Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You're only a stranger once.

January 26, 2007

The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 9:41 am

Everyone Gets the Same 24 Hours

parrots talking to each other

Life — it’s what we do between the time we get here and when we go. We only get one, and despite what other folks might suppose, it’s ours to determine what to do with it.

We don’t measure life in hours and minutes. We measure life in memories and moments.

What do you think of when you read this sentence?


It was the time of my life.

We don’t say that often enough.

The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life

Life either happens to us, or we take hold of life and live it. Here are 10 Ways to get a life and start living it.

  1. Give yourself permission to claim your life. That’s right — permission. You’re the only one who can decide you are in charge of your life. Even though it feels like you’re not supposed to do so, turn off the internal editors, the old tape recordings, the “shoulds, have tos, and musts”, and the rules that didn’t come from you.
  2. Define what living means to you. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Just picture yourself at the end of your life looking back. What words would you want to describe how you lived your life and who you are as a person?
  3. Stop living in the future. Every time you think “someday” or “when I have time I will,” stop. Ask yourself, “Why not now?” Think about this sentence, “I always wanted to, but never did.” Start doing the things you always planned to do. Choose your life every morning. Plan one thing you will do that day to feel alive.
  4. Surround yourself with people who enjoy living. They’ve obviously discovered how to have a life and live it. Why not hang with the pros?
  5. Lay down your pain and your anger. Carrying them around makes living harder and less fun. It doesn’t bring anything, and it steals a lot.
  6. Let the losers win. Don’t argue about things that you don’t care about. Unless there’s some real threat, let the folks who have something to prove, prove what they need to. Why waste your living time trying to fix what’s wrong with them?
  7. Create energy. Jump to forgiveness and love, then figure things out. Most conclusions we jump to are not only wrong, they’re negative. Negative conclusions lead us to prepare a defense. Being on the defensive isn’t living. It’s hiding from life.
  8. Learn the physical symptoms of when your head and heart become disconnected. We know when we’re having a knee jerk reaction, when we’re feeling sorry for ourselves, and when we’re being blind to people’s feelings. We can remember how it felt physically while we were behaving badly. Get to know those symptoms, and you can stop the behavior. Living life will feel a whole lot safer because you won’t be in danger of shooting yourself in the foot.
  9. Take small risks that push your boundaries in every way. The joy of life is packed in learning that matches our skill set. When we stretch just a bit intellectually, physically, emotionally, we grow. Living is growing. Even your cells know that.
  10. Value and protect the people and the places you care about. A job isn’t a life. It’s just a part of one. Let the people you care about come first, and let everyone know that you do. Re-read numbers 1 and 2.

We come into life with whatever we’ve got. It’s ours to do with. It took me a while to figure that out — that my life isn’t just what happens to me, that I could take hold of it.


I want to have the time of my life.

You’ve already got a life too. Are you living it?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Time for Everything: Letting Go to Find Flow





Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | 126 Comments »




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126 Comments to “The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life”

  1. January 26th, 2007 at 10:05 am
    jimdwalton said

    Liz great advice, winning has to be expected and with a sense of urgency. I want to share tis wisdom with my readers.

  2. January 26th, 2007 at 10:49 am
    Michael Wagner said

    ” Surround yourself with people who enjoy living.”

    I really like that and have found it true.

    The reality is that more things are caught than taught…and that includes one’s joy in living.

    Hang with the happy…and keep creating,
    Mike

  3. January 26th, 2007 at 10:51 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jim!
    Great to see you! You’re so right about winning and urgency. I’m right with you!

  4. January 26th, 2007 at 10:52 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike!
    “more things are caught than taught”

    I’ve never heard that, but I so agree!

    let’s keep passing it on.

  5. January 26th, 2007 at 11:16 am
    If not us, whom, if not now when - Black In Business said

    [...] http://www.successful-blog.com/1/the-top-10-ways-to-start-living-your-life/#comment-116615 [...]

  6. January 26th, 2007 at 11:32 am
    Lisa said

    You rock, Liz (that’s a near-50-year-old paraphrashing my son). I am amazed how bloggers have synchronous posts by “accident”…as I wrote a post today that puts a new perspective on being a green writer, and the day before about “interviewing yourself.”

