Tools For Enjoying A Life of Contentment
We all want to be happy, content, fulfilled. But yet, sometimes that peace appears very difficult to achieve. We place ourselves in a negative mindset. We worry too much. Think too much. Resent or blame others. We let ourselves get distracted and stressed.
How can we change that? Here are ten tips, plus a bonus, for daily action. If you apply these every day, you will naturally be more serene and content.
Make peace with your past. Our past presents often unseen obstacles to our success. Sometimes we hear messages that we are not good enough, that we won't succeed, or that we don't deserve it. We may have a hard time letting go of someone who wronged us. Or, we may have done something that we regret or feel ashamed of. Make peace with your past. Make amends to those who deserve it. Forgive those who need it. Let go of the negative messages that you hear from your past.
Do not worry about the thoughts and opinions of other people. The opinions of other people are none of our business. They have no power over us, unless we give it. If we worry about what other people think of us, we will stop pursuing our dreams because we are are afraid of being judged. We never really know the opinions of others, and worrying about them is a needless distraction.
Do not think so much. Often, we do not know the answers. Yet, we think and we think and we think. If the answer is not clear, be patient and wait. The answer will be revealed when the time is right. It is okay to not know all the answers.
Stop comparing. Comparison is the thief of our enjoy. We compare what we perceive is our worst to what someone else portrays as their best. We never win that battle. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Comparing does nothing but make us feel disappointed and resentful.
Let go of your expectations. Do not expect anything. Do not expect people in your life to behave a certain way and do not expect a certain outcome. One of two things happens when you expect something. You either get exactly what you expected, but do not feel grateful or happy because you anticipated getting it. Or you feel disappointed because you did not get what you expected. Neither is healthy.
Give time time. Time ultimately heals everything. Broken relationships, hurt feelings, an unsuccessful result-given time, all can be improved. Be patient. Some things simply take time.
Smile. Choose to smile today. Let's not walk around with a frown on your face. Be warm and friendly to those you see. You can choose to be as happy as you want to be today.
You are in charge of your own happiness. No one has the power to ruin your day or make you unhappy, unless you allow it. You are the only person responsible for your own happiness. In the face of obstacles and setbacks, you can still choose to be happy.
Be present. It is so easy to live in the past, feel resentful, and perhaps regretful about things that happened or did not happen. It is also so easy to worry about the future and what could go wrong. When we choose to live in the moment, in the present, and to be mindful, our life is much more serene and peaceful.
Practice forgiveness. When we are resentful to someone else, we only hurt ourselves. When we resent another person for what they did to us, we only relive the wrong and feel the pain all over again. Forgiveness does not condone the wrong. What it does though is free us from the misery that we are inflicting on ourselves. When we forgive others, we free ourselves from the prison of resentment.
Be grateful, always. We cannot be miserable when we are living in gratitude. Even on days when nothing seems to go our way, when we may have failed or face what seems like an insurmountable obstacle, there are still many things in life for which we can be grateful. When we focus on what we have to be grateful for, we live in contentment.
It is of course not easy to practice all of these, every day, perfectly. But if you review these tips, and strive for them every day, you will find that you are living in a place that is more fulfilling and peaceful. Don't we all want that?
I am now coaching lawyers, professionals and entrepreneurs on how to live a more fulfilling and successful life. I would love to connect with any of you who might have obstacles that you are struggling with. Please reach out to me here for a courtesy discovery call: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call