A couple of years ago, Pink released a song called “All I Know So Far.” It was essentially advice to her daughter. I found it inspirational and lately have been thinking about… if I had a daughter… what would I want them to know? What wisdom would I pass on?
This might not be ALL I know so far, but in honor of my 40th birthday, I thought I would share 40 life lessons I’ve learned and would want to pass on to a daughter, or any young person who needs to hear it.
- Everything emotion you feel is a result of what you think.
- Seek inspiration, not validation.
- If you’re going to be proud of anyone, let it be yourself.
- You don’t need to live up to anyone, including your future self. Make your past self proud with what you do today. Just today… even if all you do today is lay in bed and let your nervous system rest.
- Don’t be afraid of the “no” OR the “yes.”
- Time is on your side.
- Life is always going to be 50/50… sometimes circumstances will suck but sometimes circumstances will be better than you could have imagined.
- Make time for that cup of coffee with a friend. Today. Don’t wait.
- Anger, sadness; and overwhelm don’t have to be “negative” emotions, they can be opportunities to learn.
- You never know how a simple smile can impact another person’s day.
- Say hello to strangers, even when it feels awkward. ESPECIALLY when it feels awkward.
- Be true to yourself. Claim your own authority. Embrace all the parts of you.
- The things that make you “different” are not flaws.
- Labels are there if you want them. But you don’t need them, to belong.
- Slow down, even when it seems counterintuitive.
- Take the selfie. If not for yourself, for the people who love you.
- The right song/ playlist can completely change your mood!
- The moment you feel confident, act. Waiting lets self-doubt creep in.
- Don’t let what you “should” want become more important than what you actually want.
- Stop “shoulding” yourself to meet other people’s expectations.
- Using therapy, life coaching, and/or meds to manage your mental health is admirable, not shameful.
- For better or for worse, time is going to go by faster than you think. So savor the good, and trust that the bad will eventually be a fleeting memory.
- We are all the products of our life experiences… it’s up to you to decide if you’re the victim or the survivor.
- Instead of saying “I can’t do that” try “I don’t want to do that” and see how that feels.
- You are the master of your calendar.
- “If you want something badly enough, you’ll work for it” only gets it half right—if you want something badly enough, you’ll do the work to figure out why you’re avoiding it to learn what you REALLY want.
- You’re ‘life’s purpose’ is not there for you to find… you get to create it.
- You can love external validation without thinking you ‘need’ it.
- It’s okay to explore what you want—‘letting go’ is not the same as ‘giving up.’
- You’re allowed to have a plan B… and C and so on…
- Nobody is a mind reader, including you.
- Boundaries aren’t about changing someone else’s behavior. There about making it clear what you’ll accept and what you won’t when you are present.
- There is always something to be grateful for.
- When you’re anxious, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is ask yourself “what’s the worst that could happen” and making a plan for if it does. Then you can focus on being hopeful.
- Getting to the bottom of your emotions helps alleviate your fear of them.
- You can be happy for people who are no longer in your life. You don’t have to join in the gossip and speculation about them.
- Sometimes choosing to end a relationship is the most loving thing you can do for yourself AND for them.
- Just because you’re sad about your decision, doesn’t mean it was the wrong decision.
- Nobody said this was going to be easy. If they did, they were equally misinformed.
- Hard work is the most rewarding. If you think “but this work comes easy to me,” then you’ve already done the hard work to get there. Be proud. ❤
Joyfully Jendependent 