Some of us like to blend in, fit in and feel like we belong to a bigger part of something, the rest of us, not so much. Some of us could not care any less if we belonged or fit in anywhere. In our world, we fit perfectly and that’s really all that matters. Being authentic takes time. Some of us are naturally authentic while for some, it is something that eventually happens after years of learning, growing, evolving and sometimes, not putting up with anyone’s bullshit anymore.

Authentic people are a rare and beautiful bunch. There are some things they do so differently and quite often mistaken for arrogant or conceited, maybe even full of themselves. Such is not the case at all. They just got their stuff together is all. So what are some of the things that truly authentic people do?

1. They’ll stand alone.

If there is a cause they firmly believe in, they will stand alone if they have to. They don’t care if no one will support them or stand with them. They don’t even care if people laugh at them or ridicule them. They don’t care one bit. If it’s something they support strongly, they’ll be there, alone if necessary.

2. Speak their mind.

Don’t expect any sugar coating opinions or debates from the authentic person. They will tell it like it is. They have a strong voice, they have an opinion and they aren’t afraid to show and use both. They aren’t trying to be bold or ignorant, they just have something pretty serious to say.

3. Hang out with like minded people.

They don’t even bother wasting time on small or narrowed minded people. There is no time to be wasted on fake people. Authentic people will either repel people or draw them in. Only another authentic person will totally understand them anyway.

4. Gut instinct.

That’s a serious thing and they listen to and pay attention to theirs always. It isn’t anything to be ignored and they never will. They know their intuition is always spot on and ignoring it comes with serious consequences. They listen to their gut and encourage others to do so as well.

5. Appreciate and love alone time.

This is their time to hang out wit h themselves, listen to the music they love, just be themselves, alone and enjoying their own company. They don’t always have to be around people and even in a relationship, they still expect so me alone time. They appreciate it and give it back. And they aren’t afraid of being alone.

6. People detox.

They know when it’s completely necessary to do this. Some people just don’t fit into our lives for whatever reason and they won’t waste time with people who are fake or not mentally stimulating enough. They will keep their circle small because quality friendships are far more important than the quantity.

7. No apology necessary.

Ever. They rarely apologize for who they are or why they are the way they are. They are completely and totally comfortable in their own skin and make no apologies if they feel someone is shocked, put off or uncomfortable. They are who they are and you will either love them or hate them but one thing is for certain, if you don’t accept them for who they are , they could not care less.

8. They don’t try to impress.

They will wear what they want, when they want without inhibitions. Whether it be flowers in their hair, striped leggings, headbands and dreadlocks, they stay true to their style and fashion sense (even though some of us think their fashion is way out there) and wear it with pride. They love who they are and aren’t afraid to let people know.

You could say the authentic person is a free spirit. A lover, giver, fighter, advocate, charmer or whatever else but one thing remains true, they are who they are, unapologetically.

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Holding the dreams of little high school girls everywhere, keeping a daily diary or journal has often been perceived as the pastime of lost-in-the-clouds adolescence thanks to Hollywood and its environs. Many see it as a waste of time or space, resulting in a bunch of ratty looking books laying around the house. But keeping a daily journal has a wealth of real world benefits. Let’s check out a few observations here.

1. Get Off Your Phone/Computer

I am all for technology these days and without it I’m sure we would all be hopelessly lost. What was life like before the internet anyways? As much as we love being connected, it’s nice to accept some reprieve for a bit. Instead of falling asleep to your Facebook feed, try writing a journal of your day instead. Scribe about the weather, who you talked to, your financial upkeep, and any funny observations. You’ll be amazed how great it feels to write long hand and appreciate your handwriting again, and be able to reflect on the pros and cons of your day, and how you can make every day matter.

2. Stop To Smell The Roses

A popular expression can be applied to our examination here. Keeping a journal allows us to keep track of interesting events…that we didn’t even know happened! Imagine keeping a journal for the next five years. In the future, you can look back and laugh at all the interesting things your past self noticed, and compare it to your observations in real time. You will appreciate your eye for the little things, and gives you something to consider for the rest of your life.

