50 ways to help you live your life on your own terms

50 ways to help you live yur life on yur own terms50 ways to help you live your life on your own terms1. Stop depending on caffeineAddictions embody repetition without progress. They produce incapacity as a payoff. Steven PressfieldAlthough people think they perform better on caffeine, the truth is, they really dont. Actually, weve become so dependent on caffeine that we use it to simply get back to our status-quo. When were off it, we underperform and become incapable.Isnt this absurd?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Success, and moraThe problem isnt the caffeine. Its the compulsion and dependence. The need to rely on it to do everyday tasks which shouldnt require it. Use it if its strategic, dont abuse it to the point of ineffectiveness.In his book, The Untethered Soul, Michael Singer argues that your energy should come from within from your why bedrngnis from external stimulants. The scientific bac king is substantial and unsurprising intrinsic motivation destroys extrinsic motivation every day of the week.Motivation aside healthy eating, sleeping, and intensive exercise produce higher quantities and quality of energy than caffeine ever could. A holistic approach to life is essential. Garbage in, garbage out.2. Pray or meditate morning, mid-day, and nightIn a recent interview at the Genius Network mastermind event, Joe Polish asked Tony Robbins what he does to get focused. Do you meditate? What do you do? Joe asked.I dont know that I meditate. I dont know that I want to meditate and think about leidlagehing, Tony responded, My goal is clarity.Instead of full-on meditation, Tony has a morning praxis that includes several breathing exercises and visualization techniques that get him to a state of clarity and focus. For me, I use prayer and pondering (my version of meditation) as the same vehicle.Whatever your approach, the goal should be clarity and focus. What do you want to be about today?What few things matter fruchtwein during the next 24 hours?Ive gotten the best results asMy morning prayer and meditation are motivationalMy afternoon prayer and meditation are evaluative and strategicMy evening prayer and meditation are evaluative and reflective3. Read 1 book per weekPeople living ordinary lives landseek entertainment. People living extraordinary lives seek education and learning. It is common for the worlds fruchtwein successful people to read at least one book per week. They are constantly learning.I can easily get through one audiobook per week by just listening during my commute to school and while walking on campus. Taking even 1530 minutes every morning to read uplifting and instructive information changes you. It puts you in the zone to perform at your highest.Over a long enough period of time, you will have read hundreds of books. Youll be knowledgeable on several topics. Youll think and see the world differently. Youll be able to make mora con nections between different topics.Reference 19 on this list if you feel youre too busy to read one book per week. There are methods to make this task extremely easy.4. Write in your journal 5 minutes per dayThis habit will change your life. Your journal willClear your emotions serving as your personal therapistDetail your personal historyEnhance your creativityIngrain and enhance your learningHelp you get clarity on the future you want to createAccelerate your ability to manifest your goalsIncrease your gratitudeImprove your writing skillsLots mora Five minutes per day is mora than enough. Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, recommends writing far less than you want to only a few sentences or paragraphs at fruchtwein. This will help you avoid burnout.5. Marry the person you love, and then fight to make that marriage amazing (dont give up like most people do when it becomes work)For all the productivity and success advice Ive read, shaped and marketed for dozens of authors in the l ast decade, Ive never really seen someone come out and say Find yourself a spouse who complements and supports you and makes you better. Ryan HolidayResearch done by economists have found even after controlling for age, education, and other demographics that married people make 10 to 50 percent more than single people.Why would this be?Being married gives you a higher purpose for being productive. You are no longer a lone ranger, but have another person who relies on you.Marriage also smacks you in the face with whats really important in life. Sure, hanging out and partying is fun. But too many people get stuck in this phase and miss the meaning that comes from building a life with someone.You will never find a better personal development seminar or book than marriage. It will highlight all of your flaws and weaknesses, challenging you to become a better person than you ever thought possible.Said Thomas Monson, Choose your love love your choice. After youve chosen the person you lov e, love them. You dont marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. Said Franklin, Mans Search for Meaning, For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of ones personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of ones surrender to a person other than oneself.6. Make a bucket list and actively knock items offMost people have it backward they design their ambitions around their life, rather than designing their life around their ambitions.What are the things you absolutely must do before you die?Start there.Then design your life around those things. Or as Stephen Covey explained in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Begin with the end clearly in mind.I must confess that until recently, I had put my work before my kids. Sure, I made time for my kids regularly but in my head and heart, I put work before them. I wont make that mistake again.Heres the truth when you put the top priorities first, you find the time for the rest. Ive become more successful and productive while working less because Im putting first things first. This gives you a sense of confidence and integrity and also fulfills you much deeper.When youre fulfilled, you work better.Working more shouldnt be the goal. Its doing brilliant work that supports the lifestyle youve chosen based on your values and priorities.A simple mental exercise that may be helpful is imagining you only have 30 days to live. What would