Game Changers: 15 Truths that Will Alter Your Life

15 things that will change your life
15 things that will change your life

Take this challenge: Read this list of 15 life lessons and pick 10 that you think may be true. Each day spend 10 minutes diving into a concept I shared here. Don't let the message get lost in the chaos of life. Invest in some time each day to think about these things. Some of them may be great for you and others may not. The process of finding out is key. It will change your life. Take a look at these truths about attitude, people, life, business, relationships, religion, money, parenting, politics, and growth, and see if any of them will work for you!

1. Happiness really is a choice.
When you look for happiness outside of yourself, you will never be happy. The fear of missing out can cause you strive for 'something else' constantly, forgetting to appreciate the happiness you already have. Long term happiness is less about what happens to you and around you…and more about who you are. "After a year, lottery winners and paraplegics are equally happy with their lives." -Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness.

2. Speak your truth respectfully when it seems easier to give in.
I awkwardly told Brene Brown that she MUST be the keynote at BlissDom a few years ago. She came and spoke and changed my way thinking about saying no with this one line, "Choose discomfort over resentment." I try to now choose a moment of discomfort and say no to things that I do not want to do/have the energy to do/do not believe in. Yes, it is uncomfortable to say no, but it is so much better than resenting that I said yes.

3. Homogeny kills creativity and growth.
Without the Internet, especially Twitter, I would have never had the good luck to meet so many people with different backgrounds, beliefs and stories. Most of my friends have very different views and beliefs about issues I hold dear. Hours have been spent discussing the different beliefs without ever attacking each other personally. How could I be so sure of what I believe if I was never exposed to anything else and had opportunities to question my beliefs? Mutual respect and understanding is born of sharing diverse opinions and perspectives.

Related: 10 ways to be a happier person for life


4. Never mistake someone's struggles with moral failure.
Take the time to get to know someone, understand their struggles and what led up to them, instead of making broad assumptions. We are all fallible and doing the best we can with what we have at the time.

5. View mistakes as valuable testing feedback.
Mistakes and 'failure' means you are trying, you are alive and you care. Real failure is when you give up before you reach your goal- everything else up to that point is progress. In business, real success comes from testing assumptions and getting feedback on our ideas/products/services constantly. Instead of viewing your mistakes as failure, think of them as valuable feedback on what needs to change in order for real success and happiness.

6. Learn to have fun again.
Hey, you don't have to tell me that being a grown up sucks all the fun out of life if you let it. I learned to start having fun again in my thirties after I said goodbye to the self-consciousness of my twenties. Letting ourselves be silly and have fun is a perfect way to balance all the stress and responsibilities of modern life. Look for friends who love finding the fun in everyday life, and start looking at your life. Look for opportunities to have fun.

7. What you edit out of life determines what you have room to let in.
In order to build a business that is great for you, you must edit out the elements that are merely good. Because the merely good isn't good enough and won't help build the future you want. So cull everything that doesn't propel you forward, or it will anchor you to the past.

8. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Delayed interest payments, easy lines of credit, ever increasing real estate prices, Social Security lockboxes… You see where I'm going. Also, student loans are a millstone around your neck. Avoid them. The government subsidizes student loans which allows institutions to continually inflate tuition and fees, requiring you to borrow more, lather rinse repeat. Avoid that trap.

9. Parenting, despite how soul-suckingly hard it is at times, is the most rewarding experience of our lives.
Parenting helps us grow as individuals, think more critically about our lives and generally be better people. Parenting is harder than you can ever imagine. All the exhaustion, the constant going, the neediness, and the noise wears on you. The worry that you aren't doing a good enough job gnaws at you. Remember to take care of yourself while you parent. You can't give from an empty cup. Seek the healthy things that fill you up and help relieve stress.

10. Republicans and Democrats are more similar than not.
Both parties are full of people who want the best thing for the country and both parties are full of people who lie and say anything that helps them stay in power. Sadly, because of systemic demonization from both sides for political gain, the party members think of outsiders as 'bad', 'evil' or 'unpatriotic'.

11. There is nothing holy about senseless violence, misogyny or racism.
Self explanatory, or at least it should be.

12. Invest in your most important relationships.Your time is limited and your energy is precious. Only let yourself spend time with friends who add to your life.
The most important decisions you will make determining your happiness and success are: your spouse, your close friends, and your mentors. Choose them well. Friends who celebrate your successes, support you when you make dumb mistakes, and love you enough to tell you the truth even when it is uncomfortable are a treasure. Never take them for granted. Tell them often how much they mean to you. Everyone loves hearing that!

13. Modern husbands don't really always do 50% of the housework.
Before people start freaking out in the comment section- I know some of you may have husbands who do 50% or even 100% of household work. That's awesome, but your amazing spouses are the exception to the rule. I blame women's magazines in my teen years for giving me the impression that my future husband would happily share household duties. I slowly revealed my shock that he would not help around the house to my friends and they all admitted it was the same scenario at their own homes. We were all silently disappointed. After years of arguing with my husband I decided to take matters in my own hands. I realized that a housekeeper was a small price to pay for peace under our roof. I hired a housekeeper and I taught my sons how to do the dishes and the laundry. Their wives will thank me one day.

14. Only spend time with friends who build you up.
Your time is limited and your energy is precious. Only let yourself spend time with friends who add to your life. Unhealthy friends exhaust you. They complain, feel sorry for themselves, make backhanded compliments and bring everyone else down to their level.

15. Seek wisdom.
Wisdom comes from mistakes, from growth, and from a life dedicated to learning. Many people stop learning new skills after they have their degree, and any new skills or training is left in the hands of their employer. The world we envisioned just 10 years ago is gone. The people who take learning, growth and skills development into their own hands will be tomorrow's leaders.

- By Alli Worthington
For 22 more truths that will change your life, visit Babble!

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