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 two 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 R’s: 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 checkups.
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 of leverage: leverage your money 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 you 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 on 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. Listen to Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
97. Find work you love.
98. Remember the motto: “You catch more flies with honey.”
99. Take a course on personal finances in college.
100. Fill your life with love.
photo credit: woodleywonderworks
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Kelly@SHE-POWER 11.10.08 at 2:30 am
Oh man, Marelisa can I complain in a good way and say you post too much for me to keep up with and I hate to miss anything! I’m struggling here. I think I need you to download straight into my brain. Can we arrange that?
Anyway, love the list. Favorites are:
- Make being happy a priority
- Take responsibility for your life
- Cherish your friends (and family)
- Don’t take yourself too seriously
- Continuously count your blessings
- Don’t worry about what other people think
- Every time you fall simply get up again
- Learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary
- Fill your life with love
And can I add one?
* See what is extraordinary and unique about you. Love yourself exactly the way you are - faults and all
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..SHE-POWER Fiction: Samantha Says
Maya 11.10.08 at 3:18 am
What a great list! I am printing this for my office wall.
Here are a couple I follow:
- Live everyday like it is your last .
- Never be afraid to say you do not know something. It is the best way to learn.
Mayas last blog post..Slideshow: Dogs Lessons for Life and Work
Cath Lawson 11.10.08 at 3:25 am
Hi Mare - I shared your post about the inventor guy on Twitter yesterday.
It amazes me how you manage to come up with so many of these information rich posts. There’s some really useful advice here. I do or have done quite a lot of the things on here - trouble is, some of them are the things you advise not to do.
My favourite one you’ve listed here is to remember it will pass, when you’re faced with difficult times. I get so stressed over things, yet if I try to think about bad times in the past, I’m pushed to remember some of the things I worried over. And those I do remember don’t have any impact on my life now. So worrying is fruitless.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Barrack Obama - A Leader In Twitter Use
Elaine B. 11.10.08 at 5:14 am
So funny you mentioned CPR. I wanted to go back and learn first aid. Thank you so much for writing out this list!
Elaine
Elaine B.s last blog post..10 Things that will Build your Branding (Besides a Logo)
Davina 11.10.08 at 5:27 am
Hi Marelisa. Excellent list. I do often take myself too seriously so that is something that stands out for me. And, writing a book… on my bucket list! I was going to add “remain curious” to the list, but you’ve pretty much covered that with “learn something new every day.”
Davinas last blog post..Akemi Gaines On Intuition, Dreams And Spiritual Guidance–Interview Part 2
Lance 11.10.08 at 6:37 am
Good morning Mare! I’m blown away by this list (in a very good way)! Now…how do I go about remembering all of these?? I’m thinking my favorite is your very last one - fill your life with love. Doing this really sets the foundation for many of the others on your list. (or maybe I chose the last one - because it was the last thing I read…). Anyway - awesome, gigantic list Mare!
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Laurie 11.10.08 at 9:06 am
@Lance- I believe you chose the last one because “the greatest of these is love”. I agree!
I would like to add one: Whenever you can or whenever you feel like it, dance!
Evelyn Lim 11.10.08 at 10:26 am
You’re amazing with long lists!! You seem to have a warchest of tips!
I agree with the tips in your list but the one that spoke to me most today is #95! Love the idea of seeing beauty in everything!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..The Lipstick Indicator To Great Wealth
Vered - MomGrind 11.10.08 at 1:59 pm
What Kelly said.
I love it too.
Especially the one on kindness.
Mare 11.10.08 at 2:14 pm
Hi Kelly:
I Changed “Cherish your friends” so that it includes “and your family”, because you’re right, that’s what it should say. And I agree that you should love yourself exactly as you are.
Hi Maya: It’s an honor to be posted up on your office wall
I like your additions.
Hi Cath: Thank you for sharing my posts on twitter. I also have a tendency to worry about things, so I keep reminding myself that it’s pointless.
Hi Elaine: I think the Heimlich maneuver is important too. It’s a good idea to go back and learn first aid.
Hi Davina: You know, curiosity is one of those things that people who accomplish a lot in life have in common.
