16 WAYS TO LIVE A SUCCESSFUL LIFE

#1 Believe in yourself , but be aware of your
limitations
The first step to accomplishing all your goals and
making your dreams come true starts with this
simple realisation that you are human: you are
not perfect and you can’t do everything alone.
Always keep things realistic. Don’t put so much
pressure on yourself that you find it hard to
move; trust yourself to deliver what you need to,
but also be prepared to cut yourself some slack.
Own up when you make a mistake
Set goals, and enjoy the journey
#2 De-clutter & simplify
You have a thousand different things screaming
for attention: you have to tidy up the kids’ room
again; you have to do the dishes and laundry;
and the never-ending household chores are
waiting. You have to organize your calendar and
make room for more appointments; make time to
socialise; help the kids with homework; and make
a gazillion school runs. Don’t even get started on
what needs to be done at the office.
Let’s get one thing straight—you cannot
accomplish anything unless you get yourself some
of the clarity that comes from creating space in
your life, in your relationships and your
environment. You need to reduce, cut back,
simplify—Only then will you stop the feeling of
being overwhelmed and rushed.
Give anything you haven’t used for the past 3
years to charity
Get organized
Enjoy the concept of enjoying without owing,
and appreciating without acquiring
#3 Use everything in moderation
This is something I live by, be it work, socializing,
family commitments, overeating, shopping, or
watching too much TV—it helps with every single
thing. Embrace the philosophy of “having
enough”: there’s no need to go to extremes, so
exercise common sense and learn to curb any
obsessive behaviour.
Spend less money than you make
Watch your diet
Watch less TV
#4 Keep things in perspective
I admit there will be times when nothing will go
your way, and you will find yourself fighting
battles, fixing problems and minimizing damage
all day long. We all have those days, and it is too
easy to get caught up in the drama. Get a handle
on things: this, too, shall pass.
Your child will get better soon, the noisy
neighbourhood parties will end, your
backstabbing colleague will get transferred (we
can hope, can’t we?), and there will be actual
days where you tick off all the items on your to-
do list.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Have an open mind
#5 Treat others how they want to be treated
You might end up getting in trouble if you try
treating others how you want to be treated,
instead of how they would like you to treat them.
For instance, if you are not a phone person, you
might not call your friend because you assume
that they feel the same way you do, which may
not be the case.
Try to be sensitive to the needs of others, and
occasionally going out of your way to do
something for them.
Try not to judge
Be generous; try to do something nice
for somebody on a regular basis
#6 Family first
My priority is my family, and I left work to start
my own freelancing career for the flexible hours
it gives. That doesn’t mean that my work is not
important—it just means that I have to operate in
a way that works for me and my family.
How important is it to you that you spend time
with your family? Are you making sure that your
work doesn’t prevent you from doing just that?
What sort of arrangements have you made to
make it happen? You don’t have to stop living
your life for your family members, but you’ll feel
far less guilt if you prioritise and make time for
them.
#7 Pay attention to the moment
Stop thinking about what happened in the past,
or worry about what might happen in the future.
Live in the moment and learn to savour each one.
#8 Have a positive mindset
You are what you think all day long. If you have
nothing but negative thoughts racing through
your ahead, then that’s what you are going to get,
so try shifting to a more positive outlook on life.
You will be surprised to see that whatever you
wished for will start to manifest itself around you.
“Whether you think you can, or you think you
can’t—you’re right.” ― Henry Ford
#9 Educate yourself
The most interesting people are the ones who take
an interest in life and never let go of the
“beginner’s mind”. They discover learning
opportunities and continue to grow, both
personally and professionally.
Be a life-long learner. You don’t have to get old to
become wise.
Read good books
Try to learn something new every day
Take courses in subjects you enjoy
#10 Be passionate about something
There are some people who are so bursting with
energy and vitality that others feel compelled to
listen to them, and feel drawn to them. Passionate
home cooks, budding interior designers, gourmet
chocolate lovers, antique collectors—just try
asking them a question about their interest and
they will talk your ears off.
You want to be that person: someone who’s full
of love for something significant. Have one
meaningful hobby that encourages you to follow
your passion, and you’ll begin each day looking
forward to something special.
#11 Always be reflective
Do you ever think about yourself in moments of
solitude? What makes you, you? What makes you
tick? What bores you to death? What sort of
things do you dream of? What can’t you get over?
What regrets do you have of your past? Take
some time to think about those things and you’ll
understand yourself more clearly and deeply.
You’d be surprised at the life-changing impact
such reflection can bring.
Consider doing a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
(MBTI) or another personality assessment to
develop true understanding of your self
#12 Surround yourself with supportive people
3 things can change your life: friends, books &
your thoughts. Choose them wisely.
Avoid naysayers and party-poopers
#13 Banish the word “perfection
Listen to what you tell your children: always do
your best and forget about the rest.
You are expert enough
Strive for excellence, not for perfection
#14 Fix it, or deal with it, but stop whining
about it
Nobody likes a person who complains all the
time. If you look around you, you’ll see many
people who have been dealt a bad hand, but are
making the best of things.
Don’t blame others for your problems
Don’t make excuses
Don’t be overly sensitive
Don’t be a drama queen
#15 Remember things that you are grateful for
Try this exercise: whenever you are feeling low,
make a list of all the things that make you happy,
joyous, and grateful. A beautiful family, adoring
kids, kind friends, health, happy home, a job that
pays the bills, surprise dinner prepared by a
loving spouse, a blog, favourite books and
keepsakes, unexpected twenty dollar bill in your
jeans pocket. Everything counts.
After you’ve done this, consider what has
happened to the feelings of doom and gloom: it is
impossible not to be cheered up after
remembering all the fantastic things you have in
your life. Be grateful, and always make room for
more happiness.
#16 You can have it all, just not at the same
time
There is no greater truth than this: you cannot
have everything at the same time. You have only
24 hours in a day and need to take care of your
relationships, work and spirit. One any given day,
the focus will shift: some days your children have
to go to after-school care because you have an
important meeting, while other times work has to
take a back seat because of a sick child with a
high fever. Sometimes you just need to chill with
your girlfriends because it has been ages since
you last took a break.
You don’t have to do everything all at once, and
life doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple living
is mindful living.