Peace is highly underrated in an increasingly chaotic world. And no matter how much you think you can handle the chaos in your life- wouldn’t it be better if you ‘took out the trash,’ so to speak?
There are times in life in which we have taken on far too much. Perhaps we have a to-do list a mile long, we’ve forgotten our purpose, and the demands from other people seem to only grow.
If you are beginning to feel as though your life is spinning out of control, it’s time to clear out the clutter and eliminate these 12 things before you lose control.
1. Let go of grudges and anger.
If you are holding on to resentments you have for other people, it’s time to let them go. They do not serve you. With that being said- I am not saying to allow people to harm you or bring negative energy into your life. But, you can let people go without holding onto the negative energy that comes along with holding onto grudges and anger.
2. Clear out the clutter.
Physical clutter in your environment can lead to mental clutter. A 2016 survey of people who had mild to severe issues with clutter had less satisfaction in their lives and their home. If the clutter in your home is becoming too much to cope with- take some time to pick up the trash you don’t need, give your excess belongings to donations and clear out the clutter! You will be happy you did.
3. Let go of regrets.
We all have regrets. But the feeling of regret doesn’t do much for us, aside from teaching us what not to do moving forward. The only thing you can do about regret is changing your course and focus on the present and future to come. Let go of the past- it is not serving you!
4. Stop saying you don’t have any time.
It’s so easy for us to say “I don’t have time to spend with my family.” or “I don’t have time to exercise.” One day you will wake up and realize that you don’t have any time. You can make time now. Wake up an hour earlier, or go to bed an hour later. Take a day off of work. You have to make time for your peace and well-being. There are no ifs and or buts about it!
5. Don’t wait for the right time.
Have you ever heard the saying “If you are always waiting for the right time, it will never come,”? What better time is now? Choose to be happy in the present moment. Choose to take action towards your life goals in the present moment. You deserve the life you want now- but you will never have it if you keep waiting for the right time to take action towards it.
6. Stop comparing your life to others.
It’s easy to compare our lives to others, especially when looking at social media. But I am here to tell you- you 100% are not seeing the whole story of someone when you are going by their social media or by what they are showing you. People tend to share a highlight reel because they want to display a happy life to others. Find peace in your own life, because NO ONE’s life is perfect.
7. Stop complaining.
When we sit around complaining about everything that’s wrong with our life, it’s easy to miss out on everything good in our life. Are you going to live the rest of your life focusing on the glass being half empty- or be thankful because it’s still half full?
8. Stop running from your problems.
It’s easy to want to run away. Trust me- running used to be my thing. If a problem presented itself, I would just find an out. But that mentality never got me anywhere, and I was only able to start achieving my goals and living a better life when I learned how to face my problems head-on. Problems don’t go away when you run from them, they only pile up.
9. Quit avoiding a good challenge.
Do you find yourself avoiding anything and everything that might be ‘too hard?’ While it is normal to fear the unknown and the uncomfortable- the best achievements in life are made when we work through our discomfort. Think about it- it might be scary to take a promotion because it means more responsibility. But once you work through the discomfort and the unknown, you will learn how to do your new job and how to do it well. And if you had never faced the challenge, you would never make it to a higher position.
10. Let go of being someone you are not.
We could waste our entire lives trying to be someone we are not. I spent the greater part of my 20s trying to fit into everyone else’s expectations and in doing so- I sabotaged myself immensely. When I couldn’t fit the mold, I would fall apart. And then rebuild me into a new mold. And the cycle would repeat. Stop trying to fit into some else’s mold- and embrace your mold.
11. Quit worrying about the future.
Let me clarify- you should plan to have a good future, and take steps towards that by working on yourself in the present. But don’t worry yourself to death. Most of the things you are afraid of happening won’t happen. Things tend to sort themselves out. Do the best you can in the present moment.
12. Rid your life of unrealistic expectations.
Setting expectations is an important part of understanding who we are and what we are capable of. Just be careful not to set unrealistic goals and expectations for yourself, or you will inevitably set yourself up for failure. Instead, set small, reachable goals. This will help you to make unrealistic goals become realistic goals and in time, you can accomplish the unthinkable. Just start small and build yourself up to that point.