It is no shame to be 28 or 38 and still not know what it is that you really want to do with your life. For many people chasing the good life, as seen in movies like James Bond or the Great Gatsby, can be all they dream about. I mean, who wouldn’t want the glitz and glamour combined with the fast cars and big houses?

However, life is not made up of only material things, and once you realise that fact you will be able to shift your focus to more meaningful things that will add positivity and fulfilment in your life. Allow me to share a few tips that are sure to change your perspective on life and help you to live a life that is more meaningful to you.

Learn to be more selfish
I know this is not what most people were raised to think, as selfishness has always been seen as something that is bad. However, bear with me for a minute while I convince you that being selfish does not always have to be bad – in fact being selfish with your dreams and goals is the best thing you can do for yourself. The people around you can make or break your dreams if you allow them to. And sometimes you need to learn to say ‘No’ and hold on to what you want. You cannot always put other people’s dreams ahead of your own, because there will never be a time when they will stop and tell you “OK, it’s your turn now to focus on yourself.” Learn to be a little selfish with your time, now and then, so that you can also build on your dreams. The people in your life will appreciate you more when they see that you are also progressing, and if they are not happy then tell them it is not their life to live, it is yours. So own being selfish with your goals and dreams.

Stop regretting everything
We go through life making the best choices that we have ready at hand and in that point in time, we make those decisions because we could not see a better option. Therefore, why do we keep regretting our decisions years later as if we could go back in time and fix them? I am not saying that you should not learn from your past mistakes. But what I am saying is that you probably could not have done it better than you did at that point in time, with the information that you had at that time. So why beat yourself up about the past you cannot change? Learn to focus on the now and not stress over past mistakes.

Understand what you need most now
We can’t all have it all, and it is up to us to figure out what it is we need, and focus on that, instead of trying to focus on too many things but then giving little attention to it all because we have spread ourselves to thinly. Ask yourself: what needs do you need to focus on right now, and focus on them. It could be your family? The freedom to express yourself? Relationships? Financial security? Or something else? Work on making those needs satisfactory to you.

Understand your strengths and weakness
I know this is one of the questions during job interviews that put people off completely, and it is also one of the questions that can make or break your interview. The reason for this is that this question requires a confident answer, and when you do not know yourself, or understand what your strengths or weaknesses are, your answer will not display a level of confidence that most employers want to see. Do a lot of self-introspection and write down what you think are your strengths and weaknesses, and ask your close friends and family what they think are your best qualities. This will help you get to understand yourself better and therefore build confidence within yourself that will help you tackle life better and also ace your next job interview. Remember to be confident in who you are and what you have to offer the world.

What makes you happy?
You need to determine what makes you happy. Research says your happiness is the root of your desires. So take a few moments and really think about what makes you happy. This will help you to understand want you want out of life, and it will guide you to achieving those goals and dreams because they will be leading you to your true happiness.

Share your goals and desires
This might sound wrong as we sometimes think that keeping those goals internally will help you stay focused, and if you should fail, no one will know that you had them in the first place. However, I want to encourage you to share some of those goals with people you trust, to give you positive feedback. Sometimes sharing your goals can help you to see them differently and you may get more insight into how you can achieve them better.

Lastly, stay positive in all that you do and keep focus on your happiness. Do not let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve those goals or dreams, even if it sounds small to them. Life is for the living, so go and make it worth living for. Find your own version of happiness and enjoy your life.

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