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Today, it's important to be reminded of the little things that life offers, amid the chaos of life. This year has brought unexpected changes into our lives and sometimes we may feel like we're reliving the same day. Many times it feels like days have passed when it's actually been a month.
I know that many of us are experiencing new things like a new way of learning, maybe a different way of working; whatever it may be. Here are 20 reminders that will help you see life in a different light and from a fresh perspective.
1. Take Risks.
Image Credit: Jo Leonhardt, Unsplash
This doesn't necessarily mean to taking huge unreasonable risks like jumping off of cliffs like the picture above. You can start small like doing out of your routine, get out of your comfort zone. Try something new, try not to focus so much on one task. If you focus so much of your time on one thing, you're more likely to become overwhelmed and stressed.
It's weird to say, but a pandemic really makes you reflect on your life.
Lately, I've been reminiscing memories from my past, and the one thing I do regret is not taking risks. I wasn't much of a risk-taker, and I really wish I took more risks.
Fortunately, we are in the middle of a pandemic, and even though it might be scary, it's a time when we can experience and try new things. We're in a new era, where we try new things we've never done before. Try a new style; be risky, get out of your comfort zone; don't conform to society.
2. Learn From Your Past.
One mistake or failure doesn't define who you are, it only affects who you choose to be. When you fail or make mistakes, you make the most of the situation and learn from it. I've made many mistakes in life, I'm not a perfect person, neither are you.
Don't dwell on your faults that happen, don't let it sink you. Learning from your past is beneficial for your future.
It makes you a better person mentally, emotionally, and physically. It's funny how when we look at our past, we go over all the stupid mistakes we made, and the weird things we did. Those little things we remember, make us who we are today.
Learn from your past, it's a way to take a step back and look at how far you've come. Learn from the past, don't dwell in it.
3. Plan, but Not Too Far Ahead
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Planning is always good but planning excessively is too much. It's okay to not know, especially what life might have in store for your future. Unexpected things happen in life, and you can't always plan for it.
It's impossible to plan for everything in life because as we grow, we become different people with different plans in mind. Your “game plan” in high school won't be the same after you graduate. Throughout middle school, I had a whole plan of how focused I'd be on my academics and my plan for college. However, plans and even circumstances changed for me, and I had to work around my “plan” and come up with another one.
Now I don't even plan that far because I know that unexpected things happen that can't be planned in advance. Take what we're going through for example. Nobody anticipated this, and unfortunately, plans shifted for people going through major changes in their life like graduating from high school or college, or senior year.
The plans we make are not forever, they either come true or don't. Which is why we should use this as an opportunity to plan but not too excessively.
4. Laugh at Your Mistakes and Failures.
Image Credit: Elle Hughes, Pexels
Don't mistake your faults for failure. You shouldn't be mad or disappointed at a mistake you made, because believe it or not, we've all made them.
Instead, laugh at them, learn from them, and move on. Don't take mistakes too seriously, they're just silly mistakes.
When I become overwhelmed or frustrated and I overthink and make a mistake, I just laugh. Sometimes, silly things get the best of us, and we let it overwhelm us. We just have to laugh at life at times, it makes things easier.
We laugh when we fall, we laugh when we cry, so laugh at your mistakes. They make you grow into a stronger, more determined person. Learn to laugh at your mistakes and failures.
5. Live In the Moment.
Enjoy life while living it.
Hanging out with family or friends? Enjoy the time you spend with them, don't spend the whole time on Instagram or Snapchat. Laugh with each other, play, and converse together.
Sometimes, we take spending time with one another for granted, especially now. We're limited on whom we can see and talk to, and sometimes we remember a simpler time when we embraced each other and laughed at the funny things we did or said. It's better to enjoy every moment we have now than reminiscing later.
For me, I find it funny how we look back on moments in life and how they weren't important to us then, but they hold so much importance now. I look back on some of the greatest memories I had with my friends and it wasn't when we went out to eat or went to the movies. It was when we all hung out together at each other's houses laughing and talking. We enjoyed each other's company, and the best part was that it wasn't forced, it was unexpected nights and hangouts.
The best moments come out of the unexpected.
6. Don't “Regret” A Mistake.
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All mistakes made can be learned but shouldn't be regretted.
When you make a mistake, it's kind of like starting down a new path. Something as simple as one mistake can affect your whole life. The way you read the last sentence determines whether you think this is a positive or negative mistake.
Making mistakes can affect you positively or negatively if you choose to see it that way. It's all about what we choose to make out of our situations and circumstances.
I don't regret anything that has happened in my life so far, whether it be mistakes or decisions I made because whatever has happened has shaped me into the person I am today. I choose to view this as something positive. Even though you can't go back and change it, don't “regret” a mistake or choice you made, whether it be good or bad. Who you want to depend on how you choose to see your choices and mistakes that have helped you become the person you are today.
7. It's Okay To Not Always “Be Okay”.
Image Credit: Fa Barboza, Unsplash
Some days we feel like crying, and that's okay. It's okay to have those moments in life where we feel overwhelmed and anxious, it's completely understandable even now.
2020 has been chaotic and messy. It's okay when we're not always okay, because it's what makes us human. The feeling of uncertainty is normal in life, and it's nothing to hide.
It's important to take care of yourself, and look out for your well-being. We don't always have to show others that life is great for us when in reality it feels like it isn't.
I find it very helpful to rely on others like friends and family to help you get through the tough times that life throws at you. You don't have to be or feel alone, because you're not. If you look around, you actually might realize that many of us are going through the same thing.
Nobody is alone when they “feel alone” because there also might be other people going through the same things that you're going through. It really makes life better and a little easier, when you find others that support you and are willing to stick by your side no matter what.
8. Dress To Impress Yourself, Not Others.
In a society where we welcome differences, I've come to realize that we still try to act, behave, and dress alike. What's wrong with changing it up a bit, straying away from the crowd? Why not be different?
We tend to follow the same trends and fads until they are no longer popular. Dress, act, behave like yourself for you and only you, not for others. If others can't see who you really are, and they can't seem to know your worth, why bother?
I feel like it's vitally important to stick with and make friends who accept you because you bring unique qualities to the friendship, you bring something different to the table that's missing in that person's life. Lately, we want to be with people that raise our social status not even caring about the main reason behind a true friendship. The things you wear, say, and do should impress you, it should make you want to become an even better person.
9. Don't Take Little Everyday Things For Granted.
Image Credit: Free Nature Stock, Pexels
Waking up, breathing, family, friends, all things I believe we sometimes take for granted. I know it sounds cheesy, but maybe we should take the time and appreciate what others do for us. I know it's easy to forget what others have done for us, like our parents and friends always being there for us, because it's a routine thing that happens out of instinct. How many times have you actually taken the time to take a step back and thank and appreciate all the people who have been part of your life until now?
It's kind of hard to imagine our life without the people who we surround ourselves with today. Life would be pretty hard if it weren't for those people in our life that make it easier and less of a pain to go through. Don't take the normal things of life for granted because one day you might now notice when those things left. Appreciate the opportunities that life offers.
10. Breathe
I know it's easy to remember and super-cheesy, but sometimes we forget to breathe.
When I mean to breathe, I mean actually stopping whatever you're doing, no matter how stressful or difficult it is, and breathe deeply. Take a look around, don't think about anything that's stressful or confusing, just breathe. It's simple to do, but many of us just don't “get around to it”. In fact, breathing helps you have a fresh mindset and relieves stress.
Remember to always breathe, no matter what situation you're in or how you're feeling.
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