I went on a missions trips and one of the girls on my team would often say, ” live your best life.” Isn’t that something we all want to do?
We really want to live an amazing life! I would say for the most part I have learned to live my best life. There are a few factors that have helped me to live what I consider my best life.
The first is my faith. For me personally, I can only live my best life if God is first. I tried it the other way and it just didn’t work. Plain and simple.
The second is recognizing who I am? I can’t be anyone but who God made me to be. That may not look like what others think it should look. What are my likes and dislikes? What do I enjoy doing? What am I good at? What are strengths and weakness? What are my values? When I started to learn some of those things about myself, I really learned to like me. In fact, I love me! Once you figure out some of those things then you may be able to understand a little about yourself and how God made you to be.
I really am not one too concerned about what others think about me. I don’t say that in a prideful way but a confident way. You have to learn to be comfortable in your own skin. You can’t spend your whole life concerned about what others feel or think about you either.
Another way I have learned to live my best life is to speak up for myself. So many people don’t say how they feel in certain situations. For example, if everyone in the group wants salad and I want something different, I am not going to say I want a salad because everyone else does. Nope if I want something different, I am going to say it.
I notice so many people miserable because they go with what everyone else wants and never say what they want. No! Speak up! Don’t be rude but stop cowering under the pressure of “the pack”. You will be the miserable one in the end.
I remember when my kids were younger and all my closest friends at the time homeschooled or had their kids in Christian schools. I felt no pressure to homeschool or pay Christian school costs. They talked about it every time we were together. I was like that’s great for y’all but mine are going to public school and they will be fine. They just laughed at me and respected my choices. They were very much aware that their opinions about my public school choice didn’t matter to me.
One of my other friends avoided these people at times. She asked me how I did it with them without feeling the pressure. I told her that I just told them the truth. It was not for me. They loved me the same and never tried to persuade me or pressure me. I knew what I wanted to do and vocalized it. I didn’t feel less or that I needed to avoid them. Their decisions were good for them and my decision was good for me. We must learn to be good with who we are and confident enough to speak it out without being offensive.
Lastly, I realize that it’s not anyone’s responsibility to make me happy if I am going to live my best life. I am responsible for my own happiness. Single people—a companion is not responsible for your happiness! Marrieds—-You spouse is not your spouse to make you happy!
These are some things that have helped me to live my best life. I challenge you if you feel you are not living your best life to make some changes. See if some minor adjustments will allow you to start to begin to live YOUR best life.
I would love to work with you if you would like a little coaching to live your best life. You can email me at lisadjohnson08@gmail.com or use the contact form.