3. A Healthy Mind

Being able to document every day allows you to travel back in time. Instead of stressing about times and dates, you will easily be able to relive moments from years ago – to the day! Not only is this entertaining to do with friends, but you are also expanding your capacity for long term memory, and staving off any early onset of Alzheimer’s or similar brain deterioration. Your ability to remember particular moments will always be fresh, and you can be proud of the life you lived up til now.

4. A Living Timepiece

These days we have to wait for movies to come out, next episodes to air, and new music to be released. But in keeping a diary, we don’t have to wait for anything. Every day, you are at the helm of a literary masterpiece, controlled by you. And you don’t have to limit yourself to writing about your day – soon after you develop comfort with a pen you will be writing about your thoughts, feelings, emotions and observations. Becoming comfortable with yourself and your life. Making better decisions. Watching your life happen every day in real time. You can change and adjust it as you go, weighing your positive and negative qualities to round out your soul. And who couldn’t use a little soul food?

5. Creating A New Healthy Routine

If your daily routine today consists of waking up, turning off your alarm clock (on your phone) and opening up the news on Facebook, you may end up seeing it from the other side. Instead, keeping a daily journal let’s you open up a new hobby, one using pen, paper, and the power of your mind. You may start writing poetry as you go, or recounting funny things, opening up your sense of humour and letting you explore yourself. You don’t have to be creative to write a journal – but who knows what’s going to come out?

6. The Satisfaction of Creating Something

Art is essential in our society, but at the base level every new piece of art is simply something that wasn’t there before. When you start a new journal, you have the satisfaction of creating something that wasn’t there before. A document. A news report. An autobiography – of you! After one year of consistent journaling, you have written an entire book – about your life! Can you call your life a work of art? Absolutely! You certainly can now. So go outside, buy a new notebook and a pen you like, and start scribing. Who knows who will read about your amazing life in the future.

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Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing worse than stagnation. You’ve been at the same job for too long; you’ve been texting the same people for too long; you’ve been drinking the same coffee for too long. At some point you’ve become complacent and lost the creative spirit to find new hobbies, or the will to break out of your routine. It’s starting to get to you, and you have flashes of a younger, more virile self. Don’t worry! It happens to everyone. But not everyone knows how to combat complacency. That’s ok too. Here are some suggestions for how to add a bit of spice to your life without much money or effort.

1. Go To The Movies More Often

Adults now are becoming more comfortable with the idea of youth activities entering their life. Adult colouring books and simple mobile phone games like Candy Crush have re entered the lexicon of socially acceptable all-ages fun. Cinema’s, what used to be the places for first dates and late nights after school at the arcade are now multi media complexes. Enjoy them! Even if you’re not interested in movies, try it out. Two hours allows you to escape your world and enter a new one, even for a fraction of a day. Try this – have some free time? Just show up at the movies, see what’s playing, and go see it. Worst case? You lost $10. Best case? You had a really fun time that you didn’t know you could have, and learned something new about yourself. Have fun!

2. Turn Off Your Phone

I know. I’m sorry I said it. I am all too aware that this is something some of us cannot do for professional reasons or otherwise. But for those who can, watch the development ensue. Turning off your phone allows your mind to search for other forms of entertainment. For me, I start cleaning my house! You’ll listen to old records, clean places you didn’t know were dirty, and enjoy the social detachment and time for yourself. And when you get back to your phone tomorrow, you’ll have lots of messages to catch up on – which will make you feel extra- important!

3. Join A Monthly Club

I’m not forcing you to join Cindy’s Spin Class on Tuesday’s at 10 pm. But you would be surprised how many monthly clubs there are that are affordable and interesting. Here’s a recommendation – join a monthly coffee club. You can find a host of them online from all over the world. Every month you can choose a new flavour of coffee to try, learn more about coffee roasting, and, usually, have the satisfaction of supporting a new start-up, which are often fronted by young, progressive entrepreneurs. So you get to help out small business, and attract a new hobby, and have personalized coffee delivered to your door. Why not?!

4. Cook Something Totally Different

It might be a strange investment, but hear me out. Go out, and buy a random $30 cookbook. It could be Thai, Indian, or the Encyclopedia of Tiramisu. But what it’s going to do is send you on a new path. Once you’ve picked a recipe to focus on, you will be meandering down new aisles, learning about new products and compositions, and using your kitchen in a new way. It will distract your mind and allow you to focus on an interesting and delicious new project. Your cooking skills will improve, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that! Reap the benefits afterwards by chowing down with your friends, and posting pictures on Facebook to make everyone else jealous. Who knew you could cook?