you do in those 30 days?Now imagine you have 5 years to live. What would you do during those 5 years?Get to work. The death-bed mentality is the only way to live. Stop pretending youll live forever. As Professor Harold Hill has said You pile up enough tomorrows, and youll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.7. Stop over-consuming refined sugarIf you stop consuming sugar, your brain will radically change. Actually, study after study is showing that re fined sugar is worse for our brains than it is for our waistlines. According to Dr. William Coda Martin, refined sugar is nothing more than poison because it has been depleted of its life forces, vitamins, and minerals.Refined sugar has now been shown to make uscranky, make usmake rash decisions, and make usstupid.Again, like caffeine, if you stop impulsively consuming refined sugar, you will experience some negative withdrawals. But, like any good habit, the effects of this will be seen in the long-run. What would your health be like a year from now (or five) if you were completely refined sugar-free?Said Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster ofHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.8. Fast from all food and caloric beverages 24 hours once per weekOne-day (24-hour) food fasts are a popular way to maintain health and vigor. Fasting leverages the self-healing properties of the human body. Radical health improvements o ccur when the digestive system is given rest and the organs get ample time to repair and heal themselves.A regularpractice of fastingcanImprove digestive efficiencyIncrease mental clarityIncrease physical and mental vigorRemove toxinsImprove visionGive a general feeling of well beingLike all the other habits, fasting gets easier with practice. Ive been fasting for years and its one of the best things I have done for my health.Fasting is also one of the most recognized techniques in religious and spiritual practices. I also use fasting to get spiritual clarity and refinement.Honestly, I could go on for hours about this one. Give it a try. Youll never be the same.9. Fast from the internet 24 hours once per weekYour body gets an intervention when you fast. Your mind and relationships could use one too. Unplug yourself from the matrix.If you havent caught on already, human beings are highly addictive creatures. We love our coffee, sugar, and the internet. And these things are all great. But our lives can be far more enhanced by using these tools in wisdom.The purpose of the internet fast is to reconnect to yourself and your loved ones. So, you probably shouldnt do it the same day you do your food fast. Because eating is one of the strongest ways to form bonds.Youll be blown away by how much more connected you feel to your loved ones when you can give them your undivided attention. It may even feel awkward for a while having a real-life conversation without looking at your phone every three minutes.10. Stop consuming the news or reading the newspaperAlthough theamount of warfare and deaths by human hands are reducing globally, you will not get that message watching televised news or reading the newspaper.On the contrary, these media outlets have an agenda. Their goal is to appeal to your fears by inflating extreme cases making them seem normal and commondistributionspolitik. If they didnt do so, their viewership would plummet. Which is whyPeter Diamandis, one of th e worlds experts on entrepreneurship and the future of innovation has said,Ive stopped watching TV news. They couldnt pay me enough money.You can get high-quality news curated from Google news. When you detox from the toxic filth that is public news, youll be abflugled as your worldview becomes radically more optimistic. There is no objective reality. Instead, we live in perceived realities and are thus responsible for the worldview we adopt.11. Do something every day that terrifies youA persons success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have. Tim FerrissBut you dont have to constantly be battling your fears. Actually,Darren Hardyhas said that you can be a coward 99.9305556% of the time (to be exact). You only need to be courageous for 20 seconds at a time.Twenty seconds of fear is all you need. If you courageously confront fear for 20 seconds every single day, before you know it, youll be in a different socio-economi c and social situation.Make that call.Ask that question.Pitch that idea.Post that video.Whatever it is you feel you want to dodo it. The anticipation of the event is far more painful than the event itself. So just do it and end the inner-conflict.In most cases, your fears are unfounded. AsSeth Godinhas explained, our comfort zone and our safety zone are not the same things. It is completely safe to make an uncomfortable phone call. You are not going to die. Dont equate the two. Recognize that most things outside your comfort zone are completely safe.12. Do something kind for someone else dailyHave I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyones burden been lighter today, because I welches willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there? Will L. Thompson (music and text)If were too busy to help other people, wev e missed the mark. Taking the time to spontaneously as well as planned helping other people is one of the greatest joys in life. Helping others opens you up to new sides of yourself. It helps you connect deeper with those you help and humanity in general. It clarifies what really matters in life.AsThomas Monsonhas said, Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. That would truly be a failure.13. Go to bed early and rise earlyAccording to countless research studies, people who go to bed and rise early arebetter students. Harvard biologist Christoph Randler found that early sleep/risers aremore proactiveand are more likely toanticipate problemsand minimize them efficiently, which leads to being more successful in the geschftsleben.Other benefitsof going to bed and rising early backed by research includeBeing a better plannerBeing holistically healthier as individualsGetting better sleepMore optimistic, satisfied, and conscientiousWaking up early allows you to proactively and consciously design your day. You can start with a morning routine that sets the tone for your whole day. You show self-respect by putting yourself first. In your morning routine, you can pray/meditate, exercise, listen