50 Life Secrets and Tips

From High Existence.com | Many of these are relevant and may be helpful to you in your quest for career success:

1. Memorize something everyday. Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your
   memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust
   out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best
   options.


2. Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions. Those who are heavy set with
   material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken
   away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other
   way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more
   content.


3. Develop an endless curiosity about this world. Become an explorer and view
   the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as
   completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your
   comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and
   sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take
   advantage of it?


4. Remember people's names so that they feel appreciated and for your own future benefit
   when you want something from that person. To do this, say their name
   back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat the name in
   your head a number of times until you are sure you have it. Continue to
   use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any chance
   of forgetting it. If you're still having trouble, make up a rhyme about
   their name: "Dan the Man" or "Natalie flatters me."


5. Get fit! It's
   ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of
   functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit
   bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with the
   opposite sex. I'd say those are 3 very good reasons to get in
   shape.


6. Learn to focus only on the present. The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect
   on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The
   future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to
   do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.


7. Even more specifically, live in THIS moment. Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live
   purely in this moment you will always be happy because there is nothing
   wrong in this split-second.


8. Smile more often.
   Whenever you get a grin on your face, your brain is releasing serotonin,
   the happy hormone. Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be
   happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning
   to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful
   tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and need happiness
   more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles,
   smiles also lead to happiness.


9. Drink water.
   Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has
   absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it's like pouring a punch of sugar
   and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water.
   It may taste plain at first if you're coming off of a heavy
   soda-drinking streak, but you'll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10
   glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?


10. Don't take life so seriously! Learn to laugh at the little things and this whole
    "existence" thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused by your mistakes
    and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and won't
    mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy!
    Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.


11. Think positive thoughts. When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it
    immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself in the face, yell
    something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and down. Do
    whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is essential
    for continual happiness and success.


12. Read books. No
    explanation needed.


13. Get in the sun.
    Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and
    soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front
    door (if you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun
    feels amazing: your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.


14. Help others. I'll
    just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST
    
    
    
    • Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will
      feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
    
    
    • You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you
      never expected
    
    
    • Your relationship with that person will become stronger
    
    
    • It's the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not
      only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person
    
    
    • You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help
    
    
    • Karma (if you believe in it)
    
    
    • Because there are more people in this world than just you
    
    
    
    


15. Set aside a specific time to worry each day. Ponder all of your problems and anxieties
    during that time so that they will not distract you during work or
    moments of pleasure. This way you can be extremely efficient with your
    time and avoid focusing on negative things as much as possible. If you
    get all of your worry out of the way and have the mental fortitude to
    keep from reverting back to them, you will be much happier on the daily.


16. Be honest at all times. Lies lead to nothing but trouble. Being known as trustworthy is
    an excellent trait to maintain and essential to having integrity.


17. Sleep less. Fully
    adjusting to a new sleep cycle can take up to 21 days so don't give up
    if you feel tired after switching to 5-hour nights. The "required" 8
    hour/night is for normal people. If you're reading THIS article on THIS
    site, you are not normal. So figure out how much sleep YOU really need
    and adjust accordingly. As enjoyable as sleep is, waking existence is
    much more fulfilling and efficient. IF this really sparks your interest,
    check out alternate
    sleep cycles with which you can be fine off of 2 hours of sleep per
    day.


18. Read a spiritual book such as "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsch.This may help you
    decide what you want to do in this life and how to get to that point.
    They will also profoundly change the way you look at the purpose of
    existence. Read them!


19. Figure out what your goals and dreams are. So many people wander aimlessly through life
    simply go for whatever small thing they want moment by moment. Instead,
    decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps in
    motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world (yes,
    better than sex, much better) is overcoming a challenge and reaching a
    goal. We are the happiest when we are growing and working towards
    something better.


20. Start your day off right. Wake up and set aside an hour for personal development activities
    (meditation, self-introspection, observing nature, etc.) Do the things
    that make you feel blissful, optimistic  and empowered so that you can
    set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that once you start doing
    this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling. Today is going to
    be the best day of your life. Duh.


