12 Ways to Live Life to the Fullest
Are you really living?
In this post, I’m going to show you 12 simple ways to live life to the fullest – and to live fully alive.
Young + free at heart
No matter how old your body may be, you can still be as young in soul, mind, heart as you desire. It’s time to stop waiting, and really begin to live our lives to the fullest, enjoying every moment. After all, we only have one life to live. It’s never too late to start embracing life and enjoying the present.
Future or present?
I spent many years of my life living for the future.
By that, I mean that I used to work hard in the present to better my future. Sounds like a good plan to guarantee a great future doesn’t it?
Here is the problem with this type of mentality: I was always so busy preparing for the future that I was unable to enjoy the present. I was trying to build “the perfect life” before I could enjoy it fully, or before I would let myself enjoy it fully.
One day I came to a realization: If I didn’t learn how to enjoy the present, I would never be able to enjoy the future when it came around. I also realised that waiting for a perfect future was silly – because life is never perfect.
I discovered that it is possible to prepare and plan for a better future while still enjoying the present.
I still have to remind myself often to enjoy every moment, but I am getting better at it. I’ve become more spontaneous, begun allowing myself to go out and have fun, and getting better at embracing my life.
Stop being so hard on yourself, it’s not good for your health. Enjoy every moment to the fullest and smile.
12 ways to live fully alive
1. Take a deep breath in
Air is good for you. Fresh air is even better for you. Breathing also reduces anxiety and stress.
2. Smile
If you don’t ever smile then practice smiling every day, people will like you more and you will make more friends. If you are already a “smiler” then smile even more. When you have a smile on your face everything is more fun. Just don’t over-smile, you don’t want to scare people. Balance is good.
3. Do something that you love every day, even if it is something small
If you don’t have an idea of what that would be then get a new hobby (ideas: bike riding, dancing, scrapbooking, snorkelling, amateur photography, painting, writing, sunset watching, baking, even learning how to play an instrument).
4. Don’t hold yourself back
Don’t hold yourself back from doing something because you think that you do not deserve it. No matter what has happened in your past you still deserve happiness. Life is meant to be filled with fun.
5. Don’t let fear hold you back
Fear is actually a very real thing that can consume people but it does not have to. The best way to get out fear’s grip is to start doing what you are afraid of when you feel afraid- you will learn to live fearless (within rational guidelines. Please don’t jump off any cliffs without a rope).
6. Get rid of guilt and shame
If you need to forgive, then ask for forgiveness, repent and change your ways. But do not let guilt and shame cripple you.
7. Let go of grudges, offences and forgive yourself and others for any wrongs
Resolve issues and live in peace with yourself and the people around you.
8. Live stress free
Here is a truth: Stress does not get you from point A to point B any faster, it only ages you faster.
9. Pump a preppy pop tune to get you out of your funk
I sometimes enjoy a good indie song more than anything, but pop is my classic go-to. Music really can change any atmosphere, and there have been many times where I have played a pop song on repeat to inspire me, lift my spirits and remind me to live. Here are some songs that I highly recommend:
“Happy” by Pharell
“Shine” by Take That
“Who Says” by Selena Gomez
“Stronger” by Britney Spears
“Hit the Lights” by Selena Gomez
“What a feeling” by Irene Cara
If you are not a teenage girl (or even if you are a teenage girl), your inspiring “get you going” pop song list may look quite different… your list may not even have a pop song on it. This is just an example, but I have used these songs as well as many others, played them on repeat and they have helped me get through hard moments and seasons. They act as a reminder to me to enjoy life, to keep going, to be true to myself and not hold myself back.
10. Don’t doubt yourself, and stop being so hard on yourself
You can be anything and achieve anything that you put your mind to and desire in this life.
11. Don’t only focus on yourself
It is not always good to be self centred and introspective. It is important to take care of yourself but it is also important to think about the other people in your life and live a life that is greater than just you.
12. JUST LIVE
No matter what else has happened, you are alive and that is the best news, now live your life.
ON A BUDGET?
You don’t need money to live. Okay, so maybe a little for the basic essentials, but you don’t need a lot of money to live a happy life. Let go of the obsession of wanting things. While it is wonderful to have many things, do not let the lack of material objects get you down or hold you back from living. It is often said that the best things in life are free and this is true. So enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
♥ LIVE FEARLESSLY
Since you are now going to start living your life to the fullest (if you have not already started), you might as well go for it. Do what you love, do the things that you have always dreamed of doing, and you will make your life instantly more enjoyable.
Liezl Jayne xo
Photo #1 by Abby Heywood, while we were in Sunny LA together – Photo #2 by Liezl Jayne Strydom, for liezljayne.com
