Six decisions to make your life better & happier

Three things you can start & three things you can stop

?

Every time you want to make your life better, you either start something or stop something. Because life is all about decisions and decisions are all about start and stop. To have a better life; here are three things you can start and stop.

Three things you can stop doing:

1.??????Stop trying to make everyone happy: It is good to be kind and helpful; yet going too far to make others happy is not a long-term thing. People who always go the extra mile to make everyone happy usually end up being drained and depleted. ‘People pleasing’ behavior is otherwise known as ‘sociotropy’ where one feels overly concerned about others happiness. Being concerned and caring is good provided you don’t become dependent on others’ approval.

2.?????Stop trying to control everything & everyone: The definite road to disappointment is trying to control everything & everyone. It is better to understand the difference between what you can control and what you cannot. Often this awareness is enough to be able to let go. One thing you must understand here is losing control and letting go of control is not the same thing. If you have control over something, it is good and beneficial. But a constant desire to have control is not a pleasant one.

3.?????Stop blaming: You have two choices while going through different difficulties in life. Either you blame or learn; the choice is yours. When you blame, you stop taking charge of your life, you are no longer in the driver’s seat. You gather all excuses and reasons for not getting what you want in life. On the contrary when you learn you open all possibilities of making things better. You take the complete responsibility of your life and take the necessary actions to make it better.

Three things you can start doing:

1.??????Start investing in yourself: No matter what you do or what your qualifications are, investing in yourself always pays off. In this ever-changing business world, it is wise to keep upgrading yourself. If you have your own organisation or you are part of an organization; keep thinking of diverse ways you can add value to yourself as well as to your organization. Read more, explore your creative side, learn new skills and take care of yourself too. The more value you add, the more valuable you become.

2.?????Start having a routine: Routine brings consistency in life. It makes you mentally stronger and makes you mindfully available for other things in life. Start creating a pleasant and productive morning routine which can recharge your batteries for the day. You can also start a calming and compassionate bedtime routine which will enable you to ease your worries, calm your nerves.

3.?????Start going outside: Start playing an outdoor sport, even once a week. Go for a bike ride or even a leisurely walk around a park. Start with nature; it can be a lake, sea, mountain or simply a nearby park, whatever is available. Being with nature makes you better, happier, and healthier as well. Research has proven that being with nature enables you to explore your creative side and prepares you to face uncertain life situations.

So, if you want a better, happier and healthier life; then you got to take charge of your life. You must take certain decisions; especially start doing three things and stop doing three things.?

Published earlier in the newspaper tabloid "The Desert Trail"