Strive to simply “turn up as yourself” and believe that your authentic self is enough, rather than trying to be someone else or putting on a performance.
Acknowledge and honor both the positive and negative experiences in your life, letting go of the past and self-limiting beliefs by refusing to constantly carry them, rather than blocking them out.
Make conscious choices and be aware of your patterns, choosing different paths when faced with discomfort instead of reflexively distracting yourself, to live a more intentional life.
Recognize the profound importance of self-awareness as a crucial first step in personal growth, acknowledging your patterns and behaviors even if the path to change isn’t immediately clear.
If you’ve experienced trauma, work towards integrating blocked or deleted memories back into your life story to foster a more full-bodied sense of acceptance and prevent physical manifestations like panic attacks.
Reflect on the love you already have in your immediate environment and prioritize it, recognizing that external validation from strangers is often unnecessary and a waste of time.
Envision your life’s end and identify three key achievements or states of being you would want to look back on, such as living with integrity, resolving conflicts, and being surrounded by love.
Compare your weekly happiness habits with your ultimate “happy ending” life goals to ensure your daily actions are aligned with and contributing to your long-term aspirations.
Make a resolution to be kinder to yourself, as it’s the only one worth making and often overlooked.
Instead of distracting yourself, choose to sit with and be present with feelings of loss and pain, allowing yourself to fully experience them.
Overcome the fear of rejection by sharing your authentic self, including feelings of embarrassment, shame, or resentment, as this vulnerability often leads to deeper connection with others and alleviates others’ feelings of isolation.
Understand that in many situations, especially when someone is struggling, simply listening and acknowledging their feelings without trying to fix their problems can be profoundly supportive and healing.
Develop awareness to recognize and appreciate the “everyday beautiful magic” in tiny, quiet, private moments, as these special instances are often missed due to preoccupation with fear and worry.
Actively manage chronic fear, as it creates a state of tension in your nervous system that negatively underpins all your interactions and overall well-being.
Observe nature’s cycles of shedding, resting, and regenerating, and apply this to your own life by honoring your need to hibernate, shed things, and regenerate instead of relentlessly pushing yourself.
Exercise autonomy in assigning meaning to events and experiences, choosing the narrative that best serves you rather than conforming to external expectations.
Consciously apply good and benevolent intentions behind your actions and rituals, as this personalizes them and imbues them with meaning, rather than following prescribed methods.
Resist the urge to numb or distract yourself from emotions like pain or even happiness (due to fear of loss) with activities like phone use, shopping, eating, or drinking.
Work to regain a clear sense of who you are and what you like, reducing the influence of others’ opinions on your self-perception and choices.
Engage in work that you personally believe in and feel is “yours,” as this reduces the emotional risk of external criticism and allows you to be less concerned with perfection or universal approval.
Actively practice proper listening, giving full attention without distraction, as it is a crucial skill for deeper connection and understanding in both personal and professional life.
Consciously reduce time spent on screens and increase your presence with others to combat loneliness and foster deeper connections, as being heard and listened to is a fundamental human need.
Value and embrace spontaneous, unplanned social interactions, as they often lead to beautiful, authentic, and less overthought connections that can be more special than pre-arranged ones.
Consciously pause to enjoy special connections and unions with others, recognizing that these moments are precious and often what you’ll remember and value most, rather than prioritizing endless tasks like emails.
Reflect on and identify three core activities or experiences that consistently bring you true happiness, contentment, and peace, such as family time, being in nature, or acts of kindness.
Periodically check if you have engaged in your identified core happiness habits, using this review to assess alignment between your values and your weekly actions.
Commit to personal growth as an ongoing, lifelong journey without seeking quick fixes, accepting that there will be periods of alignment and misalignment, and that this is a natural part of the process.
Apply the lesson of “stopping trying so hard” from practices like yoga to your everyday life, allowing for more ease and less striving, and focusing on the experience rather than just the outcome.
When feeling overwhelmed or stressed by a task, ask yourself, “What would this look like if it was easy?” to shift your perspective and potentially find a less strenuous approach.
Set a long-term personal goal to simply “turn up as yourself” in all situations, believing that your authentic self is inherently enough, without needing to be “extra” or performative.
Strive to communicate authentically, avoiding the insidious tendency to be performative or change your natural voice or demeanor, even in public or professional settings.
Consciously choose to limit or avoid consuming traditional news, as it often bombards you with fear and negativity, recognizing that you can still be connected and care about the world without it.
Participate in activities that involve moving or doing things together with other people, as this can foster collective energy, connection, and even synchronize physiological states like breathing.
Seek out and engage in deep, meaningful conversations rather than superficial small talk, as the latter can feel empty and unfulfilling.
Approach personal growth and shared projects with a collaborative mindset, positioning yourself as a fellow explorer rather than an expert, and inviting others to join the journey of figuring things out together.
Seek out or create opportunities for connection, as a fundamental human need is to feel less alone, and shared experiences can combat feelings of isolation.
When experiencing grief, engage in deep and honest conversations or work, as it can strip away unnecessary layers, get rid of ego, and lead to more authentic engagement.
Become aware that when your external world feels out of control, you may react by becoming excessively controlling in other areas of your life.
Reconsider making New Year’s resolutions that stem from a feeling of inadequacy or lack, as these are often unsustainable and fail to address deeper needs.
Make decisions based on your current mental and emotional state, choosing to opt out of social obligations like parties if they don’t serve your well-being, even if it means facing potential judgment.
Practice being proud of what you create and accomplish, letting go of the tendency to second-guess public opinion or fear judgment for self-congratulation.