5. Take A New Route To Work

This one may be obvious but the surprising results can be positively interpreted. Take your new route for example. Maybe it’s a longer way to work (in fact, I encourage it). Along the way, stop at a new place for coffee. Develop a relationship with the new baristas. Look around for cool new shops you didn’t know existed. Wake up at a different time and focus on re- adjusting your standard routine. It’s so simple, you didn’t even realize it! You might even make new friends you didn’t know existed – all because you took a different road to work!

6. Make a Puzzle With Your Friends

Although colouring books may be all the rage, they are still a bit too introverted of an activity to command real change. Chances are, you have other friends who are feeling a bit stagnant. Instead of going to the same old coffee shop or laundromat to catch up, invite your friend over to make a puzzle! Although it seems childish, you won’t believe how fast four hours goes by when you are trying to align pieces of pandas and whales, and it’s a great chance to catch up on old gossip and fun conversation.

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More than 60% of our population is expected to move into urban centers by 2020. There are over 1 billion people on Facebook and more than 2 billion mobile phones in use. Online dating has become a huge market while people have been meeting in real life situations less and less. With statistics like this, why do people feel lonelier and more isolated than ever before? We find our ability to engage small talk and develop trustworthy relationships diminishing as our energies pour into Instagram and Newsfeeds.

Regardless, we still have to date and get there eventually. Despite our social inadequacies and anxieties, people are dating more and more following the growing population trends. Worried about how to impress on your first date? Fear not! Browse this list for some interesting tips about how to close your first date.

1. Remember Your Inside Jokes

While in your free time you’ve been chatting away, your work-life time has been ripe with obstacle. Every day you are bound by work, distracted by prices and carried away by the sexy guy or girl in the elevator. So, when you get to that dinner table for your first date, do your homework and re-read your messages! What was the last thing you said that made him/her laugh? Did he/she have a funny picture you’ve always wanted to poke fun at? What about that silly fact from each other’s hometown? These will be great conversation starters, and open the door for a slew of relaxing topics.

2. Be Comfortable

I’m not saying bring your pyjamas to the party, but we’re almost there. Believe it or not, you can be comfortable and sexy without having to sacrifice all your human comforts! Your favourite necklace is a bit too heavy? Wear the smaller one. It won’t matter to him. Your lucky boxer-briefs are a bit tight? Just wear the loose ones – it doesn’t matter to her. Skip the bulky watch. Wear flats. Undo your top button. Just relax! Chemical attraction starts after the first few seconds by two consenting parties, and after a few jokes you’ll forget all about what you’re wearing; so you might as well be comfortable while you’re at it.

3. Talk About Anything

When I was a young man I overheard a few guys talking at a bar about how they couldn’t approach women. They were big, strong, handsome guys. What do they have to worry about? From that day on I knew I had nothing to worry about. Girls and guys are all the same. You’ve already set up the date, so the chemical attraction is expected already. After that, realize the humanity behind it all. You’re both two slightly anxious, slightly risk-taking people who live in the same place and are ready for fun. No topics are off! Whatever you’re thinking of, he/she is probably thinking the same. So just let it out and watch the wavelengths sync.

4. Don’t Overthink Anything

How many of you stand in front of your phone or mirror hours before your date practicing lines, rehearsing one-liners in your car, or preparing speeches for unexpected awkward silences? Forget about it. Forget all about it. Take a deep breath and go with the flow. You’re both nervous, and both strangers. Be a leader by leading the conversation with random interjection. Be comfortable with silly jokes, and hold each other’s hands through awkward silences. Oftentimes you both need a break from chatting anyways, and it gives you both a great chance to consider your feelings and enjoy the moment.

5. That Includes Location

“Where should we go?”

“What should we do?”

