21 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 21

May these 21 differing aspects help you on your journey of success. Information implemented effectively can change your life drastically for the better.

1. Learn To Love Mistakes

Learn from the mistakes that you make in your life so that you can grow. It does not matter how many mistakes you make, it shows that you are trying. Be not afraid of making mistakes, be afraid of living a timid life.

2. Say Yes Often

Be a yes person, too many people are with the no crowd, just remaining in their comfort zones, afraid to go and venture out into the unknown. Try different things, they will bring new adventures and opportunities into your life.

3. Less Is More

Be focused on the essential things that matter the most. Don’t try and be the best at everything, aim for mastery rather than information overload. Confucius said it best: “He who chases two rabbits, catches none.” Trying to work on everything will eventually lead you to be mediocre in everything. Focus.

4. Tell People How You Feel

Express your feelings whether they be positive or constructive. If we do not speak up when we should we give away our power. Life is short and we may never get the opportunity again to express ourselves. So be real and tell people how you feel in a kind manner.

5. Learn To Love Change

Be ready to change in order to succeed. Many people get comfortable with conformity and become infiltrated by the timid way of life. You must be constantly improving and changing to keep up with life, as things can change in the blink of an eye and you must be prepared for that.

6. You Don’t Have As Much To Lose As You Think

When you are younger you have less responsibility and you haven’t yet become infiltrated by the life of mediocrity. Go out into the arena and start pursuing your dreams, get started early, you have nothing to lose.

7. Stop Worrying So Much About What Other People Think

Don’t live your life based on other people’s opinions, some people that I have encountered need the approval of others to live their life, what a stupid way to live. It is your life so live it the way you want to live it to the best of your abilities and always strive for more. It will be a big mistake to concern yourself with other people’s opinions about how you should live your life.

8. Be Honest With Yourself And Others

Be honest in how you live your life. Be true to who you are, it is empowering. Don’t shy away and be a timid soul. Honesty will earn you respect as people will see that you are being real and not trying to pretend to be someone that you are not.

9. Meet As Many New People As You Can

Go out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Networking with people is a great way in which you can gain valuable contacts and make new life-long friends. Be genuine and be yourself when meeting new people.

10. Find Time To Be Alone

Spend time by yourself once in a while. At times it is good to get away from everyone and just spend time with you. This enables you to get to know yourself better even though some may find it quite daunting to do at first.

11. Learn To Ask Great Questions

Learn to ask great questions in order to get the best answers. You will meet many people through life, learn to seize the opportunity when you meet others who are living life at a higher standard. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, the majority of people like to share their life experiences with others.

12. Leverage What You’ve Got

Use the gifts and talents that you have to get you where you want to be. Rather than complaining about what you don’t have. Use your current skills to push you further along the road of success.

13. Make People Feel Good

Compliment people, make the people around you feel better about themselves. Too many people seem to have a lot of bad things to say about others, instead of being like that highlight people’s strengths, people will appreciate the compliments.

14. Invest In Yourself

The best investment you can make is in yourself. Learning is lifelong, learning and improving yourself does not end when you finish school. That is the mistake the majority of people make by not investing in themselves. Read books by successful people, attend seminars on success, and listen to motivational and personal development videos. Everyday you should be growing as an individual and developing yourself to a higher standard in all areas of your life.

15. Find Something Challenging You Love Doing

Start a small venture on the side that you are passionate about that challenges you to grow as an individual. Dream big and start small. When you are working on your passions you will feel alive and excited to be spending your time on pursuits that are close to your heart.

16. Learn To Love Yourself

Every single day say to yourself ‘I love myself’, some may think that is strange but loving yourself will only bring about more positive things into your life. Love everything about you, many people look at the so called ‘celebrities’ and feel inferior because of their outward beauty, confidence, and status in life, however you are a special individual and you must see your beauty from within. When you look in the mirror tell yourself, ‘I am getting younger and younger, I am handsome, I am beautiful, these are just a few positive affirmations you can say to yourself to love yourself even more. When you feel great about yourself others will also notice those things about you.

17. Pull Others Up To The Top

As you are making progress to your ideal life and becoming more and more successful help others to make progress in their lives. There was a time when you were unaware of what you were capable of achieving and becoming and others may have helped you, give back, make a difference, and improve other people’s lives, helping others can only bring about more goodness in the world. 

18. Enjoy The Journey

Enjoy the journey of striving for your dreams, many of us are so eager to get to the top that we don’t savour these moments that we have, enjoy the journey that you are in.

19. It’s You Versus You. That’s It

The competition is between you, don’t look at other people’s journey to success and think ‘Why am I not successful yet.’ Focus on yourself and the daily improvements that you are making with your life. Each day you should be making steady progress in the direction of your dreams. Evaluate yourself and see how far you have come in your own journey. Focus on being better than your were yesterday. Small daily improvements will lead to stunning results.

20. Take Big Risks

Be fearless and go after what you truly want. What do you have to lose by going for what you want. Do not be afraid of failure, rejection, and disappointment. It is better to have tried and failed than to just spend your time wondering at what could have been. Get in the arena and see what you are truly made of. Failure is the stepping stone to success, failure teaches us how to do the right things. The biggest risk in life is living a mediocre life forever and never venturing out into the unknown.

21. Rediscover Who You Were Born To Be And Be That

The majority of people just stumble into an unplanned life and then settle for that because they are so busy making a living that they never get round to designing a life, and truly doing what they want to do with their life. Find what you love and make a commitment to live an authentic life rather than being a timid individual who has settled for the dream of someone else. You were born unique with special gifts and talents that have been given to you to make the world a better place, have the courage to take action and be who you truly want to be.

“wake up and live the life that you truly want to live.”

ATGW