to or read inspiring content, and write in your journal. This routine will give you a much stronger buzz than a cup of coffee.14. Get 7+ hours of sleep each nightLets face it sleep is just as important as eating and drinking water. Despite this, mios of people do not sleep enough and experience insane problems as a result.TheNational Sleep Foundation(NSF) conducted surveys revealing that at least 40 1000000 Americans suffer from more than 70 different sleep disorders furthermore, 60 percent of adults, and 69 percent of children, experience one or more sleep problems a few nights or more during a week.In addition, more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more.On the flip side, getting a healthy amount of sleep islinkedtoIncreased memoryLonger lifeDecreased inflammationIncreased creativityIncreased attention and focusDecreased fat and increased muscle mass with exerciseLower stressDecreased dependence on stimulants like caffeineDecreased risk of getting into accidentsDecreased risk of depressionAnd tons more Google it.15. Replace warm showers with cold onesTony Robbinsdoesnt consume caffeine at all. Instead,he starts every morningby jumping into a 57-degree Fahrenheit swimming pool.Why would he do such a thing?Cold water immersion radically facilitates physical and mental wellness. When practiced regularly, it provides long-lasting changes to your bodys immune, lymphatic, circulatory and digestive systems that improve the quality of your life. It can also increase weight-loss because it boosts your metabolism.A2007 research studyfound that taking co ld showers routinely can help treat depression symptoms often more effective than prescription medications. Thats because cold water triggers a wave of mood-boosting neurochemicals which make you feel happy.To me, it increases my willpower and boosts my creativity and inspiration. While standing with the cold water hitting my back, I practice slowing my breathing and calming down. After Ive chilled out, I feel super happy and inspired. Lots of ideas start flowing and I become way motivated to achieve my goals.Heres a tip if youre just starting out start your shower warm, as usual. Let the warm water on your muscles allow you to stretch them out. After youre stretched and washed, completely turn-off the warm and completely turn-on the cold. It really isnt too bad at all. It feels incredible. Just do it for 6090 seconds, then get out. Youll be very pleased.16. Say No to people, obligations, requests, and opportunities youre not interested in from now onNo more yes. Its either HELL YEA H or no. Derek SiversYour 20 seconds of daily courage will most consistently involve saying no to stuff that doesnt really matter. But how could you possibly say no to certain opportunities if you dont know what you want? You cant. Like most people, youll be seduced by the best thing that comes around. Or, youll crumble under other peoples agendas.But if you know what you want, youll have the courage and foresight to pass up even brilliant opportunities because ultimately they are distractors from your vision. As Jim Collins said inGood to Great, A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is irrelevant if it is the wrong opportunity.17. Say Thank you every time youre served by someoneIts amazing when you meet someone who is expressively and genuinely grateful. Its amazing because, frankly, its rare.I remember one day while working as a busser of a restaurant as a teenager. Every time I went by a certain table, whether I was refilling waters, bringing food, anything the kid at the table (no mo re than 20 years old) graciously said thank you. I even heard him from close proximity saying it to all the other employees when they stopped by his table.This experience had a dramatic impact on me. It was so simple what he was doing. Yet, so beautiful. I instantly loved this person and wanted to serve him even more.I could tell by how he looked in my eyes when saying thank you that he meant it. It came from a place of gratitude and humility.Interestingly,one studyhas found that saying thank you, facilitated a 66 percent increase in help offered by those serving. Although altruism is the goal, dont be surprised as your habit of graciously saying thank you turns into even more to be thankful for.18. Say I love you 3+ times a day to the most important people in your lifeAccording to neuroscience research, the more you express love (like gratitude), the more other people feel lovefor you. Sadly, people are taught absurd mindsets about being vulnerable and loving in relationships. Just this morning, my wife and I had to coax and prod our three foster kids to say one nice thing about each other, and to say they loved each other.It took several minutes for our 8-year-old foster boy to muster the strength to say he loved his sister. Yet, all of our kids constantly berate and belittle each other.You know the feeling when you want to say I love you but hold back. What a horrible feeling.Why do we hesitate to express our love?Why do we hesitate to connect deeply with others?This may be strange, but if you tell your friends and family you love them,theyll be blown away. I once knew a Polynesian missionary who told everyone he loved them. It was clear he was sincere.I asked him why he did it. What he told me changed my life. When I tell people I love them, it not only changes them, but it changes me. Simply by saying the words, I feel more love for that person. Ive been telling people all around me I love them. They feel treasured by me. Those who know me have come to ex pect it. When I forget to say it, they miss it.The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. Harriet Beecher StoweHeres a pro-tip In the morning when you first wake up, write in your journal (see 4 above). But during your morning journal writing include your family.Write about your spouse and kids. Answer the following prompt in your journal How could I show love and appreciation for them today?As you write in your journal, two things will happen 1) self-awareness and 2) creativity.Self-awareness will show you where youre taking your loved ones for granted. Youll quickly see that you havent been as engaged and devoted and thoughtful as you could be.Creativity is all about taking the relationship to the next level. In your journal, write the ideas for how you can positively impact that relationship today. Then, thoughtfully