21. Utilize ‘The Burning Method.' Whenever a fear or worry or complaint comes to mind,
    close your eyes and imagine writing down the thought on a piece of
    paper. Then proceed to light the paper and fire and watch it
    disintegrate. Even better, actually write it down and burn it.
    You won't have any problem ridding your mind of the thought after doing
    this.


22. Travel. Anyone who
    has ever gone anywhere will tell you that traveling is one of the most
    exciting and life-changing activities that you can do. Observing a
    different culture will expand your mind while making you further
    appreciate the life you already live. This goes back to becoming an
    explorer: this world is your jungle so go explore! Who knows, maybe
    you'll find a place you love so much that you decide to move. Imagine
    the positive repercussions a new environment could have on your life.


23. The Rubber Band Method This is the third and final way to rid yourself of negative
    thoughts (hopefully by now you have figured out that this is very
    important!). Place a rubber band around your wrist and snap it against
    your skin anytime a negative thought finds its way into your head. This
    classical conditioning technique associates a slight pain with negative
    thoughts like Pavlov associated food/salivation with the sound of a
    bell. Sounds a bit cruel at first but it only stings for a second, I
    promise. Plus the outcome, having only positive thoughts, far outweighs a
    little slap on the wrist here and there.


24. Learn to be unaffected by the words of others. Most people get very upset
    when they are called negative names by others, but there is a simple
    trick to overcoming this. Here it is:  If I went up to you and called
    you a fire hydrant, would you be upset? Of course not. Obviously you are
    not a fire hydrant, you are a human being. The same concept applies to
    when someone calls you something that you know you are not. They are
    foolish for saying such things, so why would you react with such anger?
    The only exception is when someone calls you something that is true! In
    this case, you should thank them for alerting you to a weakness, one
    that you can now work on changing.


25. Read "Zen and the Art of Happiness" by Chris Prentiss. This book will give you the
    knowledge and instruction to be happy at all times regardless of the
    circumstances. Yes, this sounds like an oversimplification of happiness,
    but I assure you that this book will change you in an amazing way.
    
    

    
    



26. Develop the ability to forgive. Forgiveness is something that most people fail
    miserably at even thought it's so simple. Grudges only bring more misery
    to those who hold them and prevent good relations with the target. YOU
    makes mistakes all of the time so why not have mercy when other do?
    Remaining angry feels horrible while forgiving someone brings a
    refreshing sensation to the mind and healing to the relationship.


27. Be the person that makes others feel special. Be known for your kindness and sympathy.


28. Learn to lucid dream, or to realize when you are dreaming so that you can
    control your dreams. Sleep feels good, but its rather boring and
    unproductive. With lucid dreaming under your belt, night time can be
    even more exciting than when you are awake. You can do anything: fly,
    travel to other planets, party with a celebrity, get intimate with your
    dream boy/girl, etc. Many lucid dreams have also reported being able to
    speak directly with the subconscious during dreams by demanding to be
    taken to it after becoming lucid. For those that know a thing or two
    about your subconscious, that is a BIG deal.


29. Visualize daily. It
    has been said and proven time and time again that what you focus on is
    what you get. If you complain all of the time, you will run into more of
    the things you complain about. The same goes for good things like
    health, wealth and happiness. So spend some time in the morning
    imagining yourself achieving whatever it is that you currently desire.
    Focus is key in this exercise, so choose a quiet environment where you
    won't be disturbed. If you're having trouble focusing and continually
    find that your mind has wandered to something else, read about
    meditation in the following life tip. There is a lot more to this
    concept, so check out the full article on visualization and the law of
    attraction here.


30. Meditate everyday for at least 20 minutes. In this modern world where everyone is so
    connected to everything else via cell phones, TV and internet, most
    people rarely enjoy the beauty of silence. The ability to quiet your
    mind and relax your body is an art and skill that everyone should
    develop. Simply sit somewhere, preferably in nature, and focus on your
    breathing or try to think about nothing. This is going to be extremely
    hard at first! You might find it boring or just plain impossible to
    think of nothing, but you will get better and you will learn to love it.
    Post-meditation, you will feel extremely clear headed and.. well, just
    plain wonderful. The only way to really understand this sensation is to
    try it.


