We don’t always like everything about our lives, but deep down we have to appreciate what we have and fight for what we want. Part of us believes that anything is possible. That’s why every morning is a new opportunity to get what we want.
However, we don’t always have every possibility within reach, and even when we do, sometimes we don’t know how to use it. The problem is that we choose to believe otherwise. We choose to believe that we are incapable of living our lives the way we want to, without making the most of our full potential. We choose to accept our reality as others have told us it should be.
But we have a choice. We don’t have to be complacent and settle. We can shake things up and live by different rules.
It’s time to keep in mind some fundamental truths that Angel Chernoff of Marc and Angel has put together, and that we should remember every morning.
Every morning is a new opportunity. What you do today is what matters most. Today is a new chance to do things right. Marc Chernoff
1. Today can be a great day, but only if I live it well
Why do we so often feel so powerless? Because we convince ourselves that things are the way they are and can’t be changed. We wait for things to happen on their own. But the truth in life is that if you want something, you have to fight for it. You have to work to achieve it.
Whether today can be a great day doesn’t depend on the weather, on your mood (which is also under your control) or on anyone else. If you want a pleasant, productive day, choose to have one. It depends only on your perception and on what you choose to believe and do.
2. There are many things you can’t control, but there are many things you can
There are many things in life that are beyond our control, but don’t let that make you think that everything in life is beyond your control. The reality is that the life you’re living is almost entirely of your own design. Along the way you’ve made many decisions that have brought you to where you are now.
Saying that your life is out of your control is simply what other people want you to believe, because it makes it easier for them to get you to do what they want. And sometimes it’s what you yourself want to believe, because it’s easier to accept a bad situation than to admit that you’ll have to work very hard to get out of it.
3. You don’t need anyone’s approval
The need for approval is like an addiction. If you base your decisions on other people’s approval, in the end you never do what you’d like to do and you end up sacrificing your own happiness.
Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket. Learn to say “no” to the people and obligations that don’t add value to your life. Your time is a very valuable resource, and it’s not worth spending on people who don’t deserve it. Don’t wait for anyone to give you permission to live.
4. Complaining is useless unless you can suggest a solution
Don’t be a constant whiner. It doesn’t help you, and it certainly doesn’t help your relationships. If you don’t like your current situation, work to change it, but don’t just sit there complaining. Complaining all the time will only make the people close to you not want to be around you.
Be positive and look on the bright side. And if you come across a problem that needs to be dealt with, focus on the solution instead of complaining. The bottom line is that you’ll never get where you want to go if you spend all your time complaining.
(See: What leads you to poverty, according to T. Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.)
5. Success is a way of life, not an outcome
We all want to succeed, but we need to remember that success in itself isn’t a specific achievement. Success is the ability to keep fighting day after day. Success is the strength to keep pushing and keep your life going on your own terms. Success isn’t an end result. It’s a state of being. You can’t earn success. You are a success every day.
6. The fact that you haven’t given up is a success in itself
Many people give up at the first opportunity, but not you. No, you wake up every day and do the things you need to do. You fight against the current and refuse to give up. You refuse to accept mediocrity. You refuse to listen to others when they tell you you’re not good enough. You’re still at it, putting up a good fight.
7. In every difficult situation, kindness should be tried first
People may make unpleasant remarks. You may get stuck in an endless traffic jam. These situations will happen every day. The question is: how are you going to respond? Even though your first reaction, like that of many other people, will be to get angry, why not try a different approach? Anger never solves the problem in these situations.
People are much more likely to respond well to kindness. And you can be kind and firm at the same time. Find that balance without sacrificing your integrity. It’s the only response you won’t regret later.
8. Toxic people aren’t worth worrying about
Sometimes we allow the wrong people to take up too much space in our heads and in our hearts. We meet people who drain our energy, especially when we live in a big city or work in a large, competitive environment.
These individuals will try to influence you and become part of your life because they find their own lives empty. They have already poisoned their own lives and now they’re looking to poison yours. Don’t let them.
9. If someone hurts you, don’t take it personally
To tell the truth, if someone hurts you, they have probably been hurt themselves. So do your best not to take anything too personally. Don’t let compliments go to your head, and don’t let insults get to your heart. Most people can only give others what they themselves have received. When you don’t take things personally, you set yourself free. You can open up to the world freely and stop worrying about other people’s judgements.
10. Focus on what’s real
While modern technology changes our lives in many beneficial ways, there’s one aspect of it that interferes considerably with our lives and relationships. Don’t become so addicted to a screen, whether a computer or a phone, that you miss the chance to enjoy the real life unfolding in front of you.
Learn to switch off. Give people your full attention. Don’t look for mindless stimulation on a screen for no reason, and get back to nurturing real human connections.
11. The good things in life end too soon when they aren’t appreciated
Our minds tend to think the grass is greener on the other side. But we have to consciously remind ourselves that life isn’t about constantly upgrading things. To live a happy, fulfilling life we have to learn to appreciate and love what we have. Don’t wait for things to end before you start appreciating them.
12. Every day is a blessing
Think about how many people die every minute of every day, and start to realise that waking up each morning is a blessing. We live in a world full of chaotic episodes. On top of that, accidents happen and people die because of them. Getting one more day to breathe, to experience life and to do something meaningful is the greatest gift anyone can receive. Make every day count.
Further reading
