44 Life Lessons

Felt right to share these at the ripe old age of 44 🙂

Take what feels right, discard the rest and do share some of your own.

1. Life is to be lived, not performed.
2. Your childhood is the past. Break the shackles – the life you want is on the other side, waiting for you to grow up.
3. Nobody owes you anything. Not your family, not your friends, not your employers, nobody. You get what you are willing to work for – eventually.
4. Don’t be too hard on yourself. The whole world is there for that. First and foremost, you deserve your own kindness.
5. Be tough enough for business, and soft enough for love. These are states of mind – you can and should experience both.
6. If a child feels loved, heard and seen by you – then know this for sure – God is in that moment, blessing you.
7. In business relationships, verify first & trust later. In personal relationships do the opposite.
8. Never over-stretch to prove your worth. It is a direct sign that you do not value yourself.
9. Focus on trying to be right instead of being proven right – the latter is not worth your energy.
10. At the end of the day – you are only answerable to two entities – your own conscience and God. So, do cultivate a good connection with both.
11. Being honest when it really matters is more commendable than being honest the rest of the time. That’s the real test of integrity – telling the truth even when it could affect you adversely and the stakes are high.
12. Difficulties build character. Don’t run away at the first sign of problems, it is an opportunity to build character – and believe it or not, those will not come often.
13. Once you have learnt the lesson, move on. And do it quickly.
14. Always attribute any and all success to luck and blessings.
15. Never disclose all your plans.
16. Real love is best expressed without money being involved.
17. A weakness could signal poor character. But vulnerability is a sign of strength.
18. Life is easier when you are financially independent. Secure yourself first.
19. How a person conducts themselves should always impress you more than their position, house or car.
20. Indulge yourself every once in while and always without explanation.
21. Learn to trust your instincts. There is a science behind why your mind or body signals something is wrong.
22. There is absolutely no excuse for not exercising at least thrice a week.
23. Everyday, some mundane activity should be performed where you don’t need to think at all. This is the period in which your brain will process difficult things.
24. People will judge you. That’s okay.
25. Discipline looks different for different people. Don’t blindly adopt someone else’s template.
26. Say ‘I’m not sure’ when you don’t know something. And then ask all the questions you would to learn about it.
27. Write down your own beliefs about religion, money, love and character. And question them from time to time.
28. When you experience conflict, move your body – it will clear your head.
29. Some things are best left unsaid. But do get them out of your system.
30. Relax and hydrate, often and well.
31. If you want to have a tangible long-term goal in life, make it about having a certain amount of money. It will guide you sensibly throughout.
32. Don’t be consistent if it does not make sense anymore.
33. Always expect yourself, people and things to change.
34. You might not be satisfied with the current situation, but you can always be happy. Satisfaction and Happiness are not the same things.
35. It is called retail ‘therapy’ for a reason. Get real therapy instead.
36. For any decision – big or small – always give yourself a timeline. Don’t keep analyzing forever.
37. Find out how you like to learn. It will help you grow exponentially in all areas.
38. Actively seek inspiration – in books, in music, in art, in people – it improves the overall quality of your life.
39. When you travel, walk as much as you can to take in the real sights and culture. That – and not just travel – enriches you.
40. Learn to meditate and be still. It is great for your nervous system and has many other wellness benefits.
41. Don’t speak ill of people who wronged you and never let them find out that you know. Cut the cord, walk away and never look back. That’s the best strategy.
42. Asking for help is good. But articulate it well and always offer something back.
43. Don’t dwell on why some people behave the way they do – unless you are a behavioral scientist or the concerned person is your child.
44. When you learn something, share it as far and wide as you can. Knowledge is like Wealth – it should flow to remain fresh, alive and abundant.

Best,

Ruta