We all want to live meaningfully and make the most of our lives.
Though most of us are torn between following our dreams or staying on the safest path (which isn’t always the best).
But living life the best way we want to is possible.
With these timeless tips, we can purposefully journey from your current life to a rich and meaningful life.
How to live the life you want: 15 ways to do it
It’s time to drive your life, take control of it, and make it happen for yourself.
Let these practical tricks prevent circumstances that hinder you from living your best life and guide you in becoming more proactive in creating the life you want.
1) Clear your mind
This is the most important step you have to do if you want to live the life you want.
It’s stressful and overwhelming when your mind is filled with too many thoughts and negativity.
Give your mind a deep cleaning so you can successfully work on the rest of the steps below.
With a refreshed approach and a better perspective, you can create the life of your dreams.
You can start with these simple ways:
- Meditate to stay focused
- Practice mindfulness
- Put your thoughts and feelings into writing
If you need more help, you can go over these research-backed strategies on how to clear your mind.
2) Manage your inner critic
Sometimes the inner critic in us is so strong that we tend to believe that we’re not good enough. It hinders and jeopardizes our dreams.
Never let your inner critic or those negative labeling rule over as this can bring an impact on your mental health.
By letting go of those unsupportive labels, you’ll have a greater chance of living the way you want.
Be open to yourself and see the person that you are. So when you tag yourself, make it positive. Make it great.
And remember that what other people think about you doesn’t matter (unless you allow it to). What’s important is what you think about yourself.
Keep this in mind: It’s best to tell ourselves “I can” instead of “I can’t”.
3) Conquer your bad habits
Does checking your social media feeds make you unhappy? Or do you feel guilty when you procrastinate, stay up late or drink too much wine?
You can’t live your life well if you’re surrounded by guilt and too much negativity. This includes those toxic people around you.
Shaman Rudá Iandê shares this in his Personal Power masterclass,
“There is nothing more destructive to a human being than their own judgment.” – Iande
Break free from time-wasting activities or hobbies that pull you down. Instead, do more of the things that give you fulfillment and make you happy.
Focus on what you can do to make your life as great as it can be.
4) Be intentional with what you want
Decide the kind of life you intend to live.
While goals and intentions seem the same, they aren’t; though both important to cultivate.
A goal is what you want to happen in the future. An intention is rooted in the present and who you’re actively becoming.
Your intention can be more motivating than your goals. It’s because sometimes, these goals can leave you a sense of hopelessness and emptiness when you fail to achieve them.
But by setting an intention to living the life you desire, you create positive feelings and emotions toward it.
The key here is to write down your intentions to give you something to focus on.
This gives you an inner desire and unstoppable passion to accomplish it.
5) Visualize yourself living the way you want
Make the power of visualization work for you. And it’s easier than you have imagined it to be.
Here’s a quick way to get started:
- Practice visualization regularly by making it a daily ritual
- Make it as vivid and as possible
- Let the good feelings spill into your day
Use this tool to create positive outcomes in your life.
When you visualize, focus on your intention. Let your imagination wander and feel that you have accomplished this already.
Manifest yourself being there, enjoying the life you have desired. Doing this will give you a positive mindset.
Allow yourself to feel if you’ve fulfilled your intention.
6) Take responsibility for your actions
You’re in control and responsible for your life – no one else.
When you desire to live the way you want, you have to accept changes. It means taking action.
Don’t worry for it isn’t about doing a massive leap.
After all, choosing to live your life is more about taking small steps in the direction you want.
Though sometimes, there are roadblocks that prevent you from doing this. This usually happens when you compare your life to what you see on social media or those around you. So make sure you stop doing this.
By doing so, you’re gaining confidence in accepting who you are. And this will move you closer to the life you have dreamed of.
7) Live in the moment
Don’t expect for someday to arrive before you start living the life you want.
When you do this, you’ll get stuck as you’re holding yourself up to the possibilities of the moment.
See each new day as an opportunity to live your life the best you can.
Don’t wait until you get rich, have more time, or have bought that latest gadget you’re desiring. Those things don’t matter.
Start where you are with what you have. Do something great and make every day your defining moment.
Be open to all the possibilities that the world is offering you.
8) Look after yourself
Your health and well-being matter a lot.
With all the stress and pressures of the world, you have to find time for yourself.
Don’t let the pressure of going to a gym or following a strict diet plan get you. Instead, try out different things, find what you enjoy, and do what you love.
- Do yoga or dance to your favorite beat
- Walk your dog or run around the neighborhood
- Swim, cycle, or play frisbee
- Hike, rock climb, or master a jump rope routine
And as always, take that much-needed rest.
Your powerful daily routine is a step towards a healthy you. And it’s one of the easiest ways to live the way you want.
Love yourself as much as you can.
9) Simplify your life
When we get busy, we overlook what we have around us.
Most of the time, it’s appreciating those little moments and simple things that make a huge difference in how we live our life.
