You Can Be Anything—And That's OK

( I originally posted this on another site, and I’m reposting it here for posterity. I need to follow this advice more often. )

1. The past moulds and instructs us, but it should not constrict us or limit us.
2. Letting go of bad memories and experiences is a major step in our personal growth.
3. Being able to open up to friends about our feelings. To quote Spider Robinson: “Shared joy is multiplied, shared pain is diminished. Thus do we refute Entropy.”
4. Take care of your physical well-being. Eat well, exercise when possible, get a good night’s sleep. Make a small change to your routine each day. It adds up over time.
5. As important as the above however is to take care of your mental health. Depression, anxiety, stress affect more people than you might think. And if allowed to build up they can become debilitating.
6. Social media can be a great way to stay in touch with friends, but it can also steal your time and attention. Keep it only for close friends, and don’t feel that you need to stay logged in all the time.
7. Turn off notifications on your computer, phone or tablet. Except for those that you need to see. A mind forever distracted can never be at peace.
8. Some people thrive on making others feel miserable. Or are demanding your time or energy and giving back nothing in return. Show them the door.
9. There is no shame in seeking help from others. And there is no honour in struggling and failing on your own.
10. Take time to observe the world around you. Realise that the news is not all bad. See the beauty and wonder in yourself and others.
11. Life is not a zero-sum game. Your happiness should not come at the expense of someone else’s misery. We have more in common than we have differences.
12. Pay it forward. Perform random acts of kindness. It all comes back around, and you’ll be a better person for it.
13. Less is more. If you don’t use it, get rid of it. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses.
14. There is only one Planet Earth, so do your part to look after it.
15. Your vote matters. Use it. And hold your representative to account.
16. Your beliefs are personal. They do not and should not be a rod with which to beat others. No excuse, no justification.