I can hear the gulp already when this text hits home. Where should you go? What should you do? Just as in life, there’s no rulebook or guidebook for dating. I’ll tell you now that you’re probably not going skydiving or snorkelling with whale sharks, and as you browse through the Yellow Pages you’ll find that Italian restaurant on the corner looking more and more appealing.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Remember that at the end of the day, what really makes a great date is the company you share, not the place it happened. So go to that awful Italian restaurant – and when your food arrives late and in the wrong order, laugh about it together and enjoy the cavalier fun.

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Riddle me this – what’s something we all like to receive, but never like to give? If your first thought was money, you’re on the right track! Interpersonally however, there’s something much less superficial we dislike giving, and that’s the word “sorry.” May it be a reaction to guilt, an offer of condolence or a realization of poor decision making, the word sorry brings forth a plethora of connotations that put our dignity at risk – a situation we never like to find ourselves in. Fortunately, if we concentrate enough and find the right balance of confidence and moral ethics, there are ways we can avoid ever having to use this five letter word.

1. Nothing Can Change The Past

As adults we have all made regretful decisions, and, fortunately, survived them. We know how to move on and to accept the consequences of the past. You know this, and the person you are dealing with knows this. So, why should we say sorry? There are ways to apologize for poor decision making without having to use the word sorry. Instead, recognize that you could have chosen a different path, but defend the reason you went the way you did. It will clarify the situation and help alleviate any heavy confrontation by leveraging the situation.

2. You Are Not Really Sorry For Anything

We are all on this earth enjoying a great life, and we all know that eventually it must come to an end. Our grievances during the stage of death are not to be taken for granted. We lose people that are very special to us, and as we age it happens at a much more prevalent pace. It is automatic verbatim for us to extend our “apologies” at the passing of a friend’s relative, but, why? What exactly are we sorry for? There are different expressions we could use to alleviate stress. Try acknowledging the wonderful life they lived, and the fortune that we are all still here to enjoy their familial legacy. It respects the dead and gives homage to the future.

3. You Did Nothing Wrong

The truth is, it’s hard to be in a relationship. When you are close with another person, your emotions and experiences are intertwined at a distinctly intimate level. When we err, we often find ourselves apologizing for nothing we did wrong in the first place! And the worst part is, we know it.

If we are in an asian culture, we would call this “saving face.” But we don’t have to save, or lose face, if we are mature adults who can see the forest for the trees. We are not children anymore, and part of growing up is developing mature and sound relationships. In this perspective, if we can propagate a relationship built on foundations of trust and honour, we will find that we will never have to apologize for anything because we know that the other person made their decision for a reason and we can understand it civilly.

4. Accepting Defeat Conversely

There are some things we cannot repair so quickly. Some decisions we make are impulsive, worthy of regret, made outside a healthy frame of mind, or a bit more selfish than we intended. That’s ok – no one is perfect. Fortunately, if we can mature to a reasonable level and be able to accept the consequences of all of our decisions, we can recognize the long term effects and be able to act positively on it. Instead of saying sorry, to ourselves our to others, we can bow our head, consider the effects of our choice, and immediately begin reparations for a better, and wiser future.

Remember, every opportunity to say sorry is a learning experience.

5. Believe In Yourself

If you examine your circle of friends and acquaintances, take a mental poll of who and when certain individuals say sorry. I guarantee that you will find that your most confident friends say sorry less. Why is this? It is easy to write it off as arrogance – perhaps these people have personalities that come off as too strong, or their assuredness seems too poignant. But most likely they are not arrogant people – they are confident people. They have strong personalities because they are proud to believe in the morals they have grown into, and can defend their decision making with rational explanations. In the event of err, “sorry,” will not be heard, but instead a sound and methodical explanation can be heard to back up their opinion. Whether you agree with them or not is up to your moral fabric, but they did not have to sacrifice their moral pillar to do so.

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We’ve all read the news today. Millennials have taken over this generation, raised on an attitude of self-importance, emotional worth and being told that they are unique. And I say, what’s wrong with that? Thanks to this attitude we now have a new generation of individually thinking, strong willed entrepreneurs who have changed our lives. Without these bright young minds, we wouldn’t have things Uber, Angry Birds, or drone aircraft technology.

The difference between then and now rests in one word – passion. These are young minds who felt that their contribution could be felt. They were willing to put responsible judgment and natural course on hold to invest in their passion. And it was worth it. Here are some reasons why you should not be afraid to trust in your dreams.