    As for the “internal editor” — he (wonder why it’s he…) almost never has my best interests at heart. In fact, the wily saboteur has no heart, only a deeply grooved wish to keep me stuck right where I am. Here’s to tucking him under the carpet and muffling his voice.

    Cheers!

  7. January 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Lisa!
    Thanks! We need to shut down those negative noises that keep us stuck and start moving forward. It’s so much more fun!

  8. January 26th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
    Tim Singleton said

    Absolutely. I was miserable until I realized I was having a pretty good time in life. Not that I have everything I want or can do everything I want, just that…I am having a pretty good time.

    The secret for me personally was realizing that neither my friends, my possessions, nor current circumstance define my happiness. I was completely defined by what was both outside of me and outside my control. No wonder I was so unhappy for a time!

  9. January 26th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tim!
    Thanks for saying that. “I was miserable until I realized I was having a pretty good time in life.”

    So much of life is how we look at it. Giving up control is another BIG part. Thanks, Tim, for bringing your insights. It makes me feel less stress just reading them. :)

  10. January 26th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
    Chris @ Martial Development said

    Let the losers win. Don’t argue about things that you don’t care about. Unless there’s some real threat, let the folks who have something to prove, prove what they need to. Why waste your living time trying to fix what’s wrong with them?

    I generally agree with this sentiment, and I have written about it in the past on my own blog. However, isn’t it contrary to your exhortations to “change the world”? After all, the world is what it is because of the people (“losers” above) in it.

  11. January 26th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Chris!
    Good point.
    How about this

    Let “the folks who usually lose the argument to you” win.

    As for the second part, we shouldn’t go around trying to fix other people. That was really my point. But you’re right, it’s not well done. That happens when I’m too quick with a phrase.

    I don’t really think in terms of labeling people as losers. That was the writer in me finding a clever phrase. You were right to call me out . . . I don’t want folks to misinterpret what I meant.

    Thanks. :)

  12. January 26th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
    Steve Remington said

    Stop Living in the future is a big one for me. I can do all the others but I am always focused on the future and never the now. ack!

  13. January 26th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Steve!
    I know about that one too. Oh heck! I know about all of them. I write it, didn’t i? :)

  14. January 27th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
    stories from an ordinary life » life is what happens while you’re making other plans said

    [...] Liz Strauss, at Successful Blog, posted The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life to help you get out of planning and just do it. The shortlist: [...]

  15. January 27th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
    Empowering Links: Week of 28th January - Life Coaches said

    [...] Life, we only get one, and there’s no going back. Do you want to look back from the end with regret or joy? The must read of the week, Liz reveals the top 10 ways to start living your life. Pure gold. [...]

  16. January 29th, 2007 at 12:48 am
    Bookmarks Explosion for 28 January 2007 said

    [...] Its one month into 2007 already. Time flies. Have you started living 2007 yet? Liz shows you how you can start living. [...]

  17. January 31st, 2007 at 12:27 am
    Project Simplify » Blog Archive » Cleaner living with Liz Strauss said

    [...] Liz Strauss has a fun list of The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life. The one that really jumps out at me as one you don’t hear about too often is #8: Learn the physical symptoms of when your head and heart become disconnected. We know when we’re having a knee jerk reaction, when we’re feeling sorry for ourselves, and when we’re being blind to people’s feelings. We can remember how it felt physically while we were behaving badly. Get to know those symptoms, and you can stop the behavior. Living life will feel a whole lot safer because you won’t be in danger of shooting yourself in the foot. [...]

  18. February 1st, 2007 at 10:38 pm
    Engaging the Disquiet » Blog Archive » Resource Roundup for the first week of February said

    [...] Liz Strauss, a great writer I regularly enjoy and a career coach I respect, wisely writes that everyone gets the same 24 hours. It’s what we do with it that counts. She has Ten Ways to Start Living Your Life. Great stuff! One that jumped out at me was #8: [...]

  19. February 8th, 2007 at 5:11 am
    Small Office Lists » Blog Archive » The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life said

    [...] Over at Successful Blog, Liz posts The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life… [...]

  20. February 27th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
    Macha88 said

    Someday,When i have the time, i will start to do this.

