Live life to the fullest

LIVE AND LEARN in Republic Monitor
Written by David L. Burton

Life is an accumulation of our choices. Both the good and the bad things are the result of repeated choices over the days, weeks, months and years of our life.

The good news is that each of us can maintain a life of optimism, a give-me-this-moment attitude, and a soft heart of gratefulness. That type of outlooks helps us to focus our choices and live a life without regret.

I think the key comes down to nine basics tips.

Avoid gossip: find good news about other people. Believe the best rather than assume the worst. Spread good rumors and avoid judgmental condemnation. Gossip diminishes your worth because you live at the expense of others.

Release bitterness: don't blame others. Don't walk around waiting for someone to apologize to you. Hey, I know this can be difficult but the best thing for you to do is forgive and then forget otherwise it festers and creates bitterness.

Take risks: for some, this means stepping out in faith. A life lived without risk is boring and a life that most people end up regretting later.

Trust: living a life of worry guarantees a sad life. When you grab control yourself, you shrivel because you cannot bear the weight. Worry never provides a benefit either.

Don't live for stuff: keep materialism in check. When you live for the accumulation of things - either by purchasing these things or by constantly longing for what you can't afford - you become a shrinking soul.

Master your appetite: if you are controlled by your cravings your capacity to grow and improve will lessen. Appetites can cause us to waste money and waste our time on self-fulfillment which actually has a negative impact in the long run.

Grow deep: spend time thinking about the meaning of life. Build your life on a firm foundation. Think of the important things and don't burn up your intellectual energies on monumental facts such as sports scores or the weather.

Live today: celebrate the past, embrace the present, and anticipate the future. Learn from the past but don't live there. Recognize that the good old days are never going to return and maybe weren't as good as you recall. Engage fully in this day.

Take time to enjoy life: if you have children, spend time with them. Work, hobbies and the needs of others can quickly eat up all of your time. Those are good things but to avoid burnout, you have to take some time for yourself.