and courageously act to bring about a deeper connection.You can transform your relationships and develop deep emotional bo nds quickly with some awareness and thoughtfulness. Your relationships do not have to be a pattern of the past. You can design them for the future.19. Consume 30 grams of protein within the first 30 minutes of waking upDonald Layman, professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Illinois, recommends consuming at least 30 grams of protein for breakfast. Similarly, Tim Ferriss, in his book,The 4-Hour Body, also recommends 30 grams of protein 30 minutes after waking up.According to Tim, his father did this and lost 19 pounds in one month.Protein-rich foods keep you full longer than other foods because they take longer to leave the stomach. Also, protein keeps blood-sugar levels steady, which prevents spikes in hunger.Eating protein first decreases your white carbohydrate cravings. These are the types of carbs that get you fat. Think bagels, toast, and donuts.Tim makes four recommendations for getting adequate protein in the morningEat at least 40% of your breakfast calories as p roteinDo it with two or three whole eggs (each egg has about 6g protein)If you dont like eggs, use something like turkey bacon, organic pork bacon or sausage, or cottage cheeseOr, you could always do a protein shake with waterFor people who avoid dairy, meat, and eggs, there are several plant-based proteins. Legumes, greens, nuts, and seeds all are rich in protein.20. Listen to audiobooks and podcasts on 1.5 or 2x speed, your brain will change fasterListening to audiobooks at normal speed is so three years ago. There is a going trend particularly in Silicon Valley to listen to audiobooks at 150 or 200 percent called speed listening.In 2010, the tech blog GigaOm suggested speed-listening to podcasts as an overall time-saving technique. Software called FasterAudiopromisesto cut your audio learning time in half.If you want to get hardcore, a particularly useful tool isOvercast a podcast-playback app with a feature calledSmart Speed. Smart Speed isnt about simply playing audio content a t 150 or 200 percent of the voreingestellt rate but actually attempts algorithmically to remove fluff (e.g., dead air, pauses between sentences, intros and outros) that bulks up the play time of audio content.Use this technique and youll be consuming as much information as you once consumed caffeine.21. Decide where youll be in five years and get there in twoHow can you achieve your 10 year plan in the next 6 months? Peter ThielThere is always a faster way than you originally conceived. Actually, goal-situation can slow your progress and diminish your potential if you rely too heavily upon it.In an interview withSuccess Magazine, Tim Ferriss said that he doesnt have five or ten-year goals. Instead, he works on experiments or projects for a 612 week period of time. If they do extremely well, the possible doors that could open are endless. Tim would rather play to the best possibilities than get stuck on one track. He says this approach allows him to go drastically farther than he cou ld ever plan for.22. Remove all non-essentials from your life (start with your closet)You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything. Greg McKeownMost of the possessions you own, you dont use. Most of the clothes in your closet, you dont wear. Get rid of them. They are sucking energy from your life. Also, they are dormant value waiting to be exchanged for dollars.Getting rid of underutilized resources is like injecting motivation and clarity into your bloodstream. While all of that untapped energy gets removed, a new wave of positive energy comes into your life. You can use that energy in more useful and productive ways.23. Consume a tablespoon of coconut oil once per dayCoconut oil is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.Here are7 reasonsyou should eat coconut oil every single dayIt boosts HDL (good) cholesterol and simultaneously blocks LDL (bad) cholesterol buildupIt has special fats that help you burn more fat, have more energy, and maintain a healthy we ightItfights agingand keeps you looking and feeling youngIt reduces fever and acts as an anti-inflammatoryIt is antibacterial and thus wards off possible illnessesIt improves memory and cognitive functioning (even for people with Alzheimers)It canboost testosteronefor men and balance healthy hormones level for both men and womenCoconut oil is a healthy alternative to caffeine. Eating a small amount will give you a shot of energy without the side-effects.24. Go for 35 walks per weekWalking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. Thomas JeffersonIn the book,Daily Rituals, Mason Currey highlights the routines and rituals of some of the most successful artists, scientists, writers, musicians, etc.A very common feature in these peoples lives is WALKING.Its the most healthy form of exercise on the planet. Its also incredibly good for self-awareness and creative thinking. You give yourself space and allow the scenery around you to trigger creative mind-wandering , which leads to powerful insights and emotional commitments.If you make walking a habit in your life, youll become far more healthy, creative, and successful.25. Choose to have faith in something bigger than yourself, skepticism is easyIn the timeless book,Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill explains that a fundamental principle of wealth creation is having faith which he defines as visualization and belief in the attainment of desire.As Hill famously said,Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.If you dont believe in your dreams, the chances of them happening are slim to none. But if you can come to fully know the things you seek will occur, the universe will conspire to make it happen.According to Hill (see page 49 ofThink and Grow Rich), heres how that worksFaith is the starting point of all accumulation of richesFaith is the basis of all miracles and mysteries that cannot be analyzed by the rules of scienceFaith is the element that transforms the ordinar y vibration of thought, created by the finite mind of man, into the spiritual equivalent.Faith is the only agency through which the cosmic force of Infinite Intelligence can be harnessed and used.Faith is the element, the chemical which, when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence.Like expressing