  21. February 27th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Macha88,
    I hope you are just someone being clever. :)
    Because it’s a clever response.

  22. March 8th, 2007 at 11:22 am
    Click! » 10 ways to start living your life said

    [...] I came across this blog and had to share it: 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life . [...]

  23. April 1st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
    7 Reasons and Ways to Leave the Center of the Universe to Come Back to Us Again - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Related The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life [...]

  24. April 8th, 2007 at 8:25 am
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  25. April 23rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
    Tim Ferriss said

    Beautiful ideas Liz :) Keep up the excellent work.

    Cheers!

  26. April 23rd, 2007 at 2:22 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tim!
    Welcome. Thank you for coming. Kind words mean a lot. :)

  27. April 25th, 2007 at 7:33 am
    Estera Favalora said

    How profound….it made me realise that I was worrying about nothing. It’s going to take some time to let go, (the control thing) and live for TODAY TODAT TODAY. Wasn’t it Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of Aikido) who said, “Create each day anew”. I try so hard to remember that despite my diagnosed anxiety. A 24 year old should not worry so freaking much. Your words shall be my meditations. ~E

  28. April 25th, 2007 at 9:39 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hello Estera,
    Welcome. Letting go, laying down the weight of the world, is a blessing we bestown on ourselves when we finally realize our own value and what we need to share it fully and usefully with those we love. Here’s something I wrote when I needed to do that once.

    Walking on Water

    Your words mean so much to me. Thank you.

    You’re not a stranger here anymore.

  29. June 23rd, 2007 at 9:17 am
    How to Be Alive and 10 Ways to Celebrate It! - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life Branding: 5 Ways to Help You Find Out Who You Are How to Recognize a Friend Personal Identity: [...]

  30. June 24th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
    Mohammad reza Saleh sedgh pour said

    Hi I want to be successful in my life but I cant for example 6 month ago I recieve one application form from harvard university by airmail but I dont know what can I do with that I want to be the first person in the world I know that I can but I dont know how
    Please help me

  31. June 24th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mohammed,
    I’m not sure what you’re asking for.

  32. July 6th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
    Eugene said

    For me, the journey begins within and expands in all directions.

  33. July 6th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Eugene!
    Welcome!
    That sounds wonderful! You have so many ways directions to explore!

  34. July 12th, 2007 at 7:59 am
    Dave said

    I like your content very much :)

  35. August 28th, 2007 at 11:17 am
    Five Original Must-Read Articles by Liz Strauss - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] 26, 2007 . . . The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life We don’t measure life in hours and minutes. We measure life in memories and moments. What do you [...]

  36. September 21st, 2007 at 6:40 am
    Give Yourself Permission to Claim Your Life - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] ME Strauss wrote this at 6:40 am [...]

  37. September 24th, 2007 at 10:37 am
    Steve said

    Start living and stop dying! I’ve been up and down and all over the map lately. I know I can improve my attitude, outlook on life and be the happy person that’s yearning to show his skills and talents. I’ve always been a later bloomer. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Yesterday is gone, tommorow is not here yet, so might as well enjoy today.
    When I lose that focus, I tend to lose myself and finding myself falling into despair. Just for this day.

  38. September 24th, 2007 at 11:24 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Steve,
    Part of living is breathing. It’s okay to just be. :)

  39. October 5th, 2007 at 3:15 am
    Douglas Woods said

    I seem to have come across this blog rather late but I’m glad I’m here. This was an excellent post with lots of insight. Thanks

  40. October 5th, 2007 at 4:44 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Douglas!
    Welcome! You’re never too late to come here and meet new friends. :)

  41. November 7th, 2007 at 11:06 am
    Stanley Bronstein said

    I love #4 Surround yourself with people who enjoy living.

    To see some free video interviews of some ultra successful people who love life from my nationwide tour please visit my blog:

    http://blog.achievementiq.com

    Thanks!
    -Stanley

  42. November 21st, 2007 at 7:58 am
    Working Smart or Working Away the Time of Your Life? - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You\’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life Branding: 5 Ways to Help You Find Out Who You Are How to Recognize a Friend Personal Identity: [...]

