As you get older, you tend to ask yourself "am I happy?" and sometimes you will come to the realization that you aren't. Guess what? That is okay and completely normal. Whether you're 12 or 46 years old you are never too old to change your lifestyle. I feel as if some people think that once they hit a certain point in their life, however people view them is the way that they have to be forever. Others get so comfortable with their daily habits that they're afraid of trying new things and coming out of their comfort zone.
If you're not happy, only you can control that and are able to make a difference. I was able to reinvent myself with these helpful tips:
1. Try something you've never done before.
Whether it's going for a hike or trying Peruvian food for the first time, go for it. And hey, let's say you don't like it, you can always say you tried it and you'll learn more about yourself. Now let's say you think in order to try new things you need "money". This is not true whatsoever. You could spend a day at your local library, go biking on your nearest bike route, or have a picnic at a park with a friend while listening to music. There are so many options that the only thing trying something new requires is your motivation and imagination.
2. Try asking 5 people how they are doing every day.
Late at night when you're laying in bed, instead of pointlessly scrolling through Facebook, Snapchat, or Instagram, catch up with someone. Wouldn't it be better to know how an old friend is doing? And if they're doing well, share the happiness with them. If they're not doing well, try and be the source of changing that. Even though this may not seem like an easy task (because in the back of your head you're afraid that person won't care) try and stay positive because more than likely you probably made that person's day. The more you do this, the more you will have the opportunity to reconnect or rekindle an old relationship.
3. Try changing your appearance up.
Even though people shouldn't judge you by the way you look, small changes can alter your outlook on life. Changing for yourself is better than changing for others. If you're feeling bland, don't be afraid to try winged eyeliner for a week or cutting that extra inch off when you get a trim. Whether someone notices it or not, you can gain that extra boost of confidence you never had before. For instance, I once tried using a middle part hairstyle for a while. At first I was uncomfortable and the only comments I got was that I looked different in a good way. No one could spot out what was different about me but they noticed; and that gave me motivation to try out other spontaneous decisions.
4. Go with your gut and do what makes you happy.
Many people struggle with this. We tend to second guess ourselves on the smallest things. If you're in the mood to eat a burger, go grill yourself a burger. If you want to have a better understanding of your inner self, go ahead and meditate. If you're thinking about someone, call or text them. How many times have you looked back in life and wished you did something different? The feeling that you get in your gut has meaning behind it and can ultimately affect your everyday life.
5. Don't lose hope.
You need to be reminded that all these tasks do not happen overnight. But if you really want to pursue something very beneficial for yourself, time won't mean anything. Waking up every morning and knowing different things about yourself will make you more in control of how you want your day to go. When you find yourself, it will definitely make you set more goals for the future. Your positive energy will reflect off you and people in your everyday life will notice it. Change is not something that should be feared, it is a beautiful thing and hope is always needed in order to continue a positive, euphoric life.
One thing that I really want you to know is that you are not alone. Some people take years to realize that they need a change in their life. Other people may have passed wishing they did things differently. We only have one life to truly accomplish everything we've dreamed of. Make goals you want to achieve every month and strive to do it with your all. There's nothing more meaningful than knowing you love yourself for who you truly were meant to be.