31. Learn to control your mind. What kind of skilled human are you if you cannot
    even control your own thoughts? While the human mind is described as
    being a stream of consciousness, that does not mean you can't decide
    where your stream flows. Techniques like meditation and the 3 ways to
    flush out negative thoughts will aid you immensely in learning to
    control your mind.


32. Learn to control your emotions. The only person that can make you unhappy is you!
    You are the one that decides to be affected by the words and actions of
    others. Realize this so that the next time you experience a negative
    emotion, you can find the strength within yourself to overcome it.


33. Take a class in speed reading. Books are full of information that can enhance your
    knowledge-base, vocabulary and yourself as a person. Speed reading is an
    easy way to get at this info faster so that you can have more time for
    other endeavors.


34. Relax! This one is
    for you work-o-holics out there (myself included). Yes, work is very
    important and productive but you need to take some time to chill out
    everyday or you are going to burn out faster than a candle with no
    oxygen. Additionally, you need to reward yourself for a job well done.
    What's the use of doing all of that work if you can't have a little fun
    from time to time anyways?


35. Work on making good first impressions. Practice a strong, firm handshake and the small talk
    that generally goes along with meeting someone for the first time.
    People won't know what to think of you if you have nothing more to say
    beyond "My name is _______, nice to meet you." Also make sure you
    remember names, as mentioned previously. Who knows, you may be going
    into business with or marrying this person you're meeting for the first
    time if you make a good impression. Be sure and make an excellent one.


36. Learn to use your eyes to their full potential:
    
    
    
    • Make constant eye
      contact when in conversation. Looking away (especially down) is a sign
      of inferiority and unsureness. Instead, look at your conversation
      partner dead in the eyes and keep them locked on
    
    
    • Master the piercing
      stare. You know when someone looks at you and it feels like they can
      see into your soul? Well that's not a hereditary characteristic, it just
      takes practice. Work on sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You'll know
      you have it when it's intimidating to continue looking at yourself
    
    
    • Master the
      one-eyebrow raise. This one isn't necessary by any means, but hey, why
      not? Pick a brow to learn with and go look in a mirror. Raise both of
      your eyebrows but use your hand to hold down the brow that you want to
      stay down. This will probably feel very stupid at first but if you keep
      trying, you will eventually pin down the muscle you need to flex to get
      that one brow up
    
    
    
    


37. Be mysterious.
    Don't let off everything about you and definitely leave out some major
    details. There is something both alluring and mesmerizing about someone
    that no one knows fully about. I'm not saying to confide in no one or to
    alienate yourself. Just think James Bond.


38. Come up with a life mantra. You know, like "Carpe Diem" or "Live life to the
    fullest," but not as cliché. Make it something that really hits home
    with you so that you will actually stick to it. Make sure it' not so
    specific that it rarely applies but also not so general that it's not
    personal.


39. Get good at something. Call it a hobby or a passion, whatever it is, just get damn good
    at it. Your occupation does not count! Make it something that you can
    practice often enough to excel at. Examples:  Magic tricks, surfing,
    ping pong, creating short films,  and unicycling. It can be anything but
    I would recommend choosing something that: 1) You are passionate about 
    2) You can bust out at any moment to display your skills for any
    discerning crowd. My mind goes immediately to aerobatics and break
    dancing, but that's just me.


40. Work out those abs.
    Above any other muscle group in the entire body, the abs are the most
    important AND, for guys, the most impressive to the opposite sex. They
    constitute your core, the center point of your body. Your ability to
    balance comes almost completely from the strength of your abdominal
    muscles and balance is vital to performance in any physical activity.
    Summary: they're very important. For more info on how to work out your
    abs, check out this video.