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  44. December 18th, 2007 at 2:25 am
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  45. December 22nd, 2007 at 2:21 pm
    Beth from Avenue Z said

    Point number 6 is my favorite — let the losers win. Arguing and playing their games just sucks your energy and keeps you from fulfilling your goals.

  46. February 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
    12 Ways to Use Childhood Wisdom to Start Living Your Life - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

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  47. March 24th, 2008 at 3:23 am
    Luke said

    Truly inspiring, Liz! I want to have the time of my life right now… Not mope around thinking about the future. I want to focus on all the love, joy, and peace that are in my life at this very moment.

  48. March 24th, 2008 at 6:26 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thanks, Luke,
    I come back here often to remind myself. :)

  49. May 11th, 2008 at 5:36 am
    Chris said

    Today is the first day of the rest of my life! I WANT TO START LIVING MY LIFE!!!!

  50. August 6th, 2008 at 7:26 am
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  51. August 15th, 2008 at 10:40 am
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  52. September 20th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
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  53. October 6th, 2008 at 6:39 am
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  54. October 24th, 2008 at 6:25 am
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  55. October 24th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
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  56. November 7th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
    Ray The Money Man said

    Great post!

    I thought I was happy. Then I quit work about a year ago. Unless you love your job, I mean every minute of it, grow some and quit. You won’t regret it.

  57. February 25th, 2009 at 9:40 am
    Rana said

    hi…
    “Everyone Gets the Same 24 Hours ”
    that’s the first line which hit my eyes and directly to the grey matter, which i thought was black of no use at all………
    but after reading ur blog i dont know…i felt something which i should have realized long time ago :(
    anyways, many thanks for that good cause you did and i will try to keep that in mind for my entire life.

  58. April 23rd, 2009 at 5:36 am
    Diana said

    Hiya liz…
    I have decided to read ur site…cuz im broken …inside n out lol…I cannot EVEN remember when i was happy n enjoyin life..and now well, its even harder…my son is a drug addict..he has a beautiful baby boy..my partner wants to leave me ..i dont blame her..she said theres a dark cloud that follows me around…I need to start living my life…to feel good about me…but I just cant seem to shake this dark cloud..and to move on…my son has hurt us badly finacially …of course now we havent helped him with money …hes broken too..pls if u can give me any advice on how I can fix me so that I can help my family …i really need it now!!

  59. April 25th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Diana,
    I’m sorry you see only dark skies. You need someone more qualified than I — who can help you change what you see. Please find someone.

  60. May 30th, 2009 at 4:31 am
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    [...] I challenge you to not only apply the 5 Whys method for any problem you run into, but to use it to analyze why you haven’t accomplished the things you’ve always dreamed of doing with your life: starting a business, working out regularly, reading more books, eating healthier, whatever.  Stop living in the future. [...]

  61. August 24th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
    Gowtham G said

    Dear Liz,
    I made these 10 Jewels on my desktop so that they can energize every time i start my system.

    We don t thank Angels for their words since they are next to GOD.

  62. September 25th, 2009 at 6:24 am
    Boris said

    Liz,

    I really like your post. It talks about a Truth that everybody knows but few apply it.
    An old sage was approached for a follower who was thanking him for his wise words and he responded humbly: I am just selling water from the river…
    The water is there and anybody could go to the river and drink it by herself. But when you take the water from the river and present it in the way that you did, more people who hadn’t notice the river, will be blessed with this water.
    Best regards,
    Boris

  63. September 28th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Boris,
    What you said in this comment is a huge compliment.
    It’s a beautiful story you used to share your sentiment. Thank you so much.
    You’re not a stranger anymore.

  64. September 28th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    As I said, when you left this story on the other post. Thank you.

  65. October 12th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
    Bryce said

    Just began this cycle. Only on my 1st phase… I’ll keep the updates about myself. please, guide me… besides… its what is sez on #4. i would really appreciate it you guys. thanks!

  66. October 21st, 2009 at 4:25 pm
    Carl said

    Hi Liz,
    I thought your collection of thoughts on living life closely match my own. It’s encouraging to finally find that someone somewhere has reached similar conclusions and that I’m not just deluding myself about how I can live my life. So thanks for that.