Good morning Lance! I agree love is the foundation to everything else (and that’s why I put it last, so it would stick out on people’s minds)
Hi Laurie: Completely agree: remember to sing and dance.
Hi Evelyn: “War chest” of tips, I like that!
Hi Vered: I had a lot of fun coming up with this list
Simple Sapien 11.10.08 at 2:38 pm
Mare,
Amazing list, you could not have said it any better. Thank you for the inspiration on this fine day
How long did this take you to compile?
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien
Simple Sapiens last blog post..Track and Share Your Life Goals at 43Things.com
Mare 11.10.08 at 2:57 pm
Hi Jack: It’s a fine day here in Panama too
You know, I must be getting better at this blogging thing because it took me surprisingly little time to come up with this list.
Mitch 11.10.08 at 5:49 pm
Now that’s a very nice list, I must say. I really like #79; that’s almost my motto. Great job.
Mitchs last blog post..How To Be A Prolific Writer
Mare 11.10.08 at 6:43 pm
Hi Mitch: Thank you. #79 is one of my favorites too
Patricia 11.10.08 at 6:54 pm
I love the list and that you put it together in such a nice way and I have referred back to it several times today as I have been working - brought me a nice smile and a moment or two of satisfaction.
I am not sure that difficult times always pass…maybe we just accept them faster when they come around again and again…but I will say the first feelings that come at a difficult time can pass very quickly if we do not feed the worry and stress of it…
Thank you for sharing this - we have had a sunshine break in the rain and it fit well with the movement of the weather today!
Patricias last blog post..Something Smells
Mare 11.10.08 at 6:57 pm
Hi Patricia: That you’ve been referring back to this list today is a great compliment
MizFit 11.10.08 at 7:37 pm
PRINT.
(youre up this saturday as commenter of the month!)
MizFits last blog post..The Other Side of the Couch: Negative Self Talk.
Stacey Shipman 11.10.08 at 8:43 pm
Great, comprehensive list. I love #8 Take responsibility for your own life. Too many people do not, and give up the power to create the life they really want!
Stacey Shipmans last blog post..Getting Back to Your Senses
Stacey / Create a Balance 11.10.08 at 9:57 pm
When I read your lists I always wonder the process you go through to create them. This list is timeless and priceless. Thanks.
Stacey / Create a Balances last blog post..And the Winner Is…..
Mare 11.11.08 at 12:22 am
Hi MizFit: Saturday, I’ll be there!
Hi Stacey (Shipman): I agree taking responsibility for our lives is vital, without that everything else pretty much sags.
Hi Stacey (Create a Balance): Well, this list in particular was just pretty much created from little wisps floating around in my head
Melissa Donovan 11.11.08 at 3:20 am
For fun, I tried to count how many of these I’m practicing in my life right now, and I think it’s somewhere between 70-75, so I still have work to do and of course, I could always improve on the ones I’ve already checked off. Thanks Marelisa, this was a fun exercise!
Melissa Donovans last blog post..The Biggest Writing Exercise in the World
Karl Staib - Work Happy Now 11.11.08 at 9:38 am
Choose your spouse carefully is excellent advice. I told my parents I was never getting married if I didn’t find someone that was a great fit. They were disappointed throughout most of my twenties. I didn’t meet Nikki until I was 27, but when we met I realized that there was real possibility. We got married when I was 30 and we’ve been married for two years. I don’t know where my life would be without her. Luckily I don’t have to worry about that.
Karl Staib - Work Happy Nows last blog post..55 Tips to Make Work More Fun
Dave Jones, CPA 11.11.08 at 10:06 am
#75 multiple streams of income is extremely important.
#91 Living in the present is easier said than done.
#93 Choose your battles wisely is one I am currently trying to teach my 16 yr old son.
Great List!
Dave Jones, CPAs last blog post..Death and Taxes
Mare 11.11.08 at 10:58 am
Hi Melissa: 70 to 75 of these is a great place to be!
Hi Karl: I’m 37 and I’ve never been married, so maybe I’m taking the “choose your spouse carefully” advice to the extreme
Hi Dave: Living in the present is certainly easier said and done. There is something called “The Work” that basically says that all of our problems are either in the past or in the future; right now everything is fine. And it’s so true if you stop to think about it.
