Welcome to Episode #90 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “12 Tips for a Happy Life.”
We all a love a list, don’t we? Well, here’s a new one for ya!
To be honest, I actually compiled this list a few years ago thinking it would make a nice poster someday… and maybe someday it still will! But for now, I just want to get it out of my notebook and say it!
Of course, living a happy life based on 12 quick tips is easier said than done! But if even one or two of these reminders can make a difference to you today, great! Come back in a couple of months and give it another listen… maybe a couple of different ones will make a difference then!
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Thanks for listening! Keep fighting for a happy life!
12 Tips for a Happy Life
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Transcript
Today, 12 quick tips to help you fight for a happy life—on the mats, at home, in the office, on the street…anywhere!
12 – LISTEN UP. If you think you know everything that just proves you know nothing. That’s why you should spend a day—a whole day—saying nothing. Instead, absorb what the world and all the people in it are saying. You don’t have to like it, or agree with it, but challenge yourself to at least listen to it.
11 – SPEAK UP. If you want something, say it out loud. If you don’t want something, say it out loud. Practice getting your ideas and feelings out of your head, out of your heart, and into the world. Speaking up not only brings your ideas to life, but who knows—you might just catch the ear of someone who feels the same way. So, stand up and speak up.
10 – TOUGHEN UP. No matter who you are or what you want to do in this life, you’re going to take hits and hit walls. Frustration, anger, and pain don’t make you special. So, no whining. No blaming. No excuses.
I’m not saying you haven’t been through rough times, I’m reminding you that you survived. The best medicine for any wound is to move on. Don’t forget—there’s always someone out there doing more with less. So, toughen up, get up, and keep going.
9 – GUARD UP. You know you’re going take hits in life, but that doesn’t mean you have to make it easy to get hit. So, be careful who you call a friend. Be smart with your money. Exercise, eat right, and sleep well.
No, you don’t have to be afraid of the world—it’s usually a beautiful place full of beautiful people—but you should still prepare for bad luck, bad weather, a bad economy, or bad guys. So, keep your guard up and protect yourself for the battles to come.
8 – TEAM UP. Whatever it is that makes you feel alive, there are others out there who feel the same way. Connect with them. Take a class. Join a team. Build a team.
Wherever you want to go, remember you don’t have to travel alone. There is strength, wisdom, and comfort in numbers—even if that number is two. So, find your kind and team up.
7 – GEAR UP. You need a new computer—buy it. A chair with back support, dependable transportation, a punching bag, a hammer—hey, if you need it, save up and pay up.
Talent, hard work, and ambition are powerful tools, but they’re usually not enough. Investing in equipment is investing in yourself. Get the tools you need to succeed.
6 – GIVE UP. No, not on your dreams. Give up on anything that’s stopping you from achieving your dreams. Stop wasting time staring at screens when there’s work to do. Stop hanging around people who like the old you a lot more than the new you.
Time and energy are short and getting shorter…don’t waste them on anything or anybody that doesn’t keep you moving in the direction you want to go. Give up what you don’t need to make room for what you do need.
5 – BREAK IT UP. Routines are important, but don’t get stuck in a rut. Keep experimenting to see if it’s there’s a better way to use your time and energy. Exercise earlier, email later, more food/less food/different food. Set a routine that works for you and stick to it. But then, every couple months or so, break it up. Because if your routine is effective, your life will change. Make sure your routine changes with it!
4 – LOOK UP. When all you do is work and worry, it’s easy to feel lost and alone. If that happens, look up. Remember the big picture. Get up early and watch the sun come up… or stay up late and just stare at the moon. Remind yourself that this is your world, your universe. You were born here. You belong here.
Connecting with the sky is both calming and empowering. So, the next time you feel trapped inside your head or inside your life, step outside. Look up and take advantage of the original universal health care system.
3 – SHOW UP. Winning isn’t a day’s work… it’s a lifestyle. That means you don’t just work when you feel like it… you work when you don’t feel like it. That’s how you’ll make the biggest difference in your life. If you want more than what you have now, you need to do more than you do now. So, show up, every day, and do it.
2 – HAND UP. Hey—it’s not all about you… or at least it shouldn’t be. So, even though you’re busy making your dreams come true, make time to help someone else make their dream come true, too. Especially when you’re feeling stuck, or overwhelmed, or unsure of what to do next, get out of your head and look for a way to give somebody a hand up. A way to use your time and talent for someone else’s cause. That’s not just good for them, it’s good for you.
Hey! You made it to number 1. Good—because this one might be the most important. Ready?
1 – LIGHTEN UP. Doubt and drama are toxins. Stress and fear are poisons. They won’t just kill your dreams, they might just kill you, too. As much as you can, train yourself to enjoy the struggle and be proud of your pain.
Remember—win or lose, we’re all just playing our part in this crazy game. In the end, we all end up the same—in a box or burned up. So, until the Big Ref in the sky blows the final whistle, play the game. Play hard, but don’t take any of it too seriously or too personally. Lighten up and brighten up your whole life.
And on that note, smiles up, my friend. Let that smile be your shield and your sword. Keep fighting for a happy life.