It also pays to simplify your life as much as you can.
Easy ways you can do:
- Declutter using Marie Kondo’s method https://konmari.com/
- Enjoy the company of real friends (you don’t need to have many)
- Recycle or reuse some of your things
- Plant vegetables or fruits in your backyard
- Remove ties with people who bring you down
Keep the important things in life with you. Let go of anything or anyone that doesn’t bring you joy, makes you feel bad or drains your energy.
10) Live for yourself and not someone else’s
Put yourself first and don’t feel guilty about this. Making choices for yourself also doesn’t mean ignoring everyone else.
You’re not being selfish.
To live life the way you want, make sure you consider yourself first. This means doing things that put a smile on your heart and make you feel alive.
- Find your passion and purpose
- Be comfortable in what you do
- Pamper yourself and look great
After all, it’s you who needs to be happy. And thinking for yourself is vital to living a well-fulfilling life.
No matter how much you care for people, remember to live your life for yourself.
Because when you are your best self, everything will come magically together. And you’ll have more energy to share love and bring joy to others too.
11) Feel good by choosing kindness
In a world filled with struggles and difficulties, live with a purpose and choose to be kind.
It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Even a simple smile at strangers can create a big difference.
You never know what others are going through, so it’s always best to show kindness.
This keeps your day and the people around you brighter. It attracts positivity and keeps your optimism going.
Be kind to people you meet along the way, and even to animals as they deserve to be respected too.
Even if no one appreciates it, you’ll have reasons to smile because you know you’ve done something good.
12) Stay true to yourself
To live your best life, love, and stay loyal to your authentic self. Don’t try to be someone you’re not or change yourself to be like someone else.
You don’t have to wear a mask or put on a charade. Share the amazing person that you are. It’s your inner voice, thoughts, traits, and quirks that make you real.
The key here is to work at being the best version of yourself. Focus on your strengths and be proud of your uniqueness.
You never have to be perfect. Perfection doesn’t exist.
And never seek perfection in what you or what others are doing.
Remind yourself to be the best version of yourself. You’re smart, brilliant, and awesome the way you are.
13) Stay aligned to your values, beliefs, and standards
To live your life the best way you want it, you have to structure your life around your standards. It’s about doing it for yourself without the need to impress others.
This means:
- Following your passions
- Making brave decisions
- Embracing your definition of happiness and success
- Focusing on areas of life that matter to you most
- Staying true to your values and beliefs
By doing this, you’ll feel good about yourself. You’ll cultivate a deeper sense of self-worth and self-confidence.
And by having your standards, you’ll be living a life for yourself instead of for others.
When you make this a habit, you won’t seek validation from others to know your worth.
You’re making your life work for you and finding validation from yourself.
14) Keep growing and improving
Living the way you want means being the person you intend to become.
You can’t expect it to happen when you’re stuck with the person that you were in the past.
Seeing yourself grow and improve makes a huge part of your happiness.
- Step outside of your comfort zone
- Learn and own from your mistakes
- Discover and enjoy new things
To live your best life, aim to live a life you’ll be proud of.
You’ll soon realize that it’s not about the destination. It’s about your entire journey of learning and growing.
Keep this in mind: You have the power to steer your life in the direction you choose.
Make your life your masterpiece.
15) Trust that you know best
Don’t allow society to dictate what’s best for you. Believe that you know the best way to live your life.
Know that you are capable of accomplishing your intentions and what you set your mind to.
Forget what others are doing. You don’t need to follow or get caught up with them. Just because what they’re doing works for them isn’t a guarantee that it’s for you too.
Set your own rules based on what you desire, your skills, and your choices.
Know that you have this power within you.
You’ll find satisfaction when you march to the beat of your drum.
Follow your heart
Visualize yourself truly living it the way you want. Think and feel about how your life would look like to live your life that way.
While there would be people and situations that would stop you from living the life you want, never allow it to.
You might get pressured to conform to what society expects or what you see on social media.
For when you allow it, you’ll lose track of what makes you happy and fulfilled.
Do what’s best for you – and from there you’ll find the true meaning of life.
Even if things don’t happen the way you plan them to be, your intention remains the same. While the route isn’t linear, the important thing is you learn from it.
Your life is your choice
With these tips, I hope I’ve inspired you to take your life where you want it to. Just believe that it’s possible.
Trust yourself enough that you can do it.
The life you choose to live is unique to you. Instead of comparing your life to others, enjoy each day and your experiences along the way.
Live your best life on your terms – no matter what others are saying or doing.
Let nothing or someone stop you from having a peaceful and fulfilling life. Just go on your way and live the best life beyond your wildest dreams.
Start acting as if you’re living the best life you want to live. Sooner or later, you’ll be there living that.
Living life the way you want is choosing a life of responsibility, freedom, and fulfillment.
Make your journey a beautiful one.