1. Live Your Only Life

Despite the overuse of the expression these days, you only live once is something you should seriously consider. Unfortunately for us mortals, it is true, and in no demographic has it reached home more than with our children and Millennials. Kids these days have dropped out of school to follow their passions, travel the world and hone their talents. And…why not? Without attitudes like this, today we wouldn’t have companies like Microsoft, Pixar, Apple, and a wealth of other world-changing corporations that positively affect all of our daily lives now. Brilliant ideas come from people who look for them, use their time to develop their interests and engage their desires.

2. Don’t Be Afraid Of Failure

At this stage in our life, we have all developed a huge social network, whether in real life, online, or both. Some of our friends are most certainly entrepreneurs; and unfortunately, some of them have failed. We have watched our friends go through the motions of entrepreneurship, from idea, develop, creation, execution, and for this example, the way down as well. But the one thing they all have in common is that they tried. They tried and they did it. With all factors stacked against them, they still carried on, putting everything and anything at stake, because they were following their dreams. And like step 1 resonates, they lived their dream with their only life. Cheers to them.

3. Believe In Your Security Net

If you are lucky enough to be reading this from a developed country, congratulations – you have won the genetic lottery. Our weather is nice and our incomes are relatively high, considering the rest of the world. And this is something the people from step 2 know. They know that no matter if their business succeeds or fails, we are lucky that we have a strong security net of family, friends, or even acquaintances, that can pull us out of trouble even in our darkest moments. That even if we lose $100,000 in our failed business, it’s not the end of the world. They are strong enough to know that sleeping on a couch is not the worst fate in the world. And that even if we have to lose some dignity along the way, every subsequent day will be better than the last.

4. Pull The Trigger

As you might imagine, many of my friends are in online retail. They get to travel the world, work casually from a desk while they order their products, and work 8 hour weeks. But behind the thousands of online sellers living the dream are a million others, watching and wishing.

What’s the difference between these two people? It’s that the people who are selling online finally pulled the trigger. They knew there was high risk. That they could lose money. That their product might fail. But they weren’t afraid to try. They saw the risk, and ran straight for the opportunity, no holds barred. And now while millions of others are still hiding behind their desk with uncertainty, the thousands who went ahead are now sipping mojitos on a beach, watching their bank accounts soar.

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The human mind is wonderful, but it is not perfect. Cognitive biases, for instance, are genuine limitations in our thinking of which we are not consciously aware. Influencing the decisions we make, the views we uphold, or the conclusions we reach, often in a detrimental way, cognitive biases cannot be altogether eliminated, but they can be kept in check through the power of mindfulness.

There are hundreds of cognitive biases, but some have a more significant impact on our lives than others. The following seven cognitive biases are some of the most problematic. Understanding them can help us increase our success in everyday life as well as our self-awareness.

The Choice-Supportive Bias

When we make a choice, we tend to feel good about it and to downplay the benefits our other option(s) could have offered us – psychologists call this the choice-supportive bias. It affects our ability to question our choices and recognize when we’ve made poor choices. It can make us stubbornly persistent in defending our choices, even if they have not been as inspired as we like to believe.

When we hesitate between two careers, two cities, or two people, and in the end we choose one over the other, we may then go on telling ourselves and others all our life that we’ve made the right choice, even if things don’t turn out as we’d hoped they would. Knowing that there is such a thing as a choice-supportive bias can be enough for us to reconsider a past choice before it is too late. We can make a new choice: we can choose to transform our life.

The Information Bias

We have a natural tendency to seek more information than we need. This cognitive bias can be especially dangerous in our times, when the easy availability of information on the Internet can lead to information overload. Because of the information bias, for instance, we may be tempted to read as many self-help books and articles as possible about a particular personal problem we are facing, thinking that the more information we have, the more prepared we will be to deal with it.

But this is not always true. Our predictions, as well as our actions, can be more accurate and more decisive when they are based on less information. In other words, it may be more beneficial for us, as well as for those around us, if we actually act based on the self-help materials we already have rather than hear the same advice repeated over and over again in a different form. The urge to consume information can itself be a way to delay taking decisive, life-changing action.

