“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.”

- Margaret Shepard

We are plagued with countless unknowns about life, what it means and what it is for. Some people dedicate their lives to trying to unravel the copious mysteries we face, sometimes without ever fully getting an answer or completely understanding its respective scope.

Imagine this – one day, you wake up and see that you really don’t know anything about life. That’s a scary realization. How can you not know anything when there is so much to know? You’re not alone, as this common worry is shared by absolutely everyone. Every person has felt that feeling of being unsure, lost or alone from time to time.  The question remains – do you need to really understand life in order to enjoy it? The answer is no. In fact, you may push yourself into a dark hole trying to figure out all of its secrets.

Engage yourself in what you truly find interesting and pertinent to your existence. Don’t scrutinize everything. That will drive you crazy. Instead, take past experiences and lessons learned as your building blocks for the future, stacking each one carefully and thoughtfully as you move forward.

Enjoy life. Take it in. Savor every moment. You don’t have to completely understand its every facet. Find 3 reasons why here:

It’s about a feeling, not the analysis 

Happiness is capable of coming from a variety of sources. Being all knowing can help you have a better understanding of life, but if you are able to embrace your feelings and go with the flow you’ll be better equipped to lead an enriching and less frustrating existence. Life is really about being aware of how something makes you feel and react, rather than understanding its deep root cause.

Occupying your mind with unanswerable questions isn’t going to change anything

Constantly worrying yourself about what you don’t know, or even what is not known to human kind, is a waste of thoughts. Those thoughts can be put to much better use by working towards goals, objectives or just overall satisfaction. Know that things happen for a reason, accept what you can’t change and stop worrying about things that are out of your control, it’s a wasted use of energy.

Time is going to pass no matter how much or how little you know

Regardless of what you spend your time worrying yourself over, whether it’s the deep meaning of life or what you are doing tomorrow night, the speed of time is always the same. Why waste your time agonizing over something out of your control when you could put it to much better use. Our life isn’t unlimited. That seems to be forgotten by many.

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“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

We all have our vices. Regardless if we like it or not, they make us who we are at this very moment. Some of these behaviors don’t have resonating effects on our lives, while others can make a permanent imprint that can never be removed. It’s vital to be cognizant of any potentially damaging behaviors you’re doing so that you are able to correct them before they have a lasting effect.

Ignoring destructive actions can lead to an unfulfilling, unhappy life, rendering you incapable of achieving your goals. Nobody wants that. All it takes is a little self-reflection and willingness to alter your mindset.

Remember these 7 damaging behaviors as you move throughout life, ensuring that you tackle each issue head on so that they don’t cost you down the road:

Jealousy

It may start small and innocently, but jealousy can quickly snowball into a detrimental, completing engulfing need to know and control. A very unattractive quality, maintaining jealous tendencies will slowly drive others away from you. Jealously usually has a larger underlying cause. It’s important to recognize that issue and address it, rather then let the jealousy fester and take over your life. Check out “No More Jealousy.”

Lying

You’ve been told this over and over again – lying won’t get you anywhere. So why do people still lie? It may be because of constant competition and pressure. In the end, lying will get you nowhere. It always comes back to haunt you, no matter how good of a fib you think you told. Always tell the truth – it will get you much further than lying ever will. Check out “Why We Lie.”

Seeking immediate gratification

Our culture now enables us to seek instant gratification from numerous sources, causing many to expect that sort of immediate reaction in everyday life. This gradually desensitizes us and impedes on our ability to be patience, which is central in fostering human-to-human long-term relationships. Learning how to wait is an art, one that must be mastered to properly function in the world. Check out “Taming Your Outer Child: A Revolutionary Program to Overcome Self-Defeating Patterns.”

Negativity

It’s easy to be negative. It’s difficult to be positive in the face of trouble. Being optimistic demonstrates a much stronger willpower than merely accepting what is and spreading pessimism everywhere you go. People don’t want to be around the downer. They want to be lifted up by someone who is excited to be living each day. Check out “Other People Issues: Get Rid of Negativity Self-Help Your Way Back to Happiness.”

Unwillingness to change

Life is a constant cycle of change. Things are continuously on the move, appearing and disappearing. Being unwilling to accept change can be a huge obstacle when it comes to progressing, both professionally and personally. Not wanting to adjust to new things shows your inability to compromise, a significant trait in interpersonal skills. You don’t have to be ready for something to happen at the last minute, just be open and willing to try and experience new things. Check out “Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success.”

