Everyone always thinks they know what’s best for you, and though they think they have your best interests at heart, they all have their opinions about how to live your life. Only thing is, they are not you and, therefore, are not qualified to tell you how to live your life at all.
Your journey is your journey. No one has lived a life like yours, though some other people’s lives may have shared similar experiences. You may even have shared the same experiences with others, but your individual experiences can be (and generally are) completely different because you are different people.
No one has the right to tell you how to live your life; only you can decide how you will live your life.
You can choose to take direction or advice from others, and if you are wise you can avoid the pitfalls suffered by others by observing how they have executed decisions which they could have done better. Using your sense of reason and skills of observation will help in your deciding how you will navigate your life’s journey for yourself.
We’ve been trained from birth to care about what other people think of us, and desire to be accepted in the eyes, minds, and heart of others, so we find ourselves trying to please others and tend to make adjustments in our lives to accommodate the other people in our world.
In many cases, we are frightened about what other people might think about us and are inhibited by the idea of exerting our independence because we want to please others or desire to be accepted/admired by others.
How to Live Your Life
Exerting your independence does not mean isolating yourself from the rest of the population (unless you decide to do so). Certainly, you should do your best to learn from others and listen to what they have to say, but at the end of the day, how you decide to accept or apply any of the information you have been exposed to is up to you.
And no one has the right to judge you for how you live your life or what you choose to believe, as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others.
Be fiercely independent, fully exercise your freedoms, offer others the same courtesy, and do no harm.
Of course, there is the common-sense factor. It behooves you to be cognizant of the world around you as you exercise your independence. There are laws that have been structured to control your behavior.
Find ways to exercise your independence within the parameters society has set forth, unless you’ve decided that breaking the law is necessary for your executing your independent beliefs, then be prepared to accept the consequences of your decisions.
All decisions have consequences.
This is the only caveat: Do not hurt anyone or impose your beliefs on others. That’s it.
In my life, some of my personal tenets include,
Edify others.
Love and live your life and do no harm.
Let go of perfection, except in honor of its imperfection, for no one is perfect (especially not me).
Try to see from someone else’s perspective because, after all, we’re all only doing the best we can with what we have.
Love and respect others as you love and accept yourself, or honor and treat others as you would like to be treated.
Some positive quotes from others who assert your right to live your own life include:
“Only you can control your future.” ~ Dr. Seuss
“You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” ~ Napoleon Hill
“Control your thoughts. Decide about that which you will think and concentrate upon. You are in charge of your life to the degree you take charge of your thoughts.” ~ Earl Nightingale
“Take control of your consistent emotions and begin to consciously and deliberately reshape your daily experience of life.” ~ Tony Robbins
“You only have control over three things in your life – the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take.” ~ Jack Canfield
Food for thought to inspire your own thoughts.