13 Pieces of Advice to Change Your Life

1. Breathe. Sometimes the answer isn’t in doing more, but in doing less. Slow down and take a deep breath. Because it comes so naturally to our livelihood, we take breathing for granted and surprisingly often don’t even do it right. In a world where stress seems to rule our lives and we feel like we have no control over the direction we are going in, it’s important to be present to the power of breathing. It is something we can control and it’s benefits are life-changing.
2. Love and respect yourself. Love is what makes this journey worthwhile and it starts with loving ourselves. We are unfolding in the best way we can – when we truly love and accept who we are, nothing negative can stay in our lives. Our life experiences mirror the way we think of ourselves. We need more self respect and less approval from others, and the only respect you need is your own. You set the tone for how the rest of the world treats you.
3. Connect with your life’s purpose. Strive towards a vision of the future rather than reliving your recordings of the past. Every moment is an opportunity for change, don’t let the past hold you back. The experiences you have lived are important, they have helped make you the person you are today, but they no longer serve you. Let them go and connect with your reason for being so that you can thrive in the here and now.
4. Trust the journey. The experiences life gives us are full of lessons to help us grow. Experiences and situations will continue to repeat themselves until you are able to learn and break from their old chains. When you argue with reality you will always lose. You can try to fight it or learn to embrace it and the lessons it has to offer for personal growth.
5. Face your fears. Do something every day that scares you. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. It’s not meant to be easy, but it will be worth it. And if you fail, find pride in your courage and determination in your actions, and absorb all that failing has to teach you. Then try again.
6. Connect with the way you feel. Your emotions have a lot to tell you about what matters to you. The more you try to ignore them, numb them, or brush them aside, the deeper they fester and grow. Connect with them. Allow them to unravel. Feel them. Learn from them. Give yourself permission to feel, it is your right.
7. Follow your passions. We always assume things are harder than they are. We assume everything’s been done or everyone’s already doing it. We assume things can’t be done – that is, until someone else goes ahead and does it. Stop assuming and be the one that tries. Be the one that does what’s already been done or what everyone’s already doing – but do it differently. The world needs your unique, authentic contribution and that is what will make the difference.
8. Create positive visualisations. We have an incredible power to visualise situations invisible to the eye. Unfortunately, we overuse this creative ability to imagine the countless ways things could go wrong. We do it to prepare and protect ourselves from the worst when in reality, that can’t be done. Our thoughts and energy become wasted on things that can only create fear and anxiety towards the unknown. Start using visualisations for the good things you want in life. Be specific and write it down. Allow the universe to conspire with you in achieving it.
9. Mind what you expect. Expectations always end in disappointment. It is unfair to assume others know what we expect of them, and in truth it is pointless to expect anything in the first place. If we want things to work out a certain way, we need to be proactive about them and create agreements with people rather than expectations – work towards something happening rather than just expecting it to do so. Happiness cannot thrive in the midst of expectations. Create agreements, not expectations and learn to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be.
10. Stop chasing the wrong things. Deep down we know when the things we are chasing are wrong for us – be them partners, careers, friends, you name it. If you know you want it for the wrong reasons, let it go. Break the cycle for these things will not serve you and once you do, you give the right things an opportunity to show up in your life.
11. Say “no” to limiting beliefs. Stop comparing yourself to others, no one has it all figured out. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Don’t waste your time with things that make you feel small. Be kind to your body. Be kind to yourself. Instead of being your own worst enemy, work towards being your own best friend. You are capable and you are enough.
12. Don’t allow others to bring you down. You own your experiences. No one can make you feel a certain way without you allowing them to. Never allow it. You can’t change how people behave or the things they say but you can control how you respond to it all, and it is that reaction that will have the ultimate effect on how you feel. Criticism is most painful when if reflects something we dislike or fear about ourselves. Yet always remember that what’s being said is a reflection of the person saying it, not you.
13. Look within. Stop looking outside of yourself for the answers that already exist within. Happiness is an attitude that lives within us. The trouble is we spend so much time trying to find it in things we don’t have, that it detracts from the countless things we already do. We also spend so much time listening to our mind, that we forget to listen to our heart. Our head unfortunately often creates noise and limiting thoughts; our heart knows our true essence and our infinite capabilities. The mind may not always see the possibilities as it cowers with fear; the heart will always see with love and through love find the courage it needs to succeed. The universe guides us with generosity, be brave enough to tell it what you want and give your heart permission to take you there.

The secret to having it all is realising you already do.