“When I do good, I feel good and when I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion.”- Abraham Lincoln

Several months ago, I was going through some of my old journals when I came across a little gem. It was a ten-point “manifesto” I wrote after first reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People way back in high school. Even though I wrote it ages ago, it still feels relevant to me and I hope it’s relevant to you too. Here goes…

I will value the innate beauty present in all people. We may all be different in many ways, but we’re ultimately more alike than not and remembering that helps.

I will be empathic to the needs and feelings of others. Take the time to really understand where other people are coming from and consequently connecting in meaningful ways.

I will maintain balance between courage and consideration. Stand up for yourself by being assertive but don’t cross the line to aggression.

I will be realistic in my expectations of life. Not all things will work out perfectly and keeping this in mind will save you a lot of unnecessary stress.

I will be open and honest regarding my thoughts and feelings. Don’t feel guilty about having an opinion and wanting to express it because you deserve to have a say.

I will control the things I can and ignore the things I can’t. Learn to accept the fact that there are a lot of things that you have no power over and instead focus on the things you can actually change.

I will take full responsibility for my happiness. It’s not about waiting for circumstances to change; it’s about taking the initiative to change them yourself.

I will seize each day and utilise all opportunities for development and growth. Life is short so don’t waste any time when it comes to following your dreams.

I will actively nurture my body, mind, heart, and soul. Life is a gift and needs to be treated as such.

I will always value who I am and not base that value on the opinions of others. Have a strong sense of worth and learn to love who you are regardless of what others may think.

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain

(For more resources and tips, download your free copy of “Work in Progress” exclusively from www.varsityblah.com/about)