7 Keys For Living Your Best Life

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Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again and you will be filled with joy -Buddha

What does your best life look like? What does it feel like? What’s holding you back? These are questions for gentle self-reflection to gauge where you are currently in your life and discern if you are living or just existing.

Our hopes, wishes, and desires are often thwarted as we wait for the right relationship, job, home, or that well-needed vacation. Oftentimes, we are dependent on the future for better days to come. Our life’s journey has a limit and time is precious. Have you really spent time getting to know yourself? Knowing yourself is a journey of profound self-awareness, self-discovery, and self-mastery to reach your potential and fulfill your heart’s desires. As we become confident and open to new possibilities, we can move forward to create the life we love.

Doing what matters, looking for the good, and appreciating the fullness of life each day are avenues to living your best life. Buddha quotes, “One day you’ll look back and realize that you worried too much about things that really don’t matter”. Our attention, time, and resources are invaluable, and it is important to discern how we invest our energy. Seven keys for living your best life include: Being mindfully present, making responsible choices, continuing to grow and serve, enjoying simple pleasures, appreciating what you have now, living without regrets, and radiating love.

SEE ALSO: 6 Ways To Get A Soul Connection

Be mindfully present

“As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are; otherwise, you will miss your life” -Buddha

Spiritual self-discipline and keeping our attention on the present moment lead to a happy and harmonious life. Disciplining the mind enables us to regulate our emotions and behavior. Through awareness, we notice the quality and tone of our speech and when to be silent. Mastering ourselves, we build on a good attitude and become resolute about maintaining peace. Focusing attention on the present moment makes us more observant and better listeners. Present-moment awareness brings attention to our breath, and stillness in thought, and heightens our connection to sights, sounds, and sensations. The benefits of mindfulness can improve our relationships, release stress, and open our hearts to the world around us.

Make responsible choices

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create” -Buddha

The choices we make significantly impact our lives. As a result of less desirable outcomes, the tendency for harsh self-judgment is apparent with continuous questioning of why something happened the way it did.  Trusting our inner guidance enables us to choose wisely. Through innate wisdom, we have the power to make choices aligned to manifest desirable outcomes.

Painful experiences teach us about ourselves and life. Trust that everything happens for a reason. Do not mourn for the past or worry about the future. Live one day at a time with the realization that each day presents new opportunities. Shift your attention to goodness, be what you desire to attract, and trust divine timing.

Continue to grow and serve

“Teach this triple truth to all. A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity” -Buddha

Personal growth and selfless service are marks of a well-lived life. The search for meaning and purpose are innate desires essential for self-discovery. Be passionate about learning new things and trying something different. Pay attention to what sparks curiosity and feed your energy in positive ways. Creative inspiration unites us with our passion.  Free yourself from the incapacitating habit of self-doubt and feel the freedom to pursue your wildest dreams. Be courageous, have faith, and take steps to put your ideas into action.

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Through selfless service, we generously share our gifts and talents. With compassion and loving-kindness as we give, we receive. Our virtuous deeds, no matter how small or large, leave an indelible footprint and legacy of our life. Begin each day with optimism and remember that the things we do every day can change a life for the better.

Enjoy simple pleasures

“Greater happiness comes with simplicity than with complexity” -Buddha

Simplicity involves a mindset of conscious living. Our lives have become complex and complicated by doing more with less time, acquiring more when there is no need, and excessive distraction that drains our attention and life force. This may also include addictive habits that are detrimental to living our best life. Energy is conserved as we slow down, release what does not serve us well, and focus on what really matters. Enjoyment of simple pleasures can make us feel good and reduce stress as we focus our attention on what we value most.

Appreciate what you have now

“Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have” -Buddha

Appreciate how far you have come and how much you have grown. Focus on the gains rather than the losses. Gratitude is an uplifting and heart-opening expression of appreciation. Whether it’s health, shelter, food, and friendship, engage in a daily practice of gratitude as an essential and integral part of your life.  By appreciating the blessings bestowed upon us, we open the door for greater abundance. Sincere and heartfelt gratitude can shift our mood and transform our lives in the present moment.

Live without regrets

“Life doesn’t allow for us to go back and fix what we have done wrong in the past, but it does allow for us to live each day better than the last” -Buddha

Life is short, and the impermanence of life shows us how important it is to be willing to detach and let go. Forgiveness releases feelings of guilt, shame, and resentment. It may not be easy, but acceptance gives us the freedom to open up space for something new.  Spend time with people who are supportive, make you laugh, and feel joy. Stay in the flow of life and be open for new opportunities. Wish the best for yourself and others and do not waste time on regrets. Move forward and be an active participant in your daily life.

Radiate love

“Radiate boundless love towards the entire world” -Buddha

Meditate on the heart wisdom of love, a powerful force and essential part of the human experience. Practice and embody the ingredients in the recipe of love that include patience, kindness, generosity, humility, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, guiltlessness, and sincerity. These higher ideals of love will help you build a healthy and meaningful relationship with yourself and others. Love is a universal language that is inclusive, selfless, and supersedes differences. Anchor in love and empower your life.

Conclusion

Make the most out of your life every day. As quoted by Buddha, “In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you”. Be here now and enjoy the fullness of life. Take responsibility for your choices and release blame and victimhood mentality. Triumph in personal victories whether large or small. Wholeheartedly live your potential and purpose. Be grateful and loving with an open heart. Take time to engage in self-reflection and self-inquiry, make necessary modifications, chart your progress, and celebrate your best life each day.

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