41. Keep your brain sharp. The majority of people are stuck in ruts. They go to the same job
    everyday, hang out with the same friends and eat at the same places.
    While that may feel safe, it's not the most stimulating lifestyle for
    your brain. Those synapses have been built up enough, so try something
    that you do NOT know how to do! Buy a model car kit, master the art of
    sudoku or crosswords, or go pick up another major at your nearest
    college. The point is you need to be learning new things to keep your
    brain honest. Form new synapses by forcing your mind to work in
    ways it has not worked before. Just like physical workouts, doing too
    much of the same exercise will eventually give no results. Switch it up!


42. Read something inspirational right before bed and after waking. This will set get you in a
    great mood for sleep and for the day. Read anything from a famous speech
    to your favorite self-improvement book. Try to read something that
    get's you really excited in the morning especially so that you'll leave
    your house beaming with energy and wonder.


43. Do what you love.
    There is a huge difference between making a life and making a living;
    which one are you making right now? So many spend their entire lives
    trying to make as much money as possible so that they can afford to do
    what they really want later. It makes no sense to settle in life until
    you're 65 so that you can retire and do what you want when you're
    already WAY past your prime. We only live life once so why wouldn't you
    want to spend it pursuing your bliss? To do anything else would be a
    tragic waste of the freedom you are allowed if you are reading this
    right now. Follow your bliss and you will be a thousand times more happy
    than your retirement date and 40+ years younger.


44. Choose your friends wisely. You are affected far more than you think by the
    people you spend your time with. Do your friends share your values? Do
    they encourage you when you speak of your goals and dreams or do they
    scoff? Make sure the people around you are conducive to the lifestyle
    you want to lead or you will find yourself being dragged again and again
    into behavior that distances you from your desires. Friends with a
    habit of producing negative thoughts will especially hinder you. This
    can be a hard task to follow through with if you realize you good friend
    is one of these saboteurs, but you must be firm! Don't let anyone get
    in the way of you being all that you can be.


45. Don't burn bridges.
    By that I mean maintain your relationships with people even if you
    think you are never going to see them again. For example, if you are
    quitting your job, don't chew out your boss before leaving! You might
    run into him/her again later and life and wish you had never severed
    ties so harshly. You never know when you might need the help of someone
    you knew in the past. Plus there is already too much hatred in this
    world, why add more towards the people you interact with?


46. Keep a journal/diary. It sounds like a very monotonous habit at first, but when you get
    into it, that little book will become a great way to organize your
    thoughts and track your growth over the years. Most of us already stay
    awake in bed at night pondering the events of the day anyways so why not
    document those thoughts in an organized fashion? That will allow you to
    look back and observe how your way of thinking has changed over time.


47. Read "New Pyscho-Cybernetics" by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. This book will explain why
    the content of your thoughts has such a profound effect on your life
    through religious, philosophical and scientific arguments. A must read
    for completely understand who this life thing works.


48. Learn to use and trust your subconscious/intuition. When you spend time in
    silence everyday, listen not for words but for a feeling that tells you
    to do something. Do not mistake your own reasoning and thoughts for
    those of your subconscious. If you can track where the thought came
    from, (this thought led to that thought which led to this thought, etc.)
    then it was not from your subconscious. Learning to accurately discern
    between the two will allow you to tap into knowledge that you don't
    consciously have.
    
    


49. Develop a charismatic personality. You know, the kind of personality that is surrounded
    by people constantly and is the life of the party. Start visualizing
    yourself as THAT person. Maybe take a short course on dynamic speaking
    and learn some jokes. Take the time to learn some party tricks and
    sleight of hand. Most importantly, believe that you already are
    charismatic even if you fail at beign the center point of the next
    party. Lie to yourself constantly and tell yourself that you are more
    warm and gregarious than Ronald Regan. Belief is the first step! Reality
    will come soon after.
    
    


50. Love is all there is. If you truly want to be a master of life, let love be in your
    every action. Love your friends, family and enemies alike. This is the
    most difficult thing to do out of this entire list, which is why it is
    listed at #50. But if you accomplish this, you will be seen as a leader
    among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other negative
    emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world
    when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you
    will immediately see yourself and the people around you change. Love.
    Love. Love.