love, in our culture, many have become uncomfortable with ideas like faith. Yet, to all of the best business minds in recent history, faith was fundamental to their success.26. Stop obsessing about the outcomeResearchhas found that expectations in ones own ability serve as a better predictor of high performance than expectations about a specific outcome. In his book,The Personal MBA,Josh Kaufmanexplains that when setting goals, your locus of control should target what you can control (i.e., your efforts) instead of results you cant control (e.g., whether you get the part).Expect optimal performance from yourself and let the chips fall where they may. Th e organic output will be your highest quality work. Put most simplyDo what is right, let the consequence follow.27. Give at least one guilt-free hour to relaxation per dayIn our quest for success, many of us have become workaholics. However, relaxation is crucial for success. It is akin to resting between sets at the gym. Without resting, your workout will be far less than it could have been.Foolishly, people approach their lives like a workout without rest breaks. Instead, they take stimulants to keep themselves going longer and longer. But this isnt sustainable or healthy. Its also bad for productivity and creativity in the short and long run.28. Genuinely apologize to people youve mistreatedPeople make mistakes several times every single day. Sadly and hilariously much of the time we act like kids and blame our mistakes on external factors. Research has found that people who dont openly and often apologize experiencehigher levelsof stress and anxiety.You dont need that pent-up en ergy in your life. Make amends and let it go. Its not your choice if people choose to forgive you.29. Make friends with five people who inspire youYou are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Jim RohnWho you spend time with is incredibly important. Even more fundamental is what types of people are youcomfortablearound?Your comfort level is one of the clearest indicators of your character. Are the people you enjoy being around inspiring or degrading, hard-working or lazy?What kinds of beliefs do your friends have?What kinds of goals are they pursuing?How much money do they make?What does their health look like?All of these things dramatically impact you. And it is one of the most painful experiences in the world tobecome uncomfortablearound people who have long been your friends. When you grow and evolve and long for more, youll begin seeking a different crowd to surround yourself with.Misery loves company. Dont let them hold you back. Move on but never detach from the love you have for those people.30. Save 10 percent or more of your incomeI would have saved 10 percent automatically from my paycheck by direct deposit into a savings account earning the best possible interest compounded daily. I would have also disciplined myself to deposit 10 percent of any additional money from gifts, refunds or other earned income. I would have bought a small house outright with the money I had saved (instead of renting an apartment for over 30 years). I would have found a job that I loved and devoted my life to it. At least you could be happy even if you were not where you wanted to be financially. Hope this helps someone out there. D. LorinserTithing yourself is a core principle of wealth creation. Most people payother peoplefirst. Most people live above their means.In total,American consumersowe$11.85 trillion in debtAn increase of 1.4% from last year$918.5 billion in credit card debt$8.09 trillion in mortgages$1.19 trillion in student loansAn incre ase of 5.9% from last yearThe U.S. Census in 2010reportedthat there were 234.56 million people over the age of 18 years old, suggesting the average adult owes $3,761 in revolving credit to lenders. Across the average household, American adults also owe $11,244 in student loans, $8,163 on their autos, and $70,322 on their mortgage.Simplyswitching to home-brewed coffeewill save you an average of $64.48 per month (or $2 per day) or $773.80 per year. By putting the savings into a mutual fund with average earnings of 6.5% interest and reinvesting the dividends into more mutual funds over a decade, the $64.48 saved every month would grow into $10,981.93.My wife once took an accounting class from a world-renowned accountant. His words on the first day of class,The most important thing youll learn in this class, which most people will never learn spend less than you earn. If you do this, youll be financially free.31. Tithe or give 10 percent of your income awayOne gives freely, yet grows al l the richer. Proverbs 1124Many of the wealthiest people in the world attribute their healthy financial life and abundance to giving some of it away.Most people are trying to accumulate as much as they can. However, a natural principle of wealth creation is generosity. As Joe Polish has said, The world gives to the givers and takes from the takers.From a spiritual perspective, everything we have is Gods (or the Earths). We are merely stewards over our possessions. When we die, we dont take our money with us. So why hoard it?As you give generously and wisely, youll be stunned by the increases in your earning potential. Youll develop traits needed for radical wealth creation.Although a religious example, this next story is incredibly instructive and fascinating.George Q. Cannon was a leader of the Latter-Day Saint Church some time ago. As a young and impoverished man, he approached his tithing practice in a unique way. Tithing, in that faith, is Biblical and encourages members to pay 10% of their income.But George was highly imaginative in how he paid his tithing. Rather than paying retroactively, wherein he paid 10% of what he earned, he decided to pay 10% of what he intended to earn in his future.In a talk, Dr. Wendy Watson further expounded on this storyWhen his bishop commented on the large amount of tithing poor young George was paying, George said something like Oh bishop, Im not paying tithing on what I make. Im paying tithing on what I want to make. And the very next year George earned exactly the amount of money he had paid tithing on the year beforeGeorge Q. Cannon was not transactional in his religious approach to tithing. He was transformational. He didnt see tithing as a cost, but an investment in himself and his relationship with his faith.Whether you