    “Don’t argue about things that you don’t care about.”… After much struggle, I learned this one over the past year. I interpret it as refering to opinions. There are so many unimportant opinions in the world, about things that don’t matter. All kinds of media tell people to have opinions on everything; things that don’t concern them; things they can’t change or effect; and it makes people bitter, angry, stressed and shifts their focus away from living their own lives. And not surprisingly, these unnecessary opinions are destructive in some way, either attacking a flaw in the individual or someone else. I finally learned to see what is important in my life and ignore the rest and it’s great!

    I think it is possible that your last point can be developed. Using the ideas of the previous nine points it should be possible to integrate work and “not work” within our lives – should we choose to – to the point where there is only “living”.
    Best wishes,
    Carl.

  67. October 23rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Yeah, Carl,
    Everything I saw can be developed more … I like where you took this idea.

    I too keep what I need and throw the rest aside. :)

  68. November 28th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
    austin said

    wow very interseting i like the let the loosers win one because that happens alot to me you should make more of these there right in every way!!!

  69. December 12th, 2009 at 5:44 am
    Rahotep said

    Wow! Now that what I am talking about! Yes! Excellent
    I always say start living, it might just be the most wonderful experience of your life today.

    Keep up the wonderful work you are doing.
    Rahotep

  70. December 18th, 2009 at 12:59 am
    Kristian said

    But how do you start living when your dead inside, when all that exists is the empty shell of your body, when you’re a loner of 10 years and hate yourself, when you cringe every time you catch sight of one of your limbs, when your just 25 but your mind thinks it’s 85 just waiting to die, when you think of other humans as though they’re a different species, when your deepest thoughts and reflections are so far removed from and uninhibited by the social conditioning of your species that you’ll always feel alone even when among hundreds of your peers?!?

    Where do you start when you decide you want to change and start living?

    When all you know is emptiness, a state where all feeling ceases, how can you start to feel and experience things again?

    When you want to wake up from your long hibernation but find you can’t cope when you finally awaken from years of suspended animation?

    When every day something reminds you of the gap in your memory where you weren’t feeling or experiencing or forming memories or noticing time elapsing which causes you to become filled with regret for the loss of years that you cannot get back and relive.

    How can you look forward when you can’t see a future and can’t let go of your un-lived past?

  71. December 18th, 2009 at 7:35 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Kristian,
    Staying still won’t change things. Helping someone will. Start learning again. Find one friend, one counselor, one mentor you can see everyday. That’s the best way I know. I’m not a professional, nor am I qualified to help someone I’ve never met change her life, but I know whenever my life looks dark and scary, helping someone else rise up changes how I see everything.

  72. January 11th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
    Forming Healthy Habits « fit2Bmom blog said

    [...] Some great advice we’ve received recently: [...]

  73. March 7th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
    Larry said

    Liz, thanks for your blog. Stop living in the future helps me. I have found it is possible to do things I have thought about doing for a long time but haven’t done until recently, like long-distance running and playing guitar. I want to apply the same to the field of work, becoming a successful speaker. Thank you.

  74. March 8th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thank you, Larry!
    I’m thrilled that you find a home and some value here. Keep running and winning. You’re doing it the way you should be. :)

  75. April 16th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
    Zane Aveton said

    BEAUTIFULLY RIGHT Advice. I love you so much. Can I adopt you please?

    Thank you for taking care of us by laying it all out as a to do list – with circular repeats.

    Repeating 1 & 2 all the time are important because even when we know better, we fall into old patterns – like fighting with the love of your life about not using the kitchen sponge to wipe the dining table –or — if it’s really necessary have both Spicy Italian Dressing AND Ranch Dressing in the fridge to dip your pizza crust in? (HAH..and yes…those are MY real life examples!)

    Remember when we were little and we burnt our finger on something hot and so we never touched it again? We were so brilliant as children! Then we dumb up – oops I mean grow up – and we keep doing things that are actually hurting us? :)

    Uh oh…I gotta go repeat # 1 & #2…& #5 & #6!

    Thank you again for keeping us on track!

    Love You, Mean it,
    Zane
    @zaneology

  76. April 17th, 2010 at 8:48 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Zane,
    Ha! I wrote this one to remind myself of things I forget all of the time. Yeah, we all forget to do these simple things that would keep our time lovely and worth living. I so enjoy that you see what I’m saying. YOU are a great part of my life!

