100 Essential Life Lessons

 

1.       Make being happy a priority

2.       Travel; see as much of the world as you can

3.       Learn to play a musical instrument

4.       Live beneath your means

5.       Forgive yourself. Forgive others. For your sake, not theirs

6.       Learn to swim

7.       Don’t postpone joy

8.       Take responsibility for your life

9.       Remember Henry Ford’s admonishment: “Whether you think, you can or whether you think you can’t,            you’re right”

10.   Set S-M-A-R-T goals

11.   Set small goals in the short run and big goals in the long run

12.   Pay yourself first: save 10% of what you earn

13.   Remember there are always 2 sides to every story

14.   Give 10% of your earnings to the less fortunate

15.   Don’t go into bad debt

16.   Create your own definition of success

17.   Don’t smoke. Don’t abuse alcohol. Don’t do drugs

18.   Remember the four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover

19.   Follow the golden rule: Treat others like you want them to treat you

20.   Get regular exercise

21.   Follow a healthy diet. Eat lots of antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, and whole grains

22.   Learn CPR

23.   Learn a foreign language

24.   Become an expert at something

25.   Write a book

26.   Be kind to children and animals

27.   Know basic history and geography

28.   Cultivate your emotional intelligence

29.   Keep a first aid kit in your house and in your car

30.   Have regular medical and dental checking

31.   Learn to take compliments

32.   Learn to take criticism

33.   Be authentic

34.   Don’t take action when you’re angry

35.   Choose your spouse carefully; much of your happiness will depend on this one decision

36.   Worry is a waste of time

37.   Never drive when you’ve been drinking

38.   Never give up

39.   Drink lots of water

40.   Learn something new every day

41.   Continuously count your blessings

42.   Don’t gossip

43.   Become an expert in time management

44.   Follow your instincts; rely on your intuition

45.   Acknowledge those who have helped you

46.   Find a mentor

47.   Read voraciously

48.   Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are of your own

49.   Don’t procrastinate

50.   Make a bucket list; refer to it often

51.   Smile a lot; laugh a lot

52.   Admit your mistakes

53.   Keep informed, whether it’s by reading the daily paper, watching the news, or reading a periodical such as “Time” or “Newsweek”

54.   Meditate. Take up yoga. Set aside quiet time every day

55.   Get organized

56.   Don’t buy things you don’t need just because they’re on sale

57.   Cherish your friends and family

58.   Look for opportunities to praise others

59.   Don’t take yourself too seriously

60.   During difficult times remember this: “ And this too shall pass”

61.   When things go wrong remember that few things are as bad as they first seem

62.   Keep in mind that mistakes are stepping stones to success. Don’t be afraid to fail

63.   Have a plan

64.   Choose your friends wisely: 80% of your life experiences – both the good and the bad – will come as a direct result of the people you hang out with

65.   Be remarkable

66.   Persevere

67.   Know when to cut your losses

68.   Have a magnum opus

69.   Keep in mind that life is not a dress rehearsal

70.   If you don’t know the answer, say so; then go and find the answer

71.   Remember that one of life’s only constants is change

72.   Ask for what you want

73.   Create value for others

74.   Apply the power or leverage: leverage your manage and your time

75.   Develop multiple streams of income

76.   Be your own boss: start your own business

77.   Don’t renege on your promises, whether to others or to yourself

78.   Examine your beliefs on a regular basis and ask yourself if what you believe is serving well

79.   Feel the fear and then do it anyway

80.   Don’t worry about what other people think

81.   Listen to the advice of others but then make your own decisions

82.   Change the things you can and accept the things you can’t

83.   Cultivate your creativity

84.   Develop your listening skills

85.   Decide what you want

86.   Focus in what you want instead of thinking about what you don’t want

87.   Begin; every journey begins by taking the first step

88.   Have fun

89.   Every time you fall simply get up again

90.   Strive for excellence, not for perfection

91.   Learn to live in the present moment

92.   Be proactive

93.   Choose your battles wisely

94.   Don’t argue for your limitations

95.   Learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary

96.   ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent’

97.   Find work you love

98.   ‘You catch more flies with honey’

99.   Take a course on personal finances in college

100.            Fill your life with love