10 Sweet Ways Of Growth

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail"

Author Unknown

 

I was reading a giftbook I borrowed from my friend when I came across this quote. It challenged me. All the more when I noticed it's written by an unknown author, wherever this brilliant person may be, I'm  sure this quote has gone a long way changing a person's life one way or the other.

 

We're all reminded by our parents, teachers, leaders and friends to follow the right path, the life of a symbolic person, to become a good leader in the future and so that we become a somebody that people could turn to. True enough and good enough.

But those symbolic people who became saints, heroes, presidents, advocates, or millionaires didn't have perfect lives. They went through different dimensions of failures and successes. Just like you are now. Why? Because we're all human beings.

 

The pedestal of every single successful and happy person has a story of its own. No one needs to understand but it's not even a secret thing. Every individual has their own sweet ways of achieving their goal towards success and happiness.

 

Their path might not be your choice. Their roads of battles might not be the same as yours. They just did it by their own struggles, and these are the trails that we see today. So how could you follow?

 

1. Encourage happiness.

A lot of people are easily discouraged, easily become upset and frustrated. Because they let the negative situation affect them by absorbing them. Or they're the ones negative who fail to see the other side by blocking the truth - DENIAL.

 

If something goes wrong, it's because nothing is perfect, you already know this right? Do not fuel more negative words to someone who is already upset. Instead, open a new door of conversation by trying to input what better things could be done. Use encouraging words to uplift someone's mood until a smile comes out. Inspire don't initiate anger.

 

2. Be positive all the time.

This is a challenge I'm taking as a discipline and mind you, it helps big time! When you become accustomed to positivity, you will see the silver lining to every dark end and dark corner bright and clear. Why? Because positive thinking automatically resolves the problem.  

Positive attitude is everything. If enacted through the heart, anything follows. People who are positive have a self-drive happiness. They don't borrow happiness from the limelight. They can smile even in the dark and not fear. Share your positive thoughts all the time. You don't know how you're helping some people by saying simple words of kindness. Most importantly, be positive to yourself.

 

3. Pay attention to your life.

Most people, even I before, looked at life like something huge and unreachable. I thought life is something you're always trying to figure out and you're growing old still confused. One sigh of relief is that, well, you're still alive.

 

Focus on what is going on now. Any situation you're into today are matters of your own choices. They are just the results. Accept them, enjoy them, be grateful and what you do today is always going to have results tomorrow. It's always your choice because right now is life. Listen to the little voice inside you.

 

4. Get rid of one negative thing a day.

Only YOU, know the black sheep in you. How long have you been doing a bad habit that you love so much? And if you love it so much then why bad? Simple. Because it's not good.

 

Challenge yourself by getting rid of ONE wrong habit a day and pursue it all this month. Like, always feeling heavy, asking for an errand all the time when you can do it by yourself, spending too much in alcohol, laziness, tardiness, unwillingness, impatience or being impolite. When you start to learn letting go of your packrat tendencies, your mind will thank your efforts and you will feel better as a person.

 

5. Don't tell a single lie for a month.
Sounds funny? How many people are living in lies for how long? I've been one of this just because. It's truly bad enough because there are people that  are being affected, believe it or not. One is your family.

Speak the truth, no matter how it hurts. White lies are just tricky - it's still a lie. Big or small, lies are lies. I thought before, we say white lies not to cause trouble or heartaches, but this is the question - why are you going to do something that is not right in the first place?

Stop deceiving yourself. Tell the truth even if it would mean you will stand alone. Practice and you will see the difference. After a month, look back. How are you now? Talking to yourself in the mirror.

6. Perform a single act of kindness every day.
The willingness to help in any form brings magic. Assisting someone, opening a door for someone, letting the lady to go out first, help an old man sit in his rocking chair, giving your significant  other a caring massage, a kiss or help someone who fell to stand up and a lot more.

I remember July this year when I had a minor accident. It's Wednesday and I have to be in a hurry going downstairs for a scheduled reading time. As I was rushing down, with my heels, students are coming up arriving to school at the same time - I tripped in the last second step and I fell. I hurt my left hip as I hit the floor. I had a bruise and a scratch in my left leg. I heard Ben, my colleague, "let me help you", and I reached out for his helping hand. People like him who have no qualm in assisting someone has a rich character.

7. Be selfless, when need be.
Apart from being a kind person, be selfless not selfish. When someone asked for a help or a favor and you believe that you can help, do it. Helping is not only in kind but also in action, understanding and being nice to others.

When you help, it should give you a feeling of pleasure and happiness, but not proud and begin to entitle yourself their hero. When you give a positive impact to others, it will come back to you. What goes around comes around. We help because we can and it's truly needed. It's about helping others make them feel happy and comfortable too. And we feel simple and humble, after all.

8. Wake up half an hour earlier each morning.
Set up your alarm thirty minutes earlier than usual. Pray, stretch even in your bed, ready yourself to be awake. Use the extra time for your ritual and preparation. It will save you from rushing and speeding like a madman. Instead, you'd be more relaxed heading for work earlier and be on time without any headaches.

9. Initiate humor and laughter.
When was the last time you joked? Why did you laugh last week?

There's something fishy lately about how people use jokes as humor. Like what? A sarcastic joke, a fake laugh just to imitate someone, annoying actions but not really funny, endless feedbacks against somebody and laughing at someone just because.

These are not humors but insults.

Laughter is obtained from an unusual situation, unexpected and truly funny after the result. It could also be a story that happened out of innocence and surprises. Something that when you remember, even if you're alone, you'll catch yourself smiling at nothing. Humor is a natural impact added to your style when conversing with people. Sometimes, they're your own experiences that you share and people laugh because they're funny.

Laugh because its funny.

10. Give thanks to God.
Give it back to Him, for all the grace and blessings that you receive, be thankful. For the failures, they're lessons in life. For the chance, you're alive again today so do something differently good.  For EVERYTHING - God is the ultimate reason and solution.

You don't need to rush. Growth is something slow as you try each day. But you need to focus in reshaping yourself. Push through and don't let others pull you back. The little steps to self improvement will be miles when added up. You just don't know how brave you are until you try.

Good luck!

Love,

Sofia Ann
SWEETLIFEAuthor&Founder