Let me ask you a question –
Are you being your best self? If you answer anything but a resounding yes, don’t be concerned. You are one of the 99.9% that feel the same way. It may not seem like a big deal, but everyone wants to be a little (or a lot) better if they really think about it openly and honestly. The issue is, we don’t always know how to go about being our best self.
The secret is to make tiny changes. Develop one tiny change at a time and let them become a tiny habit. Some tiny habits are so simple they may not seem like you’re even making a difference in your life, but over time you will be surprised at how you are growing into the next version of your best self.
Here are a list of some tiny changes. Start with the ones that resonate with you. Keep it simple, and don’t try too many at once – no more than one or two at a time. Keep it simple
Drink good, pure filtered water 
This one may or may not seem tiny, but stop drinking soda and energy drinks. Instead, drink lots of pure, filtered water. If you don’t care for plain water, add some fruit slices or a drop or two of your favorite CPTG essential oil. I prefer a couple drops of lemon or lime in a cup of hot (not boiling) water. It tastes great, and is great for your body as well.
Have a glass of water when you wake up to help flush out the toxins and get hydrated. Have a glass before bedtime as well. Drink at least fifty percent of your body weight in ounces each day – so if you weigh one hundred pounds, aim for fifty ounces of good clean water a day. I’ve found it best to work up to that goal gradually, so your body can adjust to the goodness.
Smile more
Did you know that the are many more benefits to smiling than just looking nice? Smiling not only offers a mood boost but helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins that provide numerous health benefits, including boosting our immune system, reducing feelings of stress, lessening pain, and improved blood pressure. Smiling also helps tone the facial muscles, helping with a more youthful appearance.
According to the Henry Ford Health system, studies show that people who smile appear more likable, courteous and competent. Smilers tend to be more productive at work and make more money.
Are you self-conscious about your smile? As silly as it may seem, practice smiling in front of a mirror. Every time you look in a mirror take the time to smile at yourself. Pretty soon it will seem more natural, and you will realize how great you look when you have your smile on.
Keep Learning
Life long learning has its own set of benefits. It can help you succeed at your job and make more options available to you along your career path. Learning keeps your brain healthy, and helps you stay sharp. If you choose to take in person classes at a local college or community center, it is great for forming new relationships and community. Learning can also help you feel more fulfilled, improve your emotional balance, and help avoid depression.
Read every day 
Not a reader? No worries – a person who reads everyday gets better at it over time. Not surprisingly, daily readers also gain more enjoyment from it than those that read less often. Daily reading can improve memory and critical thinking skills. Activities like reading have been linked to better brain health and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Forgive, Forgive, Forgive
Work on forgiveness daily. Start by forgiving yourself when you make mistakes. When you remember something you did years ago that was negative, take the time to forgive yourself. Always look for ways to forgive the people in your life.
One of the biggest benefits of forgiveness comes when we learn lessons from the situation and use those to focus on growth and forward momentum. If we get stuck in thinking about what “should have been,” we can become immobilized in painful feelings and memories. Not forgiving does more damage to you than to the person who you need to forgive.
One of my favorite practices for forgiving yourself or others is Ho’oponopono. The Hawaiian word ho’oponopono comes from ho’o (“to make”) and pono (“right”). The repetition of the word pono means “doubly right” or being right with both self and others. In a nutshell, ho’oponopono is a process by which we can forgive others to whom we are connected, but we’ll save more on that for an upcoming blog.
Speak kindly to yourself
Do you ever catch yourself saying mean things to yourself? Pay attention to the thoughts you allow into your space. If you mess up, how do you react? Do you say negative things? If you say or think mean things – just stop it! I know that it’s harder than it sounds. We are conditioned by what we hear around us.
So what can you do to make a tiny change and get a big result in this area of your life? Try using daily affirmations. Pick just a few to start and repeat them every day. For example, try the affirmation, “I am getting better every day.” Say it when you wake up in the morning, Say it when your look in the mirror. Say it with conviction. Say it, even if you don’t particularly feel it that day. Eventually you will naturally feel it, and you will believe it all the time.
If you are looking for more affirmations, check out my Sunday blogs. Each Sunday I share a list of affirmations to help you start off your week. As you get more comfortable with affirmations, you will naturally begin to add your own.
Set a morning routine
What you do in the morning sets the tone for your whole day. I believe a good morning routine is essential to a more purposeful, peaceful life. Getting up a little earlier takes willpower so you may need to remind yourself that getting up early will improve your life by giving you the quiet time to work on making your dreams come true. This is a good time for journaling, devotional reading, meditation, or just sitting quietly and acknowledging your Creator.
Practice self care
Find the time to take care of yourself in some special way each day. It could be a walk in nature, a massage, time with a special friend – whatever you choose, make sure it is something you enjoy. Tell yourself that self care is not selfish, it is an essential tool in become the best version of yourself.
Listen
Be an active listener. Listen to understand, not to respond. You can learn so much from what others have to say. Listen to the sounds around you as well – not just the people with which your are directly having a conversation. Listen for the sounds of nature, the happy voices of children laughing in the park, the friendly chatter of people in coffee shops. Listen to your favorite music. Just make time for listening.
Each one of these suggestions on its own will help you become a better person. Imagine what would happen if you chose to implement them all over the period of a year? Add in a few more of your own. Be prepared for the transformation – it’s going to be awesome!
Find your purpose – find your joy!
Would you like copy of Improve Your Mindset? Just click on the link – it’s my gift to you.
Did you add a few more habits of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
You can also connect with me via –
Email: info@SerenitiesNow.com
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Serenities Now LLC is a holistic health practice that will find you the tools you need to bring calm to your chaos, take back your control, and break through your barriers, so you can become your best self ever.