Nowadays, many of us find ourselves falling victim to the daily grind. We become trapped in our routines, our worries, and our fears. However, we don’t have to resign ourselves to a lifetime of stress and monotony.
Living freely is a choice that we can all make. With the right attitude, we can create happiness and peace within ourselves. If you feel that you’re stagnating, we have some tips on how you can lead a happy, free, and fulfilling life.
Appreciate the Simple Things
It can be easy to ignore the little things that make life worth living, especially when you’re busy worrying about the bigger picture. Try to remember to stop and smell the roses whenever you can. Take a few minutes out of the day to appreciate the smell of your favorite meal, walk barefoot in your backyard, or share a laugh with loved ones. There are plenty of simple things in life that are free to enjoy.
It can help to jot down a shortlist of all the small things that bring you the most pleasure in life. You can add to this list whenever you find something new to enjoy, or when you’re feeling inspired. On tough days, it can help to look at your list and remind yourself of all the small things you have to be thankful for.
Focusing on the simple can also help to make larger issues melt away. It reminds you that no matter what happens in the grand scheme of things, there will always be plenty to make life worth living. This can help to relieve stress about the future and encourage you to be freer in your choices and your lifestyle. You won’t be as worried when it comes time to make changes in life.
Learn to Accept Change
Learning how to accept change is about more than just loving the little things in life. It means learning to relinquish control and learn to adapt. Resilience is key when it comes to healthy living. With the ability to meet any obstacle with hope and confidence, you can more freely make changes in your life that will help push you towards your goals.
Part of accepting change is avoiding expectations. Whether we realize it or not, we often approach new experiences and situations with strong expectations. These are a result of our experiences and can be biased by our feelings and ideals.
Because of our expectations, we set ourselves up for disappointment. More often than not, we imagine our plans going in a completely different direction, and when they go off the rails, it can destroy our sense of motivation.
It’s important for us to understand that we have limited control over the universe. Things are bound to change for us throughout the course of our lifetimes, whether we want them to or not. By learning to embrace the unexpected, we can treat change as a new adventure and a learning experience.
All change, both good and bad, helps us to grow as a person. It’s not the obstacles we face, but rather, how we react to them that shapes us as a person. Once you learn to accept and adapt to change, you can free yourself from living in fear and uncertainty.
Practice Positive Thinking
For some, it may seem that positive thinking comes naturally. They always see the glass as half-full. However, it can take years of patience and practice to learn how to approach life with a positive outlook, especially on darker days.
When you find negative thoughts invading your mind, do your best to chase them away. Replace them with positive thoughts instead. For example, instead of thinking about how much you’re dreading cleaning the house, focus on how good it will feel to relax in a clean room afterward. Always try to look for the good in any situation, no matter how bleak.
Not only should you find good in the world around you but also within yourself. Many of us spend too much time, energy, and frustration, worrying about what others think of us. Instead, we should focus on how we think of ourselves. We may have pervasive negative thoughts of ourselves that get in the way of us living a free and happy life.
Positive affirmations can help you to appreciate yourself for all that you are. These are positive statements that reflect on what you know about yourself in the present moment. Think about traits you like about yourself, such as your intelligence, your creativity, or your compassion. Each day, take a moment to state these affirmations aloud. The more that we repeat a thought, the more likely it is to root itself within our minds.
While it may take no small amount of energy at first, over time, warding off negative thoughts will become an effortless process. You’ll default to positive thoughts about both yourself and the world around you. By thinking more positively, you can live without fear for your abilities, relationships, and future.
Listen Instead of Talk
Many of us miss out on conversations because we’re busy focusing on how we’re going to respond. However, it’s important to be in the present during any conversation. Listening helps us to cooperate, resolve conflicts, solve problems, and improve understanding.
Learning to truly listen to someone else isn’t just about hearing the words that they say. You also need to pay attention to things such as tone, facial expression, and hand gestures. These can all give you important insights into how a person is feeling, even if what they’re saying doesn’t reflect that.
Listening to others isn’t an innate skill for most of us. It requires practice. You should try to face the speaker and maintain eye contact, picturing what they say in your mind to help you better understand and remember the concept. Try to listen without judgment and don’t interject with any of your own ideas or solutions until there’s an appropriate pause in the conversation. Place yourself in the speaker’s shoes, and ask questions when you need clarification.
There are many different schools of thought when it comes to the best way to listen to another. Different people may find that different solutions work better for them than others. Some of the most common listening techniques include:
- Active Listening: The listener focuses on understanding, responding to, and later, remembering what was said in a conversation. It’s often used for conflict resolution.
- Reflective Listening: The listener works to understand the idea presented and then present it back in their own words. It helps to build understanding between groups.
- Empathic Listening: Instead of focusing on understanding a speaker’s ideas, the listener concentrates on their feelings. It helps speakers to feel heard and understood.
Learning to listen to others can help to bring us closer to our friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers. It improves even the strongest of relationships, making both partners more present and understanding of each other. Knowing that your relationships are healthy can help to free you from worry and allow you to fully enjoy your time with your loved ones.