The Survivorship Bias

In our choice of a job or career, we may be inspired by one individual who has succeeded in that field against all the odds, and whose situation before he or she was successful mirrors our present situation. However, we must be wary of the survivorship bias, which is essentially the error of focusing on surviving examples, in our case the successful individual, while failing to consider other examples that are not visible, i.e. all those individuals who failed.

It doesn’t have to be a discouraging bias, though, only a sobering one – before making up our minds about something important, we should consider not only the few successful examples that get all the publicity, but also the many obscure and forgotten failures.

The Myside Bias (or Confirmation Bias)

In simple terms, the confirmation bias is the unconscious act of favoring and interpreting information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs while downplaying alternatives. We have a natural tendency to agree with those who agree with us or read books that confirm ideas and beliefs we already have. At the same time, we can dislike people who hold different views than us, or books or websites that challenge our existing views.

This bias is such a big part of who we are that it is bound to influence almost all areas of our life. Nevertheless, we can make the conscious effort to be more open to ideas and beliefs that contradict our own, and more patient with the people who express them. We don’t have to agree with them, but if we can refrain from contradicting them, we can forge better human relationships, as well as expand our mind with different perspectives.

The Post-Purchase Rationalization Bias

We sometimes buy things we don’t really need, and yet we rationalize our purchase, telling ourselves and whoever questions us about it that it was an inspired decision. This is the post-purchase rationalization bias in action. Without our realizing it, it can sabotage our plans and dreams by having us accept our purchase decisions unconditionally and, by doing so, spend the money we work hard for instead of using it to help support our passions and dreams.

It applies not only to personal buying decisions but also to business decisions – because of this bias we may validate services or products we buy for our company or business or that we think may help advance our career, when in fact they don’t. One way to minimize the occurrence of this bias in our life is not to buy products or services we don’t absolutely need.

The Negativity Bias

Bad news and unpleasant incidents in general always have a strong grip on us. It’s because our selective attention naturally focuses on the bad news rather than on the good, often because the consequences of the former are more serious and long-lasting. While this cognitive bias may have helped our species evolve, today, when bad news makes all the headlines, it can negatively affect our attitude to life.

When that bad news is close to home, such as when our partner tells us something we don’t want to hear, it can hit us especially hard, making us pay little attention any good news that’s also given us. This bias can sow much negativity in our mind, which then reflects in our attitude toward society and other people. We must stay positive.

Observational Selection Bias

When we are unemployed and looking for a job, we tend to notice people who work everywhere, and we envy them. Similarly, when we find ourselves single after a relationship, we tend to see couples everywhere and feel lonely and sad. It may seem natural, but it can be explained even better by the observational selection bias, which makes us notice things we didn’t pay that much attention to before and which we may mistakenly assume occur more frequently now than they used to.

This bias may give rise to the false perception that so many other people are better off than us, making us suffer even more. But that is not true – our mind only focuses on what we lack, constantly reminding us of it.

Recognizing and understanding these cognitive biases means more than reading about them. You have to make a conscious effort to understand them when they kick into action. It takes some effort, but it will make you more successful and more aware – a better person all-round.

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Happy life anyone? Who doesn’t want a happy life? We work, we stress, we run around like crazy, kids, family, home, work, extracurricular activities, life sure is super busy. When do es it get fun? It seems in today’s way of life, we are all working ourselves to the bone in hopes of making ends meet, keeping a nice roof over our heads, making sure there is enough money for little Emily to go to university in 15 years. Yes, life is tough. But there are some things you can start doing today to make life better.

Life doesn’t have to be so hard or unhappy. It is simply as hard as you make it out to be. Here are a few ways to get the most out of life and try to actually enjoy it and not stress so much.

1. Treat yourself daily.

Even to something small like an ice cream cone. Take 5 minutes, more if you can, and go get yourself a nice treat. Something that will make you ridiculously happy. Maybe a flavoured coffee at your favourite café or French fries from the chip stand. Whatever you decide, do it for you.

2. Donate.

When we can help someone else, you are guaranteed to feel better. You can donate clothes to your local shelter or donate time if you have it. Even an hour a week. Perhaps you can donate even $5 a week to the pet shelter. No matter what you decide, it will surely make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. You’ll want to do it all the time.