Procrastination

The productivity killer, procrastination wastes valuable time and energy. You’re not going to be here forever. If you want to get things accomplished and enjoy your life, you need to make sure that you are utilizing your time effectively. Getting into the habit of procrastination will build on itself over time until you are completely submerged and can’t pull yourself out. Check out “Stop Feeling Lazy: How To Break The Procrastination Cycle Once And For All And Excel.”

Underestimating yourself

Self-doubt is the number one behavior that can have long lasting and damaging influence on you and your future. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? You must be your biggest fan and most vocal supporter. Don’t underestimate your abilities, but also don’t blow yourself out of proportion. Have a solid understanding of where you stand and what you want to achieve. It’ll give you better perspective as you’re reaching for your dreams. Check out “Take Yourself to the Top.”

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A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but its persistence.

We all should wake up everyday and be thankful to see the sun shining in the sky. No matter what is going on in your life, you must celebrate and find beauty in each moment. It’s a miracle to be living, breathing and taking in every minute of every day. Treat your life as the wonder it is. Live in every moment, don’t take anything for granted and never have regrets. You only have one shot to live life to the fullest. Don’t waste it on the trivial.

Celebrate life and all of its wonder with these 30 quotes and sayings:

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi

“Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.” – Joanne Harris

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss

“All of life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Life is far too important to be taken seriously.” – Oscar Wilde

“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” – Gerard Way

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” – Eleanora Duse

“The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what it is: a miracle and unrepeatable.” – Storm Jameson

“There is no security in this life. There is only opportunity.” – Douglas MacAurthur

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” – Ashley Smith

“I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.” – Arthur Rubinstein

“The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.” – Elbert Hubbard

“Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good.” – Mr. Feeny of Boy Meets World

“If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year…Today should always be our most wonderful day.” – Thomas Dreier.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Maya Angelou

“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.” – Mary Ann Radmacher

“A day without a laugh is a wasted day.” – Charles Chaplin

“You never know what life is like until you have lived it.” – Marilyn Monroe

“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach

“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.” – Alexander Woollcott

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

“Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” – Danny Kaye

“Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Throw your hands up in the air and celebrate life.” - Steven Tyler

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude”. – Denis Waitley

“Every day should be passed as if it were to be our last.” – Publilius Syrus

“This is my life. I am happy to be living it.” – Unknown

“There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” – Unknown

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Because when you stop and look around this life is pretty amazing.” – Unknown

Find additional reading on the beauty of life with my recommended reads:

• Celebrating Life: Finding Happiness in Unexpected Places
• 20,000 Days and Counting: The Crash Course for Mastering Your Life Right Now 
• Life, Love, Laughter: Celebrating Your Existence
• Life Is Full of Sweet Spots: An Exploration of Joy

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“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”

-Jim Rohn

Life is full of surprising events. There’s nothing you can do to change the shock factor when things happen randomly. What you can control and change is your reaction and attitude towards the unpredictable. Welcome the unknown with open arms, accepting it for what it is and how it impacts your life in that very moment.

Everything in your life is connected. Everything has a purpose, no matter how random it seems. Check out these 13 concepts and thoughts that will help you embrace the unexpected in everyday life:

1. Things happen for a reason, expected of not. Remember that when times get tough.
2. You can’t change yesterday or control tomorrow, so take today one moment at a time.
3. The best experiences come from unplanned adventures.
4. Take hold of whatever unforeseen circumstances come your way, conquering the shadow it casts upon you.
5. The unexpected appears where you’ve least imagined it.
6. Always be prepared for whatever comes around the next corner, as it can profoundly impact your future.
7. Living a calculated life leaves no room from the mishaps, which are the root of exploration, happiness and joy.
8. Out of the unknown can come the biggest opportunities.
9. Forge unfamiliar fronts, take surprises as they appear and do it all with an intensity that demonstrates an innate curiosity, regardless of fear.
10. You don’t know what the next minute will bring. Live accordingly.
11. Accept the unpredictable and welcome change. They spark success.
12. There’s a strange beauty in moving through life unsure of your next step. Appreciate not knowing where you are going, but always remember where you just came from.
13. Expect the unexpected. Even the best laid plans can crumble to the ambiguous nature of life.

Looking for more information on embracing the unexpected? Find my reading recommendations here:

• The Happiness Project
• Embracing Uncertainty: Breakthrough Methods for Achieving Peace of Mind When Facing the Unknown

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Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength.