For so many of us, change can be kind of scary! Our routines and habits become comfortable to us, even if they aren’t healthy for us!
If you’ve been feeling like you just don’t love your life as much as you used to, maybe it’s time to get out of your comfort zone and make that change?
There is good news though! Change doesn’t have to be scary. These 10 tips can be done as gradually as you feel comfortable to help you move from stuck in the past to fully living and loving your life in the present.
10 ideas to help you love and enjoy your life a whole lot more in 2021! #loveyourlife #motivation #healthyliving #mindset #gratitude
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#1. Quit the comparison trap
Most of us are familiar with the old Theodore Roosevelt quote, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
I must agree. When we compare ourselves or our lives to others, we either declare ourselves “winners or losers.” The truth is, we lose every time because we are losing precious time spent looking at someone else’s life instead of living our own.
If you admire (or envy, let’s be honest!), ask yourself why. Could it be because you see them accomplishing something that is on your heart to do too? Or is it because you don’t feel you measure up?
Instead of comparing – try creating. Create that business. Go after your health or financial goals. Count your own blessings and realize that everything you need to love your life is well within your reach.
#2. Begin being your own best friend
In order to stop comparing, we need to begin being kind to ourselves. God doesn’t create junk, my friend.
You are not a mistake; neither are your skills, talents, looks, or personality. Everything about you was formed exactly for the purpose that you are called to do in this life.
What you have and who you are is not greater than or less than anyone else. It was made for you!
We are far too quick to tear ourselves down. Try an exercise where you sit down and begin writing all of the qualities that you love or admire about yourself. Don’t be shy!
What you might find is that not only do you love your life more, but you discover hidden talents and patterns that make you unique. Use those. They’re not an accident.
#3. Give more. Grumble less
Something truly magical happens in our lives when we give to others. Even though our outward circumstances may not have changed at all, our hearts have.
We instantly become happier and more fulfilled. Why? Because our focus is no longer on our problems, but is instead focused on how we can be a solution to someone else’s need.
What we focus on grows. The next chance you get, offer a random act of kindness and see how different you feel!
This precious dad shows us how it’s done!
#4. Don’t forget fun and adventure
Work is good, but this society seems to think that we should earn a badge of honor for working non-stop. All this accomplishes is burnout, exhaustion, and resentment.
Sometimes, all we need is a break from the normal routines and responsibilities of our lives. Even if it’s just for one day!
Go for that hike, go for a scenic drive just because, learn that new hobby, schedule that vacation on your bucket list. Whatever it is, don’t put it off for a tomorrow that never comes.
It is impossible to love your life without rest, relaxation, and a chance to focus your mind on something you enjoy.
#5. Healthy habits matter
Each part of our body is connected and affect one another. If our bodies are unhealthy, our minds will be too. If our minds are struggling, our bodies will feel it. The same is true for our spiritual health.
That’s one of the reasons fun & adventure matter so much. It gives us rest which is critical to our well-being.
Here are some healthy habits that can help you love your life again:
- Get the right amount of sleep for you individually
- Find an exercise you love so it’s easy to be consistent
- Focus on small changes that make a big difference
- Eat for health. We get out of our bodies what we put into them.
- Ditch toxic cleaning chemicals and opt for natural cleaning products instead
- Consider soaking in the presence of the Lord for peace and healing
- Start a gratitude journal for the amazing health benefits
#6. Smiling lowers stress
I find this one pretty amazing! During periods of mild stress, smiling reduces your heart rate and helps you recover from the stressful trigger much more quickly!
Aside from that, your smile can literally change a person’s whole day!
Have you ever noticed how contagious smiling is? 🙂
Our smiles also tell us a lot about our health overall. In fact, your dentist may be the first one to catch diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and more!
Regular oral care cleanings, gum reshaping for gummy smiles, and other preventive care treatments can help you love your life and your smile!
You are beautiful, inside & out! Never underestimate the power of your smile!
#7. Declutter your life
I have a confession: I hate clutter! It makes me feel anxious, unfocused, and overwhelmed.
Turns out, there is science behind this! A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind full of anxiety and a real lack of focused productivity.
Our brains respond to clutter with a low-grade constant feeling of fight or flight. What this means for us is that our stress hormone, cortisol increases, along with our actual feelings of stress!
You just might be surprised what happens when you donate or toss many of the unnecessary items lying around your home. Not only will your brain feel calmer but your home will be cleaner!
