Throughout our lives, there are many life lessons that we receive from others that guide us. Let’s find some life lessons that can help the youth as well as adults.
Life is a long, enduring journey where you come across various people and experiences. While some of them are really good, most of them can turn out bad, and that’s what life is all about. You do not regret, but you accept and move on. Navigating through the complex weaving of life is not always easy, and sometimes advice from others helps us to get back on track again. However, these life lessons do not always arrive at you before something happens, and that is why self-reflection is important. I have come across many life advices that helped me to progress, and I wondered if I could learn them earlier. However, life does not follow the route that you want, and here is some advice that everybody should know, especially the youth.
- Asking for Help is Not a Weakness
The modern idea of independence lies in working and earning for your own stuff, but self-sufficiency does not only come from financial freedom. Sometimes we can go through some deeper struggles of life, and it is okay to ask for help in those moments. Do not refrain from asking for help just because you think you should handle everything alone. Whether you are having a breakdown or a bad week, ask for help from your friends, family, or partner for support. After all, the friend in need is a friend indeed, and I hope you learn that in your childhood.
- Self-love is Not Selfish
Putting yourself first is not a selfish act, but most people are afraid to embrace self-love as it appears selfish to many. If you are not a self-centered narcissistic person, then do not doubt yourself and your needs. If you are putting yourself first, then it is required at the moment, and it does not matter if people are trying to poke you with negative connotations. In your adult life, you need to put yourself first, as always prioritizing others can lead to burnout and frustration. Try to pour down some positive energy for yourself, just like you want for others.
- Nobody is Entitled to Love You
Like the Priest from Fleabag said, ‘Love is an awful thing’ and definitely takes a lot of courage to love someone after keeping yourself sane. It is a bitter truth and hard to swallow, but it gets better when you learn to accept it. While growing up, you might have seen many families with loving parents that you did not have, or some couples around you, your friends in love that you are not getting. It is normal to feel envious, but it is not right. Life is not always fair, and it is better if you learn that sooner instead of keeping your high hopes of fantasy.
- Embrace Your Authentic Self
It takes a lot of time just to figure out your authentic self, and it takes even longer to hold on to your authentic self. First of all, try to find out who you truly are and then create a mental image of who you want to become. When we are young, we are fascinated with different personalities and characteristics, and try to instill them in ourselves, but they change by the time we become an adult. Even the societal projection might try to change you, but it is you who decides who you want to be. Focus on what your heart says, and that way, you will never be disappointed with yourself.
- Cutting Out Toxic People from Life
Well, this is a hard and mandatory decision that everyone needs to take in life. In life, we meet a lot of people and even bond with people whose toxic sides get revealed later. What toxic really means is the negative attributes of a person that can become harmful to you in the long run. You might know a friend who is manipulative or might have an ex who is creepy, but you loved them at a certain point in your life. But now that you are aware of these aspects, you know who you want in life, and that is not some toxic person who can harm your well-being. Be unapologetic when you let go of negative people from life, and it’s okay to distance yourself from them.
- You can help People without Actively Participating
It is not about a savior complex or becoming a hero, but everyone wants to help others, and that is a very humane feeling of compassion that we feel for others. However, you are not always supposed to actively help them by providing them with some service, product, or action. If your friend is having a bad day, you cannot make the day good for them, but you can give them space to share their troubles, and in this case, only lending your ear is enough, as it makes them feel heard rather than lost. Let people handle their own thing, and you can be their motivator.
- Relationships Do Not Make You Happy
A lot of people have this weird idea of a relationship where they feel like the other person will complete their lives and take away all the problems, but it is quite an impractical thought process. You are partner is just another person with problems in life, just like you, and they are also navigating through it. When you expect relationships to make you happy, you create a burden on your partner to keep you happy all the time, and that is a lot to ask. Human relationships are conditional, and you’d better be sure about it before jumping into one.
- Being Yourself does Not Mean Not to Change
Change is the only inevitable constant, and that applies to everything and everyone. ‘Be Yourself’ is the most common quote or motivation that is provided by everyone to embrace individuality. However, to be your authentic self does not mean not to adapt, as you will always be changing organically as long as you live. Do not use any lame excuses to find the better version of yourself. Expose yourself to new experiences to find out which changes are good for you.