are spiritually-minded or not, the implications of this story are psychologically instructive.How was he able to turn his financial investments into upgraded skills and mindsets?Rather than acting fro m your present circumstances, you act from your future circumstances.Rather than living from the present or past, you can assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled.This is one of the reasons to write down your goals daily it allows you to live as though your desired future is already a concrete fact.But this is also another reason to invest money in yourself, your relationships, your priorities, and your future. When you invest in something, you upgrade your subconscious mindset around that thing. Essentially, youre saying to yourself I can be, do, and have more than I currently am. This is why imagination is so key.In George Cannons case, he invested in his relationship with his God, which led to a 10X transformation. Investment is always a more powerful mindset than seeing things as a cost.32. Drink 64100 ounces of water per dayHuman beings are mostly water. As we drink healthy amounts of water, we have smaller waistlines, healthier skin, and better functioning brains. Actually, a s we drink enough water, its safe to say were better in every way.Its a no-brainer. If youre not drinking the healthy amount of water each day, you should critically assess your priorities in life.33. Buy a small place rather than rentUnless you live in a big city (which many of you do), Im baffled how many people pay outlandish amounts on rent each month.When my wife and I moved to Clemson to begin graduate school, we did a lot of front end work to ensure wed be able to buy a home. Whats shocking is that our mortgage payment is far less than most of our friends rent payments. By the end of our four years here in Clemson, well have earned several thousand dollars in equity and even more in appreciation. Conversely, many of our friends are simply dumping hundreds of dollars into someone elses pockets every month.Paying rent is like working hourly. You get money while youre on the clock. When youre not on the clock, you get no money. Earning equity is like having residual income. Ever y month you pay down your mortgage, you actually keep that money. So youre not spending to liveas most people do. Youre living for free while saving often earning in appreciation.34. Check your email and social media at least 6090 minutes after you wake upMost people check their email and social media immediately upon waking up. This puts them in a reactive state for the remainder of the day. Instead of living life on their own terms, theyd rather respond to other peoples agendas.Hence, the importance of having a solid morning routine. When you wake up and put yourself, not other people first, you position yourself to win before you ever begin playing. As Stephen Covey has taught in his book,Spiritual Roots of Human Relations,Private victory always precedes public victory.Make the first few hours of your morning about you, so that you can be the best you can for other people.My morning routineconsists of prayer, journal writing, listening to audiobooks and podcasts while I workout, and taking a cold shower.After Ive had an epic morning, and Im clear on the direction of my day, I can utilize email and social media for my benefit rather than a detriment.35. Make a few radical changes to your life each yearAnyone who isnt embarrassed of who they were last year probably isnt learning enough.- Alain de BottonReinvent yourself every year. Novelty is an antidote to monotony. Jump into new pursuits and relationships.Try things youve never done before.Take risks.Have more fun.Pursue big things youve been procrastinating for years.In 2018, my wife and I went from having no kids to having 5 kids. We adopted three siblings from the foster system and had twins. We also moved from South Carolina to Orlando, Florida. Many other insane things happened and were honestly still recovering.Creating huge changes in your life also produces huge amounts of stress. But when you have your priorities clear, and when youre engaging in healthy habits you can make it through the other si de a much different and more mature human being.As Jack Canfield said, Everything you want is on the other side of fear. Similarly, a different and more powerful version of you is on the other side of change. Dont let the emotional pain and learning stop you from evolving.36. Define what wealth and happiness mean to youBe everything to everybody and youll be nothing for yourself. John RushtonNo two human beings are the same. So why should we have one standard of success? Seeking societys standard of success is an endless rat-race. There will always be someone better than you. Youll never have the time to do everything.Instead, you recognize that every decision has an opportunity cost. When you choose one thing, you simultaneously dont choose several others. And thats okay. Actually, its beautiful because we get to choose our ultimate ideal.We must define success, wealth, and happiness in our own terms because if we dont, society will for us and we will always fall short. Well always be left wanting. Well always be stuck comparing ourselves and competing with other people. Our lives will be an endless race for the next best thing. Well never experience contentment.37. Change the way you feel, think, and act about money Steve DownMost people have an unhealthy relationship with money. Its not necessarily their fault its what they were taught.In order to change your financial world, you need to alter your paradigm and feelings about money.Here are some key beliefs the mostsuccessful peoplein the world haveIn a free-market economy, anyone can make as much money as they want.Your background, highest level of education, or IQ is irrelevant when it comes to earning money.The bigger the problem you solve, the more money you make.Expect to make lots of money. Think BIG $100,000, $500,000, or why not $1 million?What you focus on expands. If you believe in scarcity, youll have little.If you believe there is unlimited abundance, youll attract abundance.When you create incr edible value for others, you have the right to make as much money as you want.Youre not going to be discovered, saved, or made rich by someone else. If you want to be successful, you have to build it yourself.When you develop a healthy