Life

I’m approaching what some people call “an important milestone” – the big 30 🙂 Many start analyzing their life at this point, sorting through the life experiences, picking out what to keep and what to let go of. The thing is, all of them are necessary for us to grow, and even the ones that we want to forget have their value and place. It’s not about forgetting, it’s about making peace with it and letting go so it doesn’t affect your future. So if you find yourself questioning where you are in life, what you want to change and how to do it, I suggest you ask yourself some questions first. In order to get the right answers,  first you need to ask right questions. And only the right questions will send us down the path to right answers that might become that sacred key that will open the door to the future you seek. But how do you know which questions are the right ones? Here are a few components to consider: Right question should aim towards a goal Right question should be simple and clear Right question should open new possibilities Right question should make you think Right question should push you to act As I ponder these 30 provocative questions, I invite to do the same and share your discoveries through this process. The questions are pretty simple but by answering them you might “accidentally” put together a roadmap to a much happier and more successful YOU 🙂 1. What can I do today to better my tomorrow? 2. What time of the day am I being the most productive? 3. What can I do today that brings me joy? 4. Which 5 things am I most grateful for today? 5. What can I do today that can improve someone else’s life? 6. Which part of my character do I like the best? 7. What do I REALLY wanna do in life? 8. Consider all the people in your life. Which ones do I want to stick with? 9. When was the last time I travelled abroad? 10. How much useless TV do I watch daily? 11. Take a look at all your belongings. Do I really need all of this? 12. When was the last time I read a great book? 13. When was the last time I said “no”? 14. Do I really care what others think of me? 15. What do I really want to accomplish this year? 16. What are my life values? 17. What’s on my bucket list that I want to check off this year? 18. What can I do that will bring more happiness to my life? 19. When was the last time I stepped outside my comfort zone? 20. What can I do today to get just one step closer to my goals? 21. What my perfect day would look like from the moment of waking up up until drifting to sleep? 22. What positive habits would I …

“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.” ― Bessie Anderson Stanley How often do we catch ourselves living life on autopilot, going through the routine of the days, accepting what life throws at us and have each day pass by like the one before. Everything probably looks as normal as you feel, except maybe for a niggling feeling at the back of your head which says “it’s time for some changes”. If you want to break free from the chains of existing and truly want to start living, here are 8 ways to live life to the fullest! #1 – Look around you at all the great things and people in your life – and appreciate them. We fail to notice the little things people do for us until they stop doing them. Don’t be one of these people. Be grateful to your spouse, parents, children, friends and anyone else who touches your life. You don’t want to appreciate them when they are no longer with you. Appreciate the life you have and you will find so many reasons to live. #2 – Treat yourself as a bank account and don’t allow people around you to make more withdrawals than deposits in your life. If you let other people’s negativity and problems get to you. Your balance will run out if they don’t contribute enough happiness too. Remember that no one has the right to judge you, block out negative comments and get a control over how you react when people try to hurt you. #3 – Forgive. You don’t have to trust people who hurt you, but you can lighten your burden and forgive people who have hurt you. Do you actually want to spend the precious time you have on hating people? Should you not be too busy loving the people who love you? Remember that the person who forgives is the stronger and braver and happier one. So, start being stronger. Be brave. Be happy. Be free. #4 – Choose your relationships with great care. It is easy to be in relationships where there are good times. The true test in relationships come about when you are faced with obstacles that you go through together and still manage to say ‘I love you’ at the end. It is also not about saying ‘I love you’ to someone every day, it is about showing your love every day in every way. #5 – Don’t forget to love yourself too. You have all the people you love around you – …

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be!”  Abraham Lincoln An elusive state of mind, yet the most sought after by each of the living mortals, happiness is something everyone yearns for. Sadly enough, only a few with the right perspectives in life manage to feel the real contentment that comes from being truly happy. So, is happiness merely a result of your circumstances or can you actually make a conscious choice to be happy in life? The very fact that your circumstances are often beyond your control tells you that you cannot depend on them for your joy in life. Whether in sunny or in rainy days, being happy is a conscious, righteous and a very personal choice you can make. Questions to ask Before I set out to show how exactly to be happy is a choice you can make, just ask yourself a few crucial questions as below: So when exactly do you say you are ‘happy’? When you have the right circumstances? When you have all that you want? When you are doing what you really want to do in life? When you are healthy, have money and/or have a family? Well, the list could just go on! For all of us who always thought happiness is something that comes to us when all is well in our lives, its perhaps time to think again. Check out the 5 key facts which redefine the very concept of being happy in life. THE 5 KEY FACTS 1. It’s an attitude   Staying happy with yourself and your surroundings basically comes from the right attitude. Being happy comes from an ability to see positives in life (even when you are going through a hard day or negative events). Some might call it being optimistic, but it’s not just being blindly hopeful all the times. Instead, true happiness lies in realizing from within that there is always a brighter side to every situation. All you need to do is practice to see that side and choose to be happy whatever might happen. 2. It can be learnt with practice Against what is generally believed, being happy and an optimist is something you can learn by practice. Once you’ve realized that it’s in your hands to be truly satiated, just keep a conscious check on your negative thoughts. Keep company of positive people and read good books. You can even post small notes in your work area or living room reminding you to abstain from negative and unhappy thoughts. I understand you can’t completely block negativity in your life, but try to pay attention to your reaction to it. You know the famous worry pic. If you have a solution that there’s nothing to worry about. If you don’t, then worry won’t fix anything 🙂 3. All you need is the will power If you settle for nothing less, you will surely achieve it! With the right will power and the belief that you can remain happy if you really …