3. Meditate.

Some people still have resistance to this stating they don’t have enough time to meditate or they can’t calm down long enough to do it. Meditation takes a bit of practice but I guarantee, you can get a good session in, in under 10 minutes. Start practicing. You’ll get the hang of it and soon you won’t be able to go a day without doing it.

4. Smile more.

Sounds simple enough but why don’t more of us do it if it’s so simple? We are afraid of looking like weirdos walking down the street with a silly grin on our faces but do it anyway and see how much happier you instantly feel. People will smile back. How can that not make your day better?

5. Read inspirational quotes.

Every day for at least 5 minutes you should do this and read then out loud. Hear yourself reading them. Say them with meaning and enthusiasm. Today will be an awesome day. Say it again and again. Read lots of different ones or the same one over and over again. However, you choose to do it, make sure you do it. It will instantly make you feel optimistic and look forward to having a great day.

6. Treat a stranger to kindness.

Buy someone a cup of coffee, a homeless person lunch, walk an elderly person across the street. Do something nice for someone you don’t know. A stranger. The world needs more kind and helpful people. If you can’t find one, be one. When we can help someone who can’t help us back, the feeling equates to pure joy.

7. Get some fresh air.

Some people who may work from home or not work at all tend to lock themselves up and not leave the house for days. You need to get some vitamin D in you and some fresh air. Once you get outside you will see great things like butterflies and chipmunks and all sorts of other ridiculously cute critters. That will make you appreciate the beauty of nature. Go outside more. Do it daily if you can even for 30 minutes.

8. Exercise.

3 times a week, 30 minutes each time. Trust me on this one. Once you start, the adrenalin rush is like nothing you’ve ever felt before. You will feel strong and empowered and healthy and you may even feel leaner and more toned. It’s possible. And it’s a great feeling. Exercise makes us happy.

9. Schedule some me time.

Even if it’s only after all the kids have been put to bed or after all your work is done. Whenever it is, mark it on the calendar and do it daily. 15 minutes. Grab a book, get in a nice hot tub, listen to some chill music, whatever makes your soul happy, do that daily.

10. Journal.

Either in the morning or the evening, start journaling. It can be a gratitude journal or a hopes and dreams journal or maybe even just your thoughts. Write every day, what you feel, think or want. It’s writing for the soul and it will certainly make you happy.

What kind of things make you happy and help you have a better life? Share them with the other readers below.

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The comfort zone. A place of coziness and familiarity. We like it there because it’s just so safe. Nothing changes there and that’s ok. We don’t really like change anyway, or do we? You hear it all the time. Get out of your comfort zone. But why should we? What so special about things outside of our comfort zone?

It’s true. The comfort zone certainly is a safe and cushy place to be but we can’t go on living there forever. That’s not living anymore, that’s just existing and waiting for the end to come. There is a whole big beautiful life outside of that zone. Here are a few reasons why it might be time to get out there.

1. Broaden your horizons.

Another cliché but this one has good a purpose. We can learn a lot from the internet, books we read or watching tv. Imagine how much more you can learn and discover when you get out and talk to people who actually did the things you are reading about. Get the real story right from the horse’s mouth and make a new friend at the same time.

2. People really are great.

Speaking of people, your next best friend could be outside of your comfort zone. Some of us long to have that one person that you just connect with instantly but often we don’t know where to look and doubt that person even exists. That person might be at the library or the coffee shop. You go by these places every day on your way to or from work, why not stop in and see what’s going on? There might be someone just like you, hoping to meet someone just like you.

3. New experiences equal new passions.

It’s when we get out and try new things, things that maybe we’ve only ever dreamed of or thought of, that we can discover if we like them, love them, or if they are the key to our purpose or passion. When you get out of your comfort zone and actually try the things you’ve always been thinking about, that’s living. You’re not dreaming anymore.

4. Great stories.

Who doesn’t love a good story? You can talk about that time when you went sailing and the waters are rough and you saw a tuna the size of a house, you get the idea. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to be on the story telling side for a change instead of always being just the listener? There is a wonderful satisfaction in saying, yes I did that. Great personal satisfaction.