Kim Woodbridge 11.11.08 at 11:54 am
Forgiveness is one of my favorites. If we don’t forgive and let it go it can eat us up inside.
My mother has recently been discussing the future and what kind of funeral she would like to have. She insists that she does not want her younger sister there. I know why she is upset with her and it’s been almost 10 years and I wish she would let it go. And I can’t stand the thought of being in the middle of that and telling my Aunt that she isn’t welcome at a funeral.
I think it’s also important to forgive ourselves. I have a hard time with that. I feel bad for things I did in the past even though I know the other person forgave me a long time ago.
Thanks for the list
Kim Woodbridges last blog post..(Anti) Social-Lists 11/9/08
Mare 11.11.08 at 4:25 pm
Hi Kim: I once heard Clinton in an interview saying that Nelson Mandela had told him that as soon as he was let out of prison he forgave those who put him there because he didn’t want to be a prisoner anymore. I’m sorry you’re being put in that situation with your mother and aunt, but sometimes it’s hardest to forgive people we love very much because it hurts more when someone we love does something that we perceive to be a betrayal.
Bamboo Forest 11.11.08 at 4:44 pm
This is a very inspiring list. And I can appreciate the thought and effort that went into it.
9. Remember Henry Ford’s admonishment: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”
96. Listen to Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
These two are great. I love Ford’s admonishment. Have truer words ever been spoken?
Number 96 is completely accurate. We feel inferior as a result of our self talk. We can feel any way we choose, but it is us who makes that choice whether we are conscious of it or not.
Mark 11.11.08 at 4:53 pm
Absolutely fabulous! I hope you don’t mind that I printed this one out! thanks for sharing!
ru4real 11.12.08 at 12:41 am
Today was my first time to visit, but I SO enjoyed what I read. I’m subscribing! I’m also going to post a link to this article on my FaceBook account, because it is so full of goodness.
ru4reals last blog post..Do You Have A Word of Comfort?
Mare 11.12.08 at 2:27 pm
Hi Bamboo: I love both of those quotes as well. And if there’s anything I’ve learned in life is that people try to put others down to make themselves feel better, not because there’s any truth to what they’re saying about the other person.
Hi Mark: Sure, go ahead and print out
Hi ru4real: Thank you, I appreciate that
SpaceAgeSage 11.12.08 at 6:19 pm
You created this from “little wisps floating around in my head” ?!
Wow, you got quite the mind then! Thanks for the inspiring list.
Mare 11.12.08 at 6:38 pm
Hi Lori: Thank you; sometimes I think I need to go on an archeological dig in there and see what I manage to pull out
Natural 11.12.08 at 7:40 pm
Great list Mare, definitely something to refer back to…can I add one to the list….
101. Be selfish. (but not in a bad way). Don’t forget to put yourself first sometimes. Women are natural caretakers and sometimes we do for everyone but ourselves. Enjoy a bubble bath or a half hour of ME time. I’m cranky without it.
Naturals last blog post..Oh, Sense Less One
Mare 11.12.08 at 11:25 pm
Hi Natural: I agree we should be selfish. If we don’t take good care of ourselves we can’t take good care of anybody else
Glee Girl 11.13.08 at 6:17 am
Oooh, I love these listy posts! I could get lost in your site for hours reading them all, if only I had the time.
Very wise words to live by.
Mare 11.13.08 at 10:42 pm
Hi Jayne: Stop by when you have some free time
Jeremy Day 11.18.08 at 11:29 pm
Hi Marelisa,
I love super long lists like this. And they are very true. Some random ones I liked were drink more water, save 10% and give 10% away. All little things to do on a regular basis that would make our lives oh so much better.
I look forward to digging more into your archives and I will stumble this stumble worthy post.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Days last blog post..Stumble Upon, Stumble, Stumbled: The User Guide to Stumbling
Mare 11.19.08 at 1:31 am
Hi Jeremy: Thank you for stopping by and for stumbling the post
I love long lists too, reading them and writing them.