Simple Secrets to a Great Life

As we head into the season of thankfulness and togetherness, there are many
opportunities for self-reflection. It is a time where people take stock of the past year
and plan for the upcoming year.

With the introspection comes a dose of holiday cheer as well. But that awareness is
sometimes overshadowed by the craziness of the holidays themselves.
That is why now is a great time to talk about the simple secrets to a great life.
Because honestly, the simplest things are often the ones that can give us the most
happiness.

Be grateful.

It’s easy to get caught up in the little annoying things in our day to day lives...and
to let them take over. But it is important to remember that things can always be
worse and that there are several millions of people in the world who are dealing
with unbearable conditions. So, if you are letting things get you down, take the time to think about the good in
your life and be grateful for it.

Express your gratitude.

A correlation to that is to express gratitude for what you have or what you can offer.
Even better is to express gratitude to those who help you along the way.
Never underestimate the power that a single positive comment holds.

Find a purpose.

What are some characteristics of a successful businessperson? They’re often driven and focused on their endgame (whatever it is). There’s no reason that you can’t use
those same tactics in your life – and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Maybe you want to open an Etsy shop. Or help at a women’s shelter. Or maybe you
just want to raise your kids to be good human beings in a world that seems to get
crazier by the day.
The point is, find that purpose and work towards it. Even the littlest steps can keep
you focused and give you pleasure in what you’re doing.

Build meaningful relationships.

These days, many of our relationships are virtual. We have followers and
subscribers and customers...many of whom we may never actually meet in person.
That’s fine, because that’s the world we live in.

But that shouldn’t be an excuse for ignoring good, old-fashioned, human
relationships. We aren’t robots (yet), and we still need that person-to-person
contact.

Rule of three

While seeking friends with common interests is a great idea, there is a simple way
to guide relationships to a different level. Establish and encourage three different
ones.

Find someone younger to mentor.

There are a variety of ways to foster this type of relationship. You can volunteer at a
youth organization and sign up to be an actual mentor. Or you can build
camaraderie with a younger co-worker. Working with people who are younger is a
great way to also see your own life from a different perspective (see the first two
points in this blog).

Cultivate a true peer.

You may have several “in real life” friends, but how many do trust no matter what?
Who you know will have your back when the chips are down? Those are so much
harder to build as we get older, I know.
But if you can find someone who has shared interests, a similar perspective, and
who you can rely on – grab that relationship and do all you can to keep it strong.

Learn from your elders.

Build a friendship with someone who is older than you. They have wisdom from past
experiences that you may never have yourself but might be able to apply to your
own situations. They also probably understand what it means to be a true friend without other expectations and how to be grateful for the people who have an impact on one’s
life.

Stay in harmony.

Ensure that you are taking the time to nourish both your mind and your body.
Keeping all the different sides of yourself in harmony helps not only with your health
but with your attitude as well.
Eat better, get exercise (make it fun), and take the time in your busy schedule to
focus on you. There is only one of you, so treat yourself like the individual you are.

Do what makes you happy.

Ultimately, one of the simplest ways to have a great life is to do things that make you happy. Now, that doesn’t mean to abandon all your responsibilities and run off
to a desert island somewhere.
(Although it is nice to dream....)

But you should be able to find joy in whatever you choose to do. Choose an exercise
regimen that makes you laugh. Hate grocery shopping? Listen to your favorite
music while you shop. Or dance to the piped-in music they play in the store.
C’mon...who hasn’t heard a favorite song from high school while perusing the
produce section?

Ultimately, little changes in attitude, like I mentioned above, are truly behind the
simple secrets to a great life.If you want to chat with me about how I can help you make the most of your life, CLICK HERE!