Downsize Your Lifestyle
It’s hard to live freely if you lead an overly complicated lifestyle. When your mind is distracted by work, bills, media, and the material, it’s difficult to focus on enjoying yourself. In fact, many of these things are what trap us in a spiral of unhappiness and unfulfillment.
Simplifying your lifestyle, while it may seem daunting at first, can help to free your mind and your spirit in the long run. Instead of wasting time, space, and money on things you don’t necessarily want or need, you can dedicate it to living a happier, healthier life.
Nowadays, there are many popular cleaning and organization methods that center around the downsizing mentality. The KonMari Method, coined by organization guru Marie Kondo, encourages people to get rid of anything that doesn’t spark joy within themselves. Swedish Death Cleaning is another popular downsizing technique that involves getting rid of anything you don’t plan on passing on to future generations.
When it comes to downsizing, you don’t necessarily have to limit yourself to your bedroom closet. You can also free yourself of the nonessential in other areas of life. You can cut out the negative people out of your life, instead focusing your efforts on relationships with those who make you feel good about yourself. You can also cut down on your daily tasks, giving yourself more free time to enjoy yourself and cultivate your talents.
Look After Your Health
Our physical and mental health are closely interrelated. When our body suffers, our mind does as well. To live our best life, it’s important that we take care of ourselves by leading a healthy lifestyle.
You should aim to eat balanced healthy meals, avoiding overly fatty or sugary foods. These can weigh you down both mentally and physically, disturbing our focus and dampening our mood. It’s also best to avoid unhealthy red meats and overly processed carbs. Instead, stick to lean meats such as fish and chicken, and replace foods such as bread and rice with whole-grain options. You should also include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your meal plan.
One of the healthiest diets around is the Mediterranean diet, which takes inspiration from the cuisine of Greece and Italy. It’s been shown to help improve heart health and even protect against the onset of dementia.
The Mediterranean limits the intake of dairy and red meat and encourages the consumption of seafood and whole grains instead. This diet also recommends eating between seven and ten servings of greens each day to give you all of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that you need.
In addition to eating the right foods, you should try to keep your meals light. Doing this will help to improve not only digestion but also concentration, energy levels, and productivity throughout the day. It also helps to keep you feeling fuller so that you don’t accidentally overeat. Sticking to a light, nutritious meal plan can help you to function and peak performance.
In addition to eating healthy, it’s vital that you stay active. Experts recommend that healthy adults get at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week. This can include anything from running or jogging to playing team sports. Swimming or cycling are also popular exercise options.
If you prefer to take things easy, you can opt to get in 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. This includes exercises such as walking or hiking, low-intensity sports, or light swimming. Housework and garden work can also count as moderate exercise. This type of workout is best for at-risk populations such as those with health conditions, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Staying active doesn’t necessarily just have to be about losing weight and staying lean. When you move, you have the chance to express yourself. There’s a certain freedom in activities such as dancing. Meditation and yoga can also help you to tap into your inner self and experience the freedom of an open and peaceful mind.
It’s easier to get the most out of life when you don’t have to worry about your health. If you stay active and eat right, you’ll remain healthy well into your golden years. You’ll have the time and the energy to live a long and free life.
Get in Touch with Nature
We are a part of nature, and when we lose touch with our natural roots, we suffer for it. In the modern world, it can be particularly easy to get wrapped up in the culture of technology and machines. We’re constantly plugged in, with most of us carrying a smartphone wherever we go. This constant influx of data can be overwhelming and place a burden on our minds.
Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to enjoy nature can work wonders for your mental health. It helps to lift our spirits, giving us a sense of emotional well-being. Reconnecting with nature can also reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It clears your mind, freeing yourself to focus on the moment at hand, and enjoy your life.
Spending time outdoors can even help to improve your physical health. It can reduce your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, relieve muscle tension, and cut back on stress hormones to help you feel more relaxed.
The healing power of nature can be very freeing to those of us who spend most of our time in the city, in an office, or at home. You don’t necessarily have to take a weekend off and go camping in the wilderness to reconnect with your roots. There are plenty of ways that you can feel closer to nature. You can spend time in your garden, visit a local park, or take a walk in the woods. Even simply walking barefoot in the grass can do the trick.
You can also bring nature into your home to feel more at one with the world. Decorate with natural elements such as rocks, wood, and live plants to make your place feel just a little bit more wild and free.
It’s important to remember to make an effort to get out of the house and spend time outdoors weekly, however. It isn’t just about getting in touch with nature; getting out and feeling the sun on your skin can also help to lift your spirits.
Sunlight is an important part of life. We simply can’t live spending all of our time indoors. The sun helps our bodies to produce vitamin D, which is vital for bone health. Plenty of vitamin D has also been shown to help ward off depression. Stepping out into the sun is the best way to combat conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
Just remember when heading outdoors that while a little bit of sunlight can be good for your health, too much may lead to issues such as sunburn and skin cancer. You should always wear sunscreen when spending time outdoors. Experts recommend opting for an SPF of at least 30 to block the majority of the sun’s harmful rays.