- Family Opinions Can Turn Out Wrong Too
While growing up, we tend to consider our family to be the ultimate problem solver. Anytime you get in trouble, you are more likely to go to your family for help, if not parents, then the siblings. While they can help you, their opinions could still be wrong, and if you are mature enough to understand that, you might not want to involve them in every little incident of your life. Family expectations can literally crush you from the inside, and that is why you should not live up to their expectations. Weave your dreams on your own!
- Keep Your Expectations Low
There is a common proverb that ‘expectations hurt,’ and that is true for everyone. But it is not just about expecting from others but also from yourself. Sometimes we seek a lot from our own selves, and when we are unable to meet that expectation, it demotivates us from progressing. The key to happiness is keeping your expectations low and ambitions high. Expecting too much from people can hurt you on a daily basis, and you are required to keep your expectations realistic and limited so as not to feel betrayed or disappointed by anyone.
- Learn to Say ‘No’ when Needed
A lot of people hesitate to say no as they have developed a people pleaser personality that always wants to say yes to everything without considering the circumstances. For example, if you do not have enough savings and your friend is asking for borrowing money; you can say no without any guilt, but most people would feel the other way. Learning to say ‘No’ is very important and allows you to stay humble and grounded. Saying ‘no’ is not selfish, but it is an art of listening to yourself; what the heart really wants! It is also the first step of achieving self-identity and awareness.
- You Cannot Make Everyone Like You
If you are worried about someone not liking you, then don’t. You cannot make every other person happy with your vision, work, or personality. It is practically impossible for everyone to like you unless you are a huge celebrity. Stop worrying about people not liking you, as you cannot do anything to make them like you.
- Expand Your Comfort Zone as Much as You Can
We are more likely to find our comfort zones and get fixated on them. We develop our own comfort bubble around us and stay in it without taking any risks. While it is comforting, it also prevents you from new opportunities and experiences which can turn out good for you. You need to constantly expose yourself to new people, new experiences, and activities in life to learn something new and feel something new, other than just comfort. Unless you are 60+ years old and looking for a couch to buy, do not seek a comfort zone to settle in; rather, always try to expand your zone, view, and perspective.
- It is Difficult to find Like-minded People
It is quite difficult to find people with whom you can click and connect on a deeper and more personal level. The world is dominated by more than 7 billion people, and it is still difficult to find like-minded people with whom you can vibe. The modern apps have made it easier to find people with the same interests, but it does not always mean that there will be a great bond between you. Do not beat around the bush to find people; rather, participate in the activities you like, and you might come across people who have similar tastes or preferences to yours.
- People will Disappoint You Regardless
It is quite common to get disappointed by people, and it often happens with your close people only. However, do not let that break you. We get disappointed quickly, as we tend to keep a lot of expectations for others, and even if you do not expect anything, people can do something that makes you feel bad. Do not waste your energy in analyzing why they did it or why they chose you to do it when you are not wrong. Remember, this is a blessing in disguise and helps you to identify toxic people around you. Just cut them off and do not feel bad about them or yourself.
- Do not Feel Intimidated in the Presence of Others
There will always be someone who does it better than you do. Whether it is your workplace, something related to your passion, or sports, there will always be someone better at it. Or there could be someone prettier than you, sexier than you, or who has a good physique, voice, and whatever! You will feel intimidated by others when you have a lot of complexities in yourself. It does not matter whether someone is richer or luckier than you; in the end, it is your mental health that rules, and if you are satisfied with yourself, no one can hamper your peace.
- Testing Your Boundaries
People will always try to push you to your edge, and it happens as they try to take advantage. Even if you set strong boundaries for others, the boundaries will be tested, and you need to hold your ground there. Be kind to others, but also be prepared, as people tend to consider kindness as weakness. You need to stay strong with your ideals and your individuality, which makes you stand out among others.
- Life is Not a Game of Numbers
No matter how big your bank balance or how many cars, houses, or bikes you own, the idea of happiness does not come from owning but giving to others. Keep your ambitions high, but do not always run after numbers, as it was never important in the first place.