relationship, you will have more. You wont spend money on the crap most people waste their money on. Youll focus more on value than price.38. Invest only in industries you are informed aboutWarren Buffett doesnt invest in technology because he doesnt understand it. Instead, he invests in banking and insurance. Hes not a tech guy. He invests in what he understands.Yet, so many people invest in things they dont understand. Ive made that mistake. I once invested several thousand dollars in an overseas rice distribution. Although the investment sounded incredible on paper, its turned out to be a disaster.I didnt have the understanding to make an informed decision. I put my trust in someone elses hands. And no one cares about your success more than you do. From now on, Im going to responsibly invest in things I can make informed decisions on.39. Create an automated income source that takes care of the fundamentalsWe live in unprecedented times. It has never been easier to create automated income streams. No matter your skill-set and interests, you can put a business in a place that runs 24/7 even while youre sleeping, sitting on the beach, or playing with your kids.An entrepreneur is someone who works for a few years like no one will so they can live the rest of their life like no one else can.If you want to free up your time and energy for the things that matter most, either invest in stuff youre informed on (e.g., real estate, businesses, mutual funds), or, create a business that doesnt require you (e.g., create an online educational course about something youre passionate about).40. Have multiple income streams (the more the better)Most peoples income comes from the same source. However, most wealthy peoples income comes from multi ple sources. I know people with hundreds of income streams coming in each month.What would happen if you set things up so you were getting income from 5 or 10 different places each month?What if several of those were automated?Again, with a few short years of intentional and focused work, you can have several income streams.41. Track at least one habit/behavior youre trying to improveWhen performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates. Thomas MonsonTracking is difficult. If youve tried it before, chances are, you quit within a few days.Researchhas repeatedly found that when behavior is tracked and evaluated, it improves drastically.Its best to track only a few things. Maybe just one at a time.If you want to track your diet, a fun approach is taking a picture of everything you eat. Everything. This allows you the time to determine if you really want to put that in your body.So, your tracking can be creativ e. Do what works for you. Use a method you will actually do. Butstarttracking.As a consultant and executive coach, tracking and reporting behavior, daily, has been the number one factor in my clients success. When you track something, you becomeawareof it. When you report something, you becomeaccountableto it.Most of my clients simply send me an email at the end of their workday with a few bullet points (e.g., I did 4 hours of work on my startup, I made 3 sales, I didnt check social media before noon). Accountability to a spreadsheet or app is not the same as accounting to a person particularly one you trust and respect.42. Have no more than 3 items on your to-do list each dayWhen you shift your life from day-to-day reactivity to one of creation and purpose, your goals become a lot bigger. Consequently, your priority list becomes smaller. Instead of doing a million things poorly, the goal becomes to do a few things incredibly or better yet, to do one thing better than anyone else in the world.If you have more than three priorities, then you dont have any. Jim CollinsSo, instead of trying to do a million small things, what one or two things would make the biggest impact?So, instead of trying to do a million small things, what one or two things would make the biggest impact?Dan Sullivan, founder ofStrategic Coach, explains that there are two economiesThe Economy of Hard Work and The Economy of Results.Some people think hard work is the recipe. Although this is completely true, the effort is often misplaced. Most people focus on the process, or work first, and the result second. Conversely, those who determine the outcomes their seeking first can better discern which strategy will be most effective. Sure, that strategy may be out of your comfort zone, but as Tim Grover has said inRelentless, When you crave the end result, the hard work becomes irrelevant.Tim Ferriss, in his book,The 4-Hour Body, explains what he calls Minimum Effective Dose (MED), which is simply the smallest dose that will yield a desired result and anything past the MED is wasteful. Water boils at 100C at standard air pressure it is not more boiled if you add more heat.What is the fastest way to get your desired outcome?43. Make your bed first thing in the morningAccording to psychological research, people who make their bed in the morning are happier and more successful than those who dont. If thats not enough, heres more71 percent of bed makers consider themselves happyWhile 62 percent of non-bed-makers are unhappyBed makers are also more likely to like their jobs, own a home, exercise regularly, and feel well restedWhereas non-bed-makers hate their jobs, rent apartments, avoid the gym, and wake up tired.Crazy, right?Something so simple. Yet, when you make your bed first thing in the morning, you knock-off your first accomplishment of the day. This puts you in a mindset of winning.Do it It only takes 30 seconds.44. Make one audacious request per week (what do you have t o lose?)Rainmakers generate revenue by making asks. They ask for donations. They ask for contracts. They ask for deals. They ask for opportunities. They ask to meet with leaders or speak to them over the phone. They ask for publicity. They come up with ideas and ask for a few minutes of your time to pitch it. They ask for help. Dont let rainmaking deter you from your dream. Its one of the barriers to entry, and you can overcome it. Once you taste the sweet victory of a positive response, youll not only become comfortable with it, you might even enjoy it. But making asks is the only way to bring your dream to life. Ben ArmentI got into graduate school way after applications were due because I asked.Ivegotten free NBA ticketsby asking a few players I