It’s much easier to love your life when you have a safe space where you feel calm, relaxed, and truly at home.
Cutting the clutter from your life could also mean cutting out toxic relationships.
We become most like those we spend our time with. If you are surrounded by drama and negativity, that will be the fruit you see in your life. Let unhealthy relationships go. Love them from a distance.
#8. Let the past stay in the past
ALL of us have made mistakes. We all have regrets and decisions we wish we’d made differently.
I know first-hand the reality of how heavily these things can weigh on your heart and mind.
Reframing how we view our mistakes can set us up to succeed in the future. If we look at what went wrong with a compassionate point of view, we can change unhealthy behaviors and patterns.
As a Christian, I like to ask the Holy Spirit where I’m believing a lie that led to a certain action or reaction. He is faithful to show us every single time! Then, He can bring healing to that area.
We can’t even change what happened one minute ago, because even that is the past! Dwelling on it only makes us feel bad about ourselves.
The goal is not to excuse and justify our mistakes but to learn and grow from them so that we don’t stay stuck in beliefs and behaviors that hinder our happiness.
#9. There’s power in forgiveness
In my friend Carol Hind’s guest post, “God’s Master Key to Wholeness,” she shared with us the powerful truth of forgiveness in our lives and the lives of others.
Forgiveness does not mean what was done to you was okay. It is simply refusing to drink the poison of bitterness, anger, resentment, and pain of unforgiveness day after day.
Letting go of the past and unforgiveness in our hearts allows us to move forward wholly into our futures.
#10. Gratitude is the right attitude
Gratitude is hands-down one of the most powerful ways to love your life more. When we take our focus off of what we don’t have and place it on what we do have, our whole mindset shifts instantaneously.
Plus, there are some incredible health benefits just for choosing to be grateful!
Related Reading: How A Gratitude Journal With Prompts Can Transform Your Mind
Why Do You Love Your Life?
Let 2021 be the year that you invest in yourself and others. Step out of your routine into new habits and goals. Whether you choose one or all of the tips above, it’s a step in the right direction to loving your life!
Since gratitude is such an important part of feeling fulfilled in our lives; what is it about your life that you love?
Do you identify with any of these 10 ideas listed above?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
As always, thank you for sharing this post on social media! Your support makes me love my life!
With Love & Thankfulness,
Wow, I needed to read this. You made so many great points.
Aw! Thank you so much for your kind words! 💛
I was going to attend a Time Saving Workshop, but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule!
I signed up for a Marie Kondo workshop, but lost on my desk the note on where it met.
I wanted to attend a Dave Ramsey seminar on finances, but couldn’t afford it.
I got so nervous about attending a Deepak Chopra meeting, I got sick.
I could not locate a book I bought to help; I think it is Five Habits of Affective Persons.
I fell asleep listening to an audio book of Tony Robbins: Awaken the Giant Within.
I got so mad at Dalai Lama for telling me to calm down I left the meeting.
Another year ahead. 😁
🤣 Your comment cracked me up! Here’s to praying the year ahead will be the best yet! Thank you for making me laugh!
Dear Holly, I love so much of this post, including smiling a lot 😀 Also, it’s great to read what you say about keeping the past back in the past – That’s where it belongs, although we can learn a lot from it. Thanks for the great post that you share based on experience, wisdom, and love ❤
Dearest Christy, you are so sweet, thank you! You make me smile a lot. It is a good feeling isn’t it? Our inner joy is wildly contagious!
Amen, I agree with you about learning from the past. Wisdom is a beautiful gift! Thank you for sharing your heart, love, and wisdom with all of us! You are loved! ♥
This is a well-written post that covers pretty much everything someone can do to love their life more. I’m glad I had a chance to read this – it resonates so much with me. I hope to focus on the positive, move on from my past, and declutter my space. Thanks for the awesome post!
Dearest Nicole, thank you for your kind words! I am very grateful for you! It’s a good feeling to know that others can relate to the changes we hope to make in our own lives, isn’t it?
Sending my love to you and yours. Thank you again for your encouragement. I hope you will return and share more of your thoughts with me! ♥
Holly… oh my friend I’ve missed your blogging like this. I love that my home is about to include a new air purifier thanks to you (and Amazon Prime delivery!) within the next day, and I love reading the guest posts too. But these posts from your heart are so special and remind me why I miss you even though we have never met in person. Please know you just made my night with seeing this post before heading to sleep. I really LOVE your words, you heart, your faith, and who you are. Thank you for sharing these tips.
