Know someone who’s living it up and doing whatever they want, regardless of what people say? And have you always wondered just how they do it?
Well, it’s simple – these people have decided to live their lives to the fullest, which means they’ve made a commitment to themselves to do what makes them (and not others) happy!
If you’ve been wanting to make a big change in your life, look no further. Here are 11 traits of people who live their lives to the fullest…
Let’s jump in!
1) They show gratitude (and mean it)
The first trait of people who live their lives to the fullest is this: they show gratitude, all the time.
Now what does this look like? Let me give you an example…
These people find beauty in the little things, and never fail to be amazed by them!
It could be the way the sky looks in the morning when they’re having a jog, or the way their partner looks when cooking a meal.
All of this is something to be grateful for – and it translates into the way these people live their lives.
They believe that every new opportunity is special, and they also appreciate what they already have!
2) They know how to prioritize their tasks
Next up: these people know how to prioritize their tasks. And it’s not so simple as keeping a schedule and having a list of things to do…
This is something we all need to remember: there’s really no time to waste – I mean, we all have a limited time on this planet and it would be a shame not to realize that.
So here’s how people who live their lives to the fullest prioritize their tasks:
- They figure out what THEY want (not following the status quo just because)
- They put their plans into action without procrastinating (it can be tempting)
- They pay no mind to people who judge them for their decisions (who cares?)
3) They’re determined to achieve their goals
Like I mentioned in the previous point, people who live their lives to the fullest believe that it’s important to figure out what they want (outside of what people think they should do).
This is something you can learn from as well. And you may be thinking, “But I DO have goals and I work hard for them!”
However, you can benefit from asking yourself if these are goals you want to achieve, or goals created by other people – like your parents or your partner.
Or influenced by what you see on social media…
People who live their lives to the fullest are determined not only to break out of these toxic mindsets, but to push towards THEIR goals – hence giving their lives meaning…
4) They don’t complain about their lives
Again, I have to reiterate: these people are always showing gratitude, which means you’ll never catch them complaining about their lives.
Here’s what I mean…
While those around them go on and on about relationship problems or career issues, someone who lives their life to the fullest prefers to take action and shut that sh*t down fast…
Of course, this isn’t about policing other people to act in a certain way. And it’s not that complaining is inherently bad.
Just remember, though: complaining gets you nowhere, and you’ll find that you’ll still be in the same position the next day – and how can you live your life to the fullest like that?
5) They think positively, even in hard times
This is how these people are able to avoid complaining about their lives: they think positively, even during hard times.
I have to preface my point by saying that I do NOT believe in toxic positivity. And this isn’t something that people who live their lives to the fullest do…
Instead, it’s all about being honest about their situation – the good and the bad – and thinking of the steps they can take to improve it. Right now.
In short, it’s about being proactive and daring to dream of a better future no matter the odds.
6) They know how to take care of themselves
Here’s another trait of those who live their lives to the fullest: they know how to take care of themselves.
Research has shown that being self-sufficient contributes to better mental health…and it’s not hard to see why.
Being independent in that way helps them feel purposeful, and they don’t feel like their happiness depends on someone else.
Let me explain.
When these people know what it takes to help them survive in the world, they’re able to develop enough confidence to handle anything life throws at them.
It could be backpacking across the world and having to think of new ways to find food and shelter – even something this challenging wouldn’t faze a person who lives life to the fullest.
And this leads me to my next point…
7) They make decisions for themselves (not others)
Don’t get me wrong, though. This has nothing to do with self-centeredness or being conceited…
It’s simply about knowing what THEY want and how they can go about achieving their goals…this is also something I mentioned earlier.
In addition, making decisions for themselves is what helps them see their right to live life the way they want to. Without needing other people to validate them.
This is something many of us struggle with: we care too much about what people think of us – to the detriment of our own happiness.
8) They live in the present moment
Let’s talk about living in the present moment: when was the last time you took a second to catch your breath?
This is an important trait of people who live their lives to the fullest: they focus on the present, and don’t get too caught up in the past or the future.
People who know how to live in the present find that they worry much less; that’s because they know how to stop themselves from overthinking – especially when it’s not necessary.
When we worry, we’re often trying to control the outcome of a situation – we might be afraid of failure or embarrassment.
But when we stay present, we aren’t paralyzed by these fears; and we can focus on the task at hand.
This is something we’ll get into right now…
9) They know how to adapt to new situations
This is a part of living in the present moment, like I mentioned earlier.
Let’s use my previous example of someone backpacking across the world and trying to survive in different environments. Well, it’s not rocket science – these people are just really adaptable.
Here’s what I mean by that.
Those who live their lives to the fullest know every new experience is an opportunity to learn something.
If you can get yourself into this mindset, you’re already halfway there to becoming a more adaptable person.
The other half? Well, it’s got to do with making meaningful connections with others and letting them in, as the next section shows…
10) They make meaningful connections with others
I know what you’re thinking: how does making meaningful connections with others relate to living life to the fullest?
Well, here’s the thing: we all want connection. REAL connection. And we can’t lie to ourselves any longer that money, power and success can fill the void…
People who live their lives to the fullest are already ahead of the game because they know that many of us are stuck chasing material possessions. And they don’t want to be in that mindset…
These people know that having meaningful relationships is the real deal; and it’s an important part of being happy.
After all, when you feel supported by the people in your life, you’ll feel more motivated to do meaningful things with YOUR life and pay it forward.
And this brings me to my final point…
11) They’ve discovered their purpose
…people who live their lives to the fullest have discovered what gives their life meaning. And let me tell you how.
Maybe you’ve spent your entire life wondering what you were meant to do on this planet, but you’re not sure what.
Well, since you’ve read this far, I’ll break it down for you. It’s by doing the things I’ve just mentioned, which are:
- Being appreciative of what you have
- Staying true to yourself
- Exploring your passions
- Making an effort to achieve your goals
- Learning how to build meaningful connections
Even if you won’t remember all that you’ve learnt in this article, I want you to keep the above things in mind.
If you want to break out of the life you’re living right now, you’ve got to be willing to work for it. And trust me, happiness is much, much closer than you think it is.
