Be you. – There’s no better freedom than the freedom to be yourself. Give yourself that gift, and choose to surround yourself with those who appreciate your decision. Don’t let someone change who you are, to become what they need. Be you in the beautiful way only you can, to become what you need.
Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. – The amount of abuse you tolerate in a partner is equal to the amount of abuse you heap on yourself. If you are used to telling yourself that you’re ugly, that you are destined to fail, and that you’re not capable of performing in the world without someone holding your hand, then you will accept, and feel most comfortable with, a partner who reinforces these same negative beliefs.
Breathe your passion. – It’s not what we do every once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently. There is a proverb that says, “He who half breathes, half lives.” Writing is my breath, so I breathe it every day. Whatever your breath is, breathe it deeply and consistently so that you may live wholly.
Act out of love. – Love your life to the fullest. Love is natural. When we do not act out of love, it goes against our very nature. That choice results in emotional, mental, and even physical pain. Love heals the pain that was caused by the absence of it. Always act out of love.
Make your gratitude list longer than your worry list. – Don’t let a bad moment ruin your day. Think of it as a bad minute, not a bad day, and you’ll be okay. Stress thrives when your worry list is longer than your gratitude list. Happiness thrives when your gratitude list is longer than your worry list. So find something to be thankful for. And remember, pretending to be happy when you’re struggling is just a small example of how strong you are as a person. When it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Because without the rain there would be no rainbow.
Keep your mind wide open. – Make a promise to yourself. Promise to stop the drama before it begins, to breathe deeply and peacefully, and to love others and yourself without conditions. Promise to laugh at your own mistakes, and to realize that no one is perfect; we are human. Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible. All of us are imperfect, so there’s no point judging each other or ourselves. In the understanding of this truth lies our perfection.
Take chances. – Take lots of them. Because honestly, no matter where you end up and with whom, it always ends up just the way it should be. Stop regretting things and start accepting them as the teachers they are. Your most significant opportunities will be found in times of great difficulty. Your mistakes make you who you are. You learn and grow with each choice you make. Everything is worth it. Listen to your heart. Continue to follow your path, and be okay with the challenges that lie ahead.
Let go of old wounds. – Change can be terrifying, yet healing requires change. Sometimes you have to find the good in goodbye. Because the past is a place of reference, not a place of residence. Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars on the playground: You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.
