. Technically I’m sub-blogging them now, but that’s not the point. If you find yourself saying or tweeting or otherwise spouting negative thoughts into the universe, people will start connoting you with negativity. You have enough ways to stress and tire yourself. Negativity is one you can consciously avoid. If you don’t engage with negativity, it’s not that difficult to remain positive. And in doing so, you’re one step closer to being happy.
- Stay grounded. This one is tough. Everyone’s journey to today was different. We all came from different families and had different experiences, so not losing sight of those is a unique effort for each of us. Try checking in with the family members or friends of yours who were instrumental in helping you get to where you are – mentally, emotionally and professionally. If you’re spiritual, staying connected with what you believe in can be helpful. Journaling may be another way to provide yourself with perspective. When you get to where you’re going you can look back at how you felt on the way. No matter how you do it, remember to keep in mind that you were not always the person you are, and that you, like everyone else, still have room to grow.
- Love yourself. None of the other items on this list are truly possible unless you love who you are. At the same time, if you don’t achieve the other goals listed here, you might not ever truly love yourself. That’s the difficulty of life advice – it’s always a work in progress. But so are you. Understanding that can help you accept your own flaws; spiritual, social, physical or otherwise. Loving yourself will allow you to fully love others and open yourself up to be loved well by others.