| All too often we spend our lives trying to live up to the | | | | poppycock! Plans can and will be changed. Life isn't |
| expectations of others while denying ourselves our | | | | rigid; unexpected events happen that demand we |
| own sense of self worth. Surely this is wrong? Were | | | | change our plans and any number of things can make |
| we really put on this planet to be puppets controlled by | | | | us see things differently as we mature. As the late |
| others or should we be living a life that's happy and | | | | John Lennon said, life is what happens to you while |
| fulfilling? | | | | you're busy making other plans. |
| By living the kind of life that suits us we're actually | | | | 3. Be Passionate About Your Life |
| doing more for others than if we live our lives on their | | | | There's only one certainty in this life and that's that |
| terms. Ultimately, it's more difficult to be around needy | | | | you'll one day die. How long you have before that |
| people will little sense of self worth than it is to be | | | | happens is anybody's guess but what you do with that |
| around those who know what they want and where | | | | time is entirely up to you. |
| they're heading. Sure, there will always be those who | | | | Live your life to the full and believe that there's never a |
| would rather control us than enjoy watching us grown | | | | better time to do anything than right now. Putting things |
| and thrive as independent individuals, but are they really | | | | off until another time is just a way of hiding behind our |
| the kind of people you want in your life? | | | | fears - either that or sheer laziness. |
| In order to feel any sense of self worth, there are five | | | | By being passionate about your life you're showing |
| points that must be fulfilled. | | | | that your believe in yourself and your value as a |
| 1. Don't let others invalidate your feelings | | | | human being. Don't let others talk you out of doing |
| How many times haven't you been told to 'lighten up', | | | | whatever you choose to. Listening to others tell you |
| 'get a grip', don't look so miserable', 'stop being so | | | | what they would do is of no value to you - it isn't them |
| emotional' or similar words that invalidate your feelings? | | | | who's doing it, it's you and only you can know what's |
| While this will never stop, simply because controlling | | | | right for you. |
| personalities will always try to control us through our | | | | 4. Don't Be Afraid of Failure |
| emotions, it's important that you ignore their commands | | | | Fear of failure stops far too many people from ever |
| and accept that your feelings are your own to deal | | | | trying anything new, especially when they're |
| with as you see fit. If possible, avoid people who are | | | | surrounded by negative people who will tell them "it'll |
| intent on invalidating you. | | | | never work" or "you'll just be wasting your time", or |
| 2. Make Your Own Plan | | | | "you'll live to regret it." |
| For those who are too busy trying to please others | | | | Maybe it won't work, but even if you don't get the |
| than pleasing themselves, sailing through life without | | | | result you'd hoped for, you'll be an experience richer |
| any plan or goal can appear to be the only real way | | | | and that certainly isn't a waste of time or anything |
| of living. The truth is, those who value themselves also | | | | you'd need to regret. |
| value their lives and therefore want to get the most | | | | Failure is part of living. If we succeeded in everything |
| out of it as possible. | | | | we did, life would become boring and predictable. Dare |
| Think about the things you'd like to achieve in your life, | | | | to take a risk and inject some excitement into you life. |
| then think about the time you think it'll take to achieve | | | | 5. Lighten Up |
| each of them. Your plan doesn't have to consist of | | | | Don't take life so seriously. Laughter really is a great |
| major life-changing achievements but also smaller, less | | | | medicine that releases endorphins (feel good |
| important things like learning to knit or buying a bicycle. | | | | chemicals), eases pain and boosts our immune system. |
| Those who are used to having you live your life to | | | | You may well find yourself being chastised for taking |
| please them will undoubtedly try telling you that you | | | | things lightly but because this is your life and you make |
| can't change a plan once it's made and that, if you do, | | | | your own choices, the opinions of others will no longer |
| you're a loser who can't stick with anything. That's | | | | matter. Life is to be enjoyed so why not enjoy it? |