  77. April 23rd, 2010 at 5:09 pm
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  78. May 2nd, 2010 at 7:58 am
    Jodie said

    Heya Liz, my name is Jodie, I found this website just in time …

    I am 21 years old and my life is nothing how I imagined it, I got married at 18 to a dull man who is holding me back, My finances are terrible and I find myself hiding from the outside world because I am overweight.
    I have read your 10 tips and I feel upbeat and ready to live my life.

    My family and husband held me back:
    From Becoming Vegan, travelling Europe, volunteering for Animals,starting my own jewellry business.

    Today I begin my new life.
    I also watched YES MAN with Jim Carrey and I think I should try to say YES to every oppotunity life gives me.

    Thankyou So much for your website.
    Jodie (UK)

    I am going to do all of the above.

  79. May 3rd, 2010 at 7:56 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Jodie!
    It’s your life. Open up to it. :)

  80. May 9th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
    katya said

    Hi Liz,
    I’m so glad i’ve stumbled across this site and your soothing and reawakening words of wisdom!! I came to realize I truly have not been living for the past 26 years of my life. I’ve always been been bright, charming, capable, pretty, confident, outgoing, was consistently told I had this shining aura and great energy around me that drew people in and compelled them to stick around. Yet, somehow without realization I had lost my way at what i’m guessing was around 21. Somehow things I thought that I had time to do and achieve didn’t seem as achievable, I didn’t have a clear and defined plan on how to get t live the life i always thought i’d build for myself, I completely lost my confidence, my will, my charisma ..I somehow managed to lose myself truly and fully ..and had spent the past 5 years ,years I consider should’ve been the best years of my life, being upset over things I see were now out of my control, worrying over miniscule, irrelevant things, people , and events, taking things too personally, being angry, mean, feeling hurt, crying, slowly but surely pushing everyone away, and spiriling lower and lower into what appeared like perpetual unhappiness feeling helpless and out opf conrol. Until recently I hit what I consider a quarter-century life crisis. I started looking back and i couldnt remember the last time I had “the time of my life” nor could I recall the last time I even felt truly happy and I felt there was no reason for living. At that moment I decided to turn to google since I pushed pretty much every one out of my life to see whether others felt like I did, and this is when I stumbled upon you blog that is concise and is worth its weight in gold and literally SAVED MY LIFE!!!! I know this was a painfully lengthy, detailed comment but I just felt the need to share that no matter your age, what you look like, what people surround you and opportunities lay before you,ayou’re surrounded with, any one of us can lose sight of life, or at least living life for that matter. and Liz, you’re concise absolutely accurate and relatable advice compelled me to let go of needing to control things thatare beynd my control, let go of things that no longer make me genuinely happy, refocus and re-establish what’s truly important to me and my life, stop procrastinating, and most importantly stop evaluating myself based on uncontrollable, outside circumstances, people, and events , but rather live for today and make my own happiness and thus life happen. THANK YOU KINDLY LIZ for opening my eyes and start living before it was too late!! your blog literally allowed me to let go of the past and commence living at 26!! I cannot thank you enough and simply had to let you know what an overwhelming impact your 10 “life commandments” had on me and my new-found life. I actually feel like for the forst time in 5 years I can let go of all the hurt and pain and give up control and actually strat living today and continue living and feeling happy each and every morning striving to get things accomplished stat rather than procrastinating, and to finally recognize the signs and symptoms of when I stress over and take miniscule things to heart so I now stop them in their tracks.
    It’s simply amazing what a tramendous impact one’s blog can have on someone else’s life. Again I want to kindly thank you.
    Sincerely,
    Katya

  81. May 9th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
    katya said

    Liz,
    I just wanted to appologize for for gramatical and spelling errors, as I am rounding up a tumultously sleepless weekend and was clearly typing a tad too fast due to being overly excited to relay your blog’s impact on my life.

  82. May 10th, 2010 at 8:52 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Katya,
    I hear the meaning in what you’ve written and didn’t notice any typos or such.