Embrace Your Artistic Side
Throughout history, humans have used their creative side to express their freedom. Whether that’s freedom of speech, freedom of mind, or freedom or spirit, humans have the unique ability to display and preserve fleeting feelings through works of art.
By expressing yourself creatively, you allow yourself to experience true freedom. Don’t let rules or unnecessary constraints hold you back; create art solely for your own growth and enjoyment. Allow your mind to open and let it take you where it will.
You don’t necessarily have to be an art expert to express yourself. There are plenty of ways to explore your creative side, and you can do it in a way that’s uniquely your own. While some people prefer to paint their feelings on canvas, others express themselves through dance and movement. Still, others sing to free their inner thoughts, while others craft jewelry or sculpt masterpieces.
There are endless creative paths that you can take, and all are equally capable of leading you to the same place. Through artistic expression, you can find freedom, even if you’ve had trouble tapping into it through other methods.
It still may take some practice to learn to embrace true inner expression. It isn’t always easy or painless to tap into your inner feelings. Still, creativity can help you to understand and process your deepest emotions, freeing you from the burden of an aching soul.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to creative expression, it can help to join a special interest group or hobbyist meetup. You can learn a new craft at your own pace, get help from experienced mentors, and meet new friends who share your interests. Many community centers and educational institutions have artistic clubs that are open to the public. You may also be able to find groups through your local library.
Live in the Now
Many people live trapped in the past, which can restrict their freedom in the present. Learning to let go of the past is never easy, but it can be one of the most freeing things that you can do for your mind and soul.
A large part of letting go is forgiveness. Before you can learn to forgive others for past transgressions, though, you must learn to forgive yourself. The best way is to admit your mistake and treat it as a learning experience. Instead of dwelling on it, understand why it happened and how to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.
By forgiving and forgetting past guilt and grievances, you lift a burden from your shoulders. You give yourself the freedom to move on with your life and to go in any direction you so choose. No longer will you be weighed down thinking about the past, but instead, look forward to a brighter future.
While it’s fine to look forward to what’s to come, you shouldn’t focus too much time and energy worrying about your future. You’ll be trapped by your own fears and expectations. You can live more freely by following life wherever it leads instead of trying to force your path.
The only thing that we truly have is the present moment. By making an effort to live mindfully, we help ourselves to embrace the now and enjoy ourselves freely. You should always remember that the past is gone, and the future isn’t something that you can predict or control. Appreciate the moment you’re in, and be thankful for what you have in the present moment.
The best way to live in the moment is to spend time doing what you love, with the people you love most. Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and spend some quality time connecting with yourself, others, and the world around you.
Learn to Let Go
Part of living in the now is learning to let go. This doesn’t just mean embracing forgiveness, but rather, giving up control. Many of us feel the need to control everything in life. We cover ourselves with insurance; we create rigid schedules for ourselves—we even try to control for weather conditions when we go out.
As a society, we tend to place too much emphasis on planning and organization. While it’s good to be organized in some areas of life, planning things down to the last detail will only drive you mad. Control is just an illusion. For the most part, we have control over nothing. Disaster can strike in a second, no matter how well we’ve prepared ourselves.
It’s important to recognize and accept that you don’t have complete control over your life. Nothing that you do can prevent you from having to face obstacles and challenges on your path. However, by letting go of control of the future, you allow yourself to live freely in the moment.
You don’t have to go on constantly looking over your shoulder or planning your days around worst-case scenarios. Instead, embracing insecurity gives you the chance to focus on enjoying your life.
Be Realistic
Unrealistic ideas and expectations just set you up for disappointment down the road. While it might seem counterintuitive, if you want to live freely, you must ground yourself in reality. You need to be aware of not only your abilities but also your limitations. Don’t expect more out of yourself than you’re capable of, as it will only lead to disappointment and frustration.
While it’s not always pleasant to acknowledge your own shortcomings, treat it as an exercise in self-improvement. You can pinpoint areas where you excel, and those you need to work on. Knowing your limitations also helps you to avoid overextending yourself at home, school, or work.
If you set goals, you should make them realistic to avoid trapping yourself in a cycle of disappointment. Instead of using goals as a tool to push yourself, use them to keep yourself on track. Make a commitment to finish a relatively simple task within a generous timeframe. This way, you’ll ensure that you get the task done, but won’t stress yourself out in doing so.
If you have larger goals in life, work your way up to them with a series of smaller, more realistic goals. Doing this will help to keep you happy, motivated, and free to continue pursuing your dreams without losing hope for the future.
Living Freely in a Modern World
While we might be living more luxurious than our ancient ancestors, the world that we live in isn’t necessarily free. Many of us are trapped in one way or another, whether it be in the wrong job, with the wrong people, or even in our own self-doubt.
Living life freely doesn’t come easily for most. We must strive towards a way of thinking that promotes inner peace and a lifestyle that focuses on freeing us from stress and worry. With time and effort, you can come to learn how to live a free lifestyle that brings you joy, energy, and fulfillment.
