If you have ever had an existential crisis which left you wondering why there is no handbook on life explaining those simple, yet deep, questions that we all consider, you are not alone. While I have not found such a dissertation, there are a few basic elements which have brought me understanding and peace in my search for answers. To my own dismay, I am the furthest thing from an expert on life. My 16-year-old self would have argued differently.

So, I have compiled a list of things NOT to do.

1. Don't live your life for social media

While in the technology age, it is challenging not to get swept up by the feeling of being constantly connected. Spending too much time letting yourself be consumed by selfies and favoriting tweets can not only quickly turn you into a narcissist, but can also lead to anxiety and countless other problems. Since when does how many likes you receive on a picture determine your value as a human? It does not. Certainly, do not waste your time falling into that rabbit hole of empty self-assurance.

2. Don't live your life for the newest thing

This is a dangerous trap to fall into. Once you obtain the most trendy new item, another one surfaces, and you are sent into a whirlwind of competing with others to have the next best thing, whatever it may be. Undoubtedly, nobody ends up winning, and it is a fruitless endeavor. Just be content with what you do have. You'll discover that your appreciation for everything will grow when you stop craving something new.

3. Don't live your life for your appearance

You are not what you look like physically. You are much more than the way your facial structure appears in "bad lighting." One day you will be 85 wondering why you spent so much time emphasizing how frizzy your hair looked as you were walking to class on a humid morning. Seriously, be grateful for your very own fountain of youth.

4. Don't live your life for others

By this I do NOT mean "don't put everything you have into helping people." You SHOULD do that. I DO mean something completely different. Don't live your life in a certain manner because it will please or appease someone else. This will conclude with you becoming a person that is far from your authentic self, which in turn, will surely assist you in becoming a miserable human.

5. Don't live your life for the end result

Investing your time waiting to reach the next milestone, goal, or weekend, leaves you wasting precious moments that you will never be able to live again. This moment is all that you have! Don't waste it waiting for another moment, which is just as fleeting as the one before. Enjoy every second that you have of your existence. Savor the moments with your family. When they pester you, be grateful that they are still there to perturb you in the first place. Keep your mind centered in the present. That is why the now is called the present in the first place; it is a gift. Treasure the journey, not the destination.

Allocating too much of your time pondering the negative aspects of life listed above and letting them control any part of your decision making and general life path is toxic to your transcendence. Do little things every day to become closer to your authentic self, the self that is interested in the elements of life that can't be held. The most genuine happiness does not come from likes on Instagram or having the newest iPhone. True contentment and character building experiences seldomly stem from anything that money can even remotely purchase. If you pay attention to the little things, such as watching the waves at the beach kiss the shore, the way your parents look at you when they are proud, and the feeling you get when you are able to help someone in need, you will find that these sources of happiness last much longer, and cost a whole lot less.