saw at a hotel.Ive gotten my work published on high tier outlets because I ask.I recently heard the story of someone who wrote Fast Pass on the back of their business card and presented it to a Disney employee. After some fun and light-he arted conversations, the employee let them through.Very few things in life are just randomly given to you as an adult. In most cases, you need to earn it and/or ask for it.Yet, there are many opportunities currently available to everyone if they would muster the courage and humility to ask.The entire crowdfunding industry is based on making asks.Start making bold and audacious asks. Whats the worst that could happen? They say No?Whats the best that could happen?When you dont ask, you lose by default. And youll never know the opportunities you missed out on.Dont sell yourself short. Ask that beautiful girl on a date. Ask for that raise or big opportunity at work. Ask people to invest in your idea.Put yourself out there. Youll be blown away by what happens.45. Be spontaneously generous with a stranger at least once per monthLife isnt all about what you can achieve or acquire. Its more about who you become and what you contribute.Interestingly,research done at Yalehas found that people are instinctively cooperative and generous. However, if you stall and think about being helpful or generous, youre less likely to do it. And the longer you wait, the likelihood of you being helpful diminishes. This principle applies to other areas as well, like creativity. The longer you wait to do something, the less likely it is youll do it.So, be spontaneous. When you get the wild thought of buying the persons food in the car behind you, just do it. Dont think about it.If youre driving down the road and see someone with car trouble off to the side, just do it. Dont think about it.When you want to say I love you, to a loved one, just do it. Dont think about it.Paralysis by analysis is dumb. And Malcolm Gladwell explains inBlink that snap-decisions are often far better than well-thought-out ones.46. Write and place a short, thoughtful musiknote for someone once per dayThe messages of handwritten letters impact deeper and are remembered longer than electronic messages. There is no comparison to this traditional form of conversation. Handwritten messages are so powerful that people often keep these notes for a long time. Sometimes a lifetime.Jack Canfield has taught that writing 35 handwritten notes per day will change your relationships. In our email world, it can seem inefficient to hand-write and mail a letter. But relationships arent about efficiency.Not only will handwriting letters change your relationships, it will change you.Research has shownthat writing by hand increases brain development and cognition more than typing can.Consequently, the things you write will be seared into your own memory as well, allowing both you and the recipient to reflect back on cherished moments.Writing handwritten notes spices up your relationships, adding an element of fun. Its exciting placing kind and loving notes in random places for your loved ones to find. Put a note under the windshield wipers of your loved ones car to find after a hard days work. Hidden, wait til they come out and watch them from across the street. Youll see their eyes light up and smile spread.Other fun places includeIn the fridgeIn the closetOn the computer keyboardIn their shoeIn their walletThe mailboxAnywhere that makes the experience a surprise47. Become good friends with your parentsThe parent-child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind. Bessel van der KolkMany people have horrible relationships with their parents. I once did myself. Growing up can be tough and sometimes our parents make horrible decisions that negatively impact us.However, my parents have become my best friends. They are my confidants. I turn to them for wisdom and advice. They understand me like no one else. Biology is a powerful thing.Although I dont see things the same way my parents do, I love them and respect their viewpoints. I love working out with my dad and talking about big ideas with my mom.I couldnt imagine not being close to them.If your parents are still around, rekindle those ties or increase the flame. Youll find enormous joy in those relationships.48. Floss your teethAbout 50 percent of Americans claim to floss daily. My guess is thats a large over-estimate. Either way, the benefits of flossing are incredible.Doing so daily preventsgum diseaseandtooth loss. Everyone gets plaque, and it can only be removed by flossing or a deep cleaning from your dentist.Plaque buildupcan lead to cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can be a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and a high body mass index.Yes, not flossing can make you fat.Not only that, but it greatly reduces bad breath.49. Eat at least one meal with your family per dayIf possible, eat a sit-down meal with your loved ones daily. It doesnt matter if its breakfast, lunch, or dinner.Weve become so high-paced in the world that everything we do is on the go. Weve forgotten what it means to just be with our loved ones.Eating together creates a sense of community like nothing else.Teenswho have fewer than three family dinners a week are 3.5 times more likely to have abused prescription drugs and to have used illegal drugs other than marijuana, three times more likely to have used marijuana, more than 2.5 times more likely to have smoked cigarettes, and 1.5 times more likely to have tried alcohol, according to the CASA report.50. Spend time reflecting on your blessings at least once per dayGratitude is the cure-all for all the worlds problems. It has been called, the mother of all virtues, by the Roman philosopher Cicero.When you practice gratitude, your world changes. There is no objective reality. All people perceive reality as theyselectively attendto things that are meaningful to them. Hence, some people notice the good while others notice the bad.Gratitude is having an abundance mindset. When you think abundantly, the world is your oyster. There is limitless opportunity and possibility for you.People are magnets. When youre grateful for what you have, you will attract more of the positive and good. Gratitude is contagious. It changes not only your world, but everyone elses you come in contact with.Ready to upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.