As far as which of these I identify with, let’s see: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Yup… that’s all of them. You wrote a solid piece here my friend. One filled with so much goodness and knowledge. I have been so overwhelmed this year – okay, for the last year in general – with work and “doing more” that I forgot to be. I forgot to enjoy the moment because I was so focused on getting to the next one and getting past this time of shutdown and being stuck inside. While it’s been amazing at times personally, it’s been filled with death and a lot of change that I wasn’t mentally or spiritually prepared for. Thank for this reminder of stepping out of the funk and mehness (can we make that a word?) of life and into the LOVE OF LIFE! We are here for so much more than this, and you reminded me of that tonight. I love you sis. Keep up the great posts!!!
Shell!!! You have NO idea how strong my reaction was when I read your words. I nearly wanted to cry because you touched my heart so deeply. THANK YOU for your kindness and friendship. I do not take you for granted!
I definitely agree that we can make mehness a word! There has been entirely too much of that feeling for a very long time now! You’re right, we are definitely made for more and it’s time we embrace ALL of the goodness that awaits us in the plans and purposes of our loving Father! ❤
By the way, I really hope you love the air purifier. Mine has been running non-stop for months now and I still love it. In fact, it’s time to change the filters! Definitely keep me updated on whether or not it’s making a difference for you.
Again, sincerely, thank you with my whole heart for sharing what you did. You were a literal answer to my prayer from the night before! Sending you my love, dear friend. You’re amazing!
<3 I love how God works!! So thankful for you, Holly!
As far as purifier, I’m loving it so far. I gave the smaller one to Ali so she has one in her room and the big one is in mine. I love the speeds and how quiet it is considering the output. It’s a nice white noise. Thanks so much for your review!
We are a whole lot at rest and better of, when we follow these tips. For me, learning to let go is a step towards finding healing to your mind and if your mind is healed, you are better for it, because it reflects in your decisions. 💯☺
Sweet sis, amen! I agree wholeheartedly with you about the benefits of learning to let go. It’s hard sometimes, isn’t it? Especially if it’s an outcome that we are particularly attached to!
But you’re right, there is much healing to be found with our Father when we let Him take our hearts (and the desires of it) and shape our decisions.
Sending love and blessings to you, my friend. ♥
Comparisons are your worst enemy, if you change one thing about your life, make sure it’s that one. As s for grumbling, I’m British, it’s what we do, we don’t make a fuss and we grumble about it later instead ha ha ha. Totally unhelpful and unhealthy, but what can you do
I can do forgetting, for the most part, but there are something you can’t forgive unless the person has actually changed. I can’t forgive those who would happily do it again
I’ve read about the claim that smiling can make you feel better, even if you’re just fake smiling, I’ve even seen pop up in a few TV documentaries. However, I’m completely in capable of fake smiling, so if you see me smile it’s actually a legitimate spontaneous smile
I agree wholeheartedly with you about comparisons! It really can be the death of so much contentment, joy, and satisfaction in general with life.
Admittedly, I did chuckle when you talked about British grumbling. I have quite a few Brit friends and the sense of humor cracks me up. 🙂
As for forgiveness, I used to feel the way you do. I used to think that I could never forgive until the other person felt remorse for what they’d done, since as you say, they could easily do it again. What I learned is that my forgiveness has nothing at all to do with the other person. In order for me to be healed and whole, I must forgive. When we mess up, we hope for forgiveness too, even though the potential is always there to make another mistake. When I hold onto unforgiveness, it makes me sick while the other person goes free. Not forgiving means that I continue to revictimize myself, over and over again. By letting go and forgiving, I leave what is out of my control to God and move on. As a woman of great faith – I believe that God expects me to forgive, just as He has forgiven me of much. Just as I need others to forgive me too.
When you talked about being unable to fake smile, I understood completely! I’m averse to all things phony and fake. It’s just exhausting! A genuine smile can sometimes be born out of a smile by choice. To me, a smile by choice doesn’t have to be fake. Sometimes I just have to readjust where my focus is going to…
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I really appreciate you!
All of these ideas are wonderful Holly. If all of us could just take baby steps and try each and everyone of your suggestions, wow, we would all be at peace with ourselves. This journey we are on doesn’t have to be as hard as we sometimes make it. I just love how you spread your joy around. Thank you for being the beautiful human that you are.
Oh Michele, your words brought such joy into my heart! Thank you for being such a kind woman! In all sincerity, I appreciate you!