5. Got a bucket list?

They aren’t just for writing things out and reading them over and over again and dreaming. Write it out, do it. You might have some big bold fears to face as you knock things off your bucket list but that’s ok. Life isn’t meant to live on your favourite couch just writing out your dreams and reading about them. Life wants you to go out and get to those things you’ve always wanted to do. Go do them.

6. Yes, you can be an inspiration.

We don’t think of ourselves as inspirational or motivational or anything like but did you know if you get out and do at least one thing out of your comfort zone you may very well be the inspiration that someone needed to step out of their zones. You may not know it and they may not come out and thank you or tell you but know that you just may be that person who gave someone the push they needed. Be someone’s inspiration.

7. What’s next?

Once you get started stepping out of your zone and trying things suddenly you will realize that there are actually many more things you would like to do but never thought were possible because you were stuck in a zone.  When you get a taste of how fun and beautiful life really is out of that zone, the sky is the limit.

Have you been thinking it’s time to get out and do things? Have you been feeling antsy and restless? Those are your signs, your clues, it’s time to get out and do things, go live life. From the other side of your comfort zone.

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You know the saying, “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone”? I’ve learned that this phrase can be quite relevant to our search for happiness. The most difficult thing about being happy is being able to identify the actions you took to get there or the things in life that brought you joy. Honestly, I often don’t recognize the things in my life that make me truly happy until I’ve been put in a place where I have to sacrifice to keep them.

Sacrifice is the surrender of something desirable for the sake of something else regarded as more important. The term brings to mind the first time I was faced with a difficult decision regarding my happiness and sacrifice, a time when I was much younger, full of teenage angst and angry at the world.

When I was fifteen years old, my parents did not live together, my father had remarried and was living in a different town than my mother and I. Like all teenage girls, I thought my mother was a cruel and unbearable woman who treated me like a child despite my obvious maturity. (Yikes!) I wanted desperately to move away from home the instant I turned sixteen because only then could I be happy.

One Saturday morning, sitting on my father’s patio, I told him about my plan. I told him that I was going to rent my own apartment when I turned sixteen. I was going to work part-time while I finished high school and then get a scholarship to go to university. I had such a good plan, don’t you think? My dad’s response was the exact same response I got from him every time I dumped a huge pile of information on him unexpectedly. All I ever got was a “huh.” It was never a question, just a sound of acknowledgment.

After he seemed to digest the news. He said, “Okay, what’s your plan?” Of course, I was thinking, how stupid, I just told you my plan. But dad was a details guy when it came to plans, so he wanted to help me create a much clearer picture of what my intentions were.

He pushed his crossword puzzle and coffee aside, got out his yellow paper pad and we started outlining everything I would need to move out on my own. He listed furniture, dishes and cooking supplies, and towels and bedding. He added things I had not considered, like paying for utilities and groceries, my own school supplies and clothing. After he tallied up my monthly expenses (whopping to me at the time!) he calculated how many hours a week I would need to work at minimum wage in order to stay afloat.

I remember being shocked at the number of hours I would have to work. I was a very active teenager. I was involved in several choirs, baseball, church groups, and other extra-curricular activities. I knew that I could not manage all of those activities, plus time with friends and keep my grades hovering around the ‘A’ mark.

My dad asked me one simple question:  Are you willing to give all that up, to live on your own? He obviously knew the answer. He knew the answer before he set aside his coffee. The truth was, all my activities made me very happy, and I hated the thought of losing them. But I had to let go of the idea of moving out in order to keep those things.

Happiness isn’t about having it all. Happiness isn’t having everything be 100% all the time. It’s just not realistic to expect that the world will be sunshine and roses every second of every day.

I’ve learned to be truly happy, you need to sacrifice some things in order to keep the things that really bring you joy and enrich your life. To be happy, we have to look at the big picture of our lives instead of focusing on the little irritating things that squirm their way into our day.

To be happy, we need to be grateful for what we have, instead of looking at what we don’t have. When I was fifteen, I had a mom who put a roof over my head and paid for all of my crazy activities. I had a dad who took the time to let me make a hard decision for myself, instead of just telling me “No”. When I was fifteen, I had every reason to be happy (even if I didn’t know it then!)

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