In order to live out your life to the fullest, it is important to keep some common philosophies in mind. These could be as simple as “treat others how you want to be treated” or “be a good person”, but they serve a purpose nonetheless. All different types of people have their own unique methods for interpreting life and responding to issues. Below, I will be discussing some key ideologies that I find myself thinking back to on a daily basis.

Life is a series of recent events: Don’t get too caught up in one moment

Life is simply a process of one emotion/event coming by and forcing you to forget about the last one. Focusing too much on past events can cause you to be unprepared for the what the future holds. I know it is extremely difficult to imagine the next thing when you’re consumed by the present, but I promise that by focusing on being a more stable, reasonable person that you will be better prepared for many of life’s upcoming challenges.

Live your life, not somebody else’s

Trying to be just like someone else by ignoring your passions and traits will only lead you to become a hollow shell of yourself. It is impossible to duplicate a life of another, so by constantly trying to conform to that persona, all that you’re doing is losing sight of what makes you you! All the fast cars, expensive watches, and popularity in the world won’t get rid of that hole in your chest if you don’t stay true to yourself.

Growth is a mindset, not an action

True personal growth comes from creating healthier thinking habits that, in turn, influence changes you make in every day life. One cannot just go out and change your shortcomings overnight. It is a process that starts with identifying a problem, and then dedicating yourself to thinking differently every time that issue arises. You become the person you want to be by mentally preparing yourself to better deal with adversity in the future. In order to truly grow and become a better person, you must adopt the bend not break mentality.

Experience as much as possible

For me, and making strides towards a more successful future happens when I retain new information that helps me round out some of my misunderstandings. By that, I mean experiencing many new and different cultures/ways of life in order to gain some sort of perspective as to what others go through in their own lives. By doing so, it improves communication skill and makes you a much more accessible person by many unique groups of people. Humans have an instinctual urge to connect with others, and by understanding where others’ thoughts originate from, it is easier to reason, and connect with them on a deeper level.

Every day is a process of creating the best you that you can be

Nobody other than yourself can make you into the person you want to be. They can’t take your classes for you, they can’t go to the gym for you, and they can’t fix your relationships for you. So no significant other, parent, or coworker can just do it for you. They may be able to give you some helpful tips to follow, or open your mind to new ways of thinking, but it is always crucial to remain an individual throughout this. Relying on others to make life better when you are down on your luck only teaches you the terrible habit of basing your own happiness on the thoughts of another. At the end of the day, you’re born alone, and you die alone, so filling that time in between with positivity and a life worth living is the responsibility of you alone.