You’re right, all we really need to do is take baby steps in the right direction. We really would be in a much different place; as individuals, as nations, and as a whole in the world. The peace would change our hearts and lives.
I agree wholeheartedly with you — we really do complicate the process far more than it need be. Simple things make a huge difference!
Sending big love and many blessings to you, sweet Michele. Thank you again for your beautiful heart and the joy you are! ♥
[…] Related Reading: 10 Ideas to Help You Love Your Life A Whole Lot More In 2021 […]
Dealing with a few of these issues now, Holly. Thank you for the reminder. 🙂 Keep up the great work!
Sending prayers your way that as you work through the issues you’re facing, healing and understanding will be found. 😊 Thank you again my friend for being so kind. I genuinely appreciate you!
Thank you, Holly. That means alot to me. 🙂
This is such an amazing post! That video of the encouraging dad made me tear up. How sweet is that?
I fell into the comparison trap when I first got on Instagram and had to make myself stop. Now I use it for inspiration (even though I haven’t been on there in forever and a day! LOL). One thing I’m trying to teach my daughter right now is to not fall into that same trap. Being a teen is hard and social media makes it even harder.
“God doesn’t create junk” I LOVE that!!!
Wasn’t that dad amazing?!? As someone who did not have the kind of father that was present, loving, and encouraging, that guy made me cry! Those kids have no idea how blessed they are but I hope one day they will!
I nodded my head in agreement with you about Instagram. It saddened me to hear that the comparison trap got a hold of you, even for one minute. Instagram is my least favorite, to be perfectly honest (for a lot of reasons). Although, like you said, there are some good opportunities for inspiration when used in that way. By the way, definitely don’t feel bad about not having been active on it either…I can relate!
Michelle, I love how you encourage your daughter to be uniquely herself and to celebrate who she is and how she is. That is so beautiful. It blesses my heart to hear how you are shaping her into a woman who knows her worth. Thank you for being such a loving Mama!
God definitely doesn’t create junk and He created a masterpiece with you! ❤ I am sending my love to you, sweet friend. Thank you for being you! Your support has meant the world to me!
Holly, I really needed to see this and timing is perfect. Thank you so much for sharing with us! You are such a blessing.
Aw Janet!! You have made my night, precious friend. Thank you for being such an amazing woman. I love you, Janet. ♥️
This was something I needed to hear today. You’ve put into words so clearly what will help make loving life simpler. All ten are practical, actionable steps – right now. We can do a few of these in the next day, or just start with one right now, and things will get brighter.
It has been several days since I sat down and wrote out a conversation with God, while sitting in the silence of His peace. As a writer the quote, “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one” was incredibly powerful. No matter how much I want to have made a different decision, I can’t. Learn from mistakes, and ask God for the strength to forgive myself, forgive others, and move healthily into the next step of life.
Thank you so very much Holly. ❤
Aw! Another comment from you that is so sweet, thank you Hamish!
I agree, even just one of these put into action today could change our lives for the good. That’s the beauty of small changes with big impacts. Plus, it makes change a lot less intimidating!
Your second paragraph touched me deeply! It’s true, we can’t change our history. You know, that’s one of the most amazing things about God. He even uses our mistakes and wrong turns! What we think is a mess, He turns into a message of hope to inspire us and others. It’s just incredible how He does that!
Forgiving ourselves is the key. Do you find it harder to forgive yourself than you do others? I know that I do because I am famously known for being hard on myself!
Sending love your way. Thank you for these encouraging words!
Fantastic post Holly , a much needed one . Especially love the point of being your own best friend and quitting the comparisons . Sharing on social media for others to enjoy!
Amen Nisha! Those were some of my favorites too! 🙂 Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your shares and support. Love you, friend! ♥
You are very welcome my friend! Take care
Excellent post! You make so many great points here! Gratitude is surely a great healer for the mind, body, and spirit. A heart filled with gratitude looks for possibilities…God is good. He is always good!
Hi Linda! Thank you for your comment. It’s wonderful to hear your thoughts!
I agree wholeheartedly with you; gratitude is very healing in every sense. Most of all, I adore what you said: “A heart filled with gratitude looks for possibilities….God is good. He is always good.” —- WOW! That was beautiful. Thank you for making my day with your wisdom. ♥
Sending blessings to you. I hope you will come back & share more of your thoughts!
These are such an obvious points, but somehow we forget about them on daily basis. It’s sad, because our world and lives could be much better, if we remembered all of that.
Thank you for reminding us!