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Life Rule #84 – Redefine your definition of failure

What if, instead of seeing it as a failure when we give something a go and it doesn’t work out, we see it as a victory that we tried in the first place? Perhaps the word failure would be more aptly used in situations where we don’t attempt things at all, because we’re ruled by fear, self-doubt and the lure of mediocracy.

You didn’t fail when you went on a date and it didn’t work out — you succeeded at putting yourself out there in the world where true love is found. You didn’t fail when you went for an interview and didn’t get offered the job — you successfully make a worthwhile attempt to improve your circumstances and you gained vital lessons from the experience. Apply this new way of thinking to everything in your life.

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Life Rule #83 – Embrace a new level of uncertainty

Tony Robbins once said, “The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with.”

Too often we hold ourselves back from taking risks, going after our dreams and creating the life we want to live, because we don’t know exactly how we’re going to get there or whether it will work out. We keep ourselves secure in the safety of our comfort zones and the ‘known’ — without recognizing that even these safe circumstances could change at any moment without warning, so in many ways we are no more secure in the known — but we are robbing ourselves of the chance to create our dreams and live our ideal life.

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Life Rule #82 – Decide to accept yourself no matter what

Love yourself on the good days — and love yourself on the bad days too. Love yourself when things go to plan, you light up the room, and kick all of your goals — and love yourself when you make mistakes, succumb to bad habits, and let your fears get the better of you. Unconditional self-love gives you the strength and courage to try new things and go after your dreams, because you know that no matter what the outcome, you will still love and accept yourself regardless.

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Life Rule #81 – Give up the word ‘should’

So much of our unhappiness stems from feeling like we are not living up to the standard definition of success, the status quo, media standards and expectations — or that life and other people are not living up to our expectations of how things should be. If we let go of preconceived notions about what we should be doing with our lives, and give up our rigid expectations of how other people should act, we will instantly become freer and happier.

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Life Rule #79 – Be led by joy, not fear

So many people make decisions based on their fears, rather than following their intuition, interests and passions. You are a once-in-a-humankind combination of talents and quirks and there will never again be anyone like you. When you make decisions based on what you enjoy and what feels right with your soul, you light up and the whole world benefits.

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Life Rule #78 – Give to give, not to receive

There is something so beautiful about giving from a place of pure love, without conditions or expectations — to feel someone else’s happiness as your own. Try to give more without seeking anything in return, and notice how the positive feelings you experience from seeing someone else’s joy and comfort are more than enough return on your investment.

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Life Rule #77 – Open your mind to new possibilities and leave room for surprises

So much can happen in a single day — you could meet the right person, stumble across a new opportunity, come up with a life-changing idea, move jobs, move houses or move countries.

While it’s worthwhile clarifying your desires and making plans, keep a little room in your heart and mind for the unexpected — things might not go to plan, and that might be the best possible outcome.

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Life Rule #76 – Let your emotions be your guide, but not your identity

When people experience strong negative emotions like anger, jealousy or pain, they usually do one of two things — bury their emotions deep in their subconscious, or get so caught up in their emotions that they are consumed by them and adopt them as part of their ongoing identity.

Neither choice is healthy — instead, when a strong negative emotion arises, learn to observe the feeling (the act of observation immediately disassociates you from the emotion) and ask yourself what it is trying to teach you. Do you need to work on yourself and grow into a more resilient and peaceful person, or do you need to make crucial changes to your life situation?

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Life Rule #74 – Make time to get in touch with your soul

Your soul is your eternal essence — it’s who you really are underneath the chatter of your monkey mind, the social masks you wear, and the titles and roles you hold. Get in touch with your soul each week through meditation, writing a journal, spending time in nature, or making time to just sit and soak up the world without judgment for a few moments.