    I’m thrilled that you found this at the moment you could let go. I know that realizing these things has made my life lighter, happier, and more fulfilling. I wish you what I’ve found. :)

  83. May 10th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
    Reno said

    Hey Liz, I’m a sufferer of Anxiety and Emetophobia – my life consists primarily of hiding in my room and being rarely social. I’ve recently gotten a girlfriend who wants me to turn my life around, she’s awesome, and I’ve been making some decisions tonight. This page has enlightened me SO much, I’m SO eager to get out there and turn things around. One step at a time, with this list as my guide. Thanks again :)

    Reno x

  84. May 10th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Reno,
    Good luck! Reach in little ways the way small children find their feet. :)

  85. July 9th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
    Harshit Singhal said

    Awesome post Liz.Highly appreciate the points made by you.Sometimes trivial things in life are the most ignored yet the most important part of life.

  86. August 7th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
    Mara said

    I enjoyed your “10 ways of start living your life”. You fist have to find out what you really want in life and then dare to live it.

  87. September 6th, 2010 at 8:58 am
    5 Ways to Take the Work Out of Work and Connect with Life | Liz Strauss at Successful Blog said

    [...] Suddenly we find it’s never been a problem of finding a balance between work and life, but simply a problem of connecting and savoring the time of our lives. [...]

  88. November 5th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
    akarsh said

    hey guys..well i just felt like sharing something but i am fucking alone right so i am gonna share it with u nice strangers…first of all i would like to say that my life is 1 big mistake..
    i am prolly the most depressed, confused and naive guy on the face of earth and whats worse..i dont even feel that bad about it..i mean a normal person would be alarmed i suppose…i have a girlfriend but i am fucking miserable with her..but its the same old story…i am too attached to actually leave her..i hate my life i hate the place i live and the saddest part is that i hate myself too, although i gotta say i feel a lil bit of pity for me..i mean ofcourse thats silly but when i look at my situation, its quite fucked up so what can i say…
    i just hope i die fast..
    thanks for bearing with me folks…

  89. November 5th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
    akarsh said

    lol i am so pathetic

  90. December 19th, 2010 at 7:03 am
    chris bartlett said

    10 great points to incorporate into our lives… Our life is a canvas waiting to have our story painted & imprinted upon it:) CB

  91. December 19th, 2010 at 9:43 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Chris!
    Love your metaphor. I’ll be thinking about it all day. In fact, I’m about to retweet it. :)

  92. December 26th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
    Top Ten Ways to have a Great Life « said

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  93. December 27th, 2010 at 10:00 am
    aniket said

    Life is just to enjoy whatever it gives in its journey.

  94. December 30th, 2010 at 5:17 am
    Rudolph, the office mice said

    What?!
    Job isn’t everything life offers? and my boss is not in control of my life? And planing my life- someday, somehow, but now lets just wait and do what others tell me to do is wrong??

    Are those rules even legal? You know, i don’t want to go to jail, and then burn in hell, because i don’t worship my boss!
    He told that he is holy!

  95. January 8th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
    Weekly Reads – 1/8/2011 said

    [...] The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life [...]

  96. January 9th, 2011 at 4:03 am
    adam rondelet said

    Hi, I am happy for those of you who enjoy life and the improvement of it.

    For those of you who are sad; please watch the movie ‘The Secret’ and do some research on the law of attraction.

  97. February 22nd, 2011 at 9:22 am
    Raman said

    Hey friends! my life was also very bored. but after reading this i am ready to start a new life. thanks for suggesting these tips.

  98. March 20th, 2011 at 11:44 am
    Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life « Look and Feel Good Naturally said

    [...] by Liz Strauss [...]

  99. April 13th, 2011 at 8:21 am
    angel said

    hi everyone..
    i appreciate the above…
    but i m in a small dilemma, i meet different people and everyone one has a different view towards life..
    like some tell me to take care of small issues and the big ones wont be a problem while others tell me why worry about the small things, they ‘ll pass off..
    who n what do i follow??

  100. April 19th, 2011 at 7:55 am
    Leadership … It’s All in Your Head! | Liz Strauss at Successful Blog said

    [...] also: Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life Buy the Insider’s Guide to Online [...]

  101. April 22nd, 2011 at 2:23 pm
    dusty said

    This is a very inspiring post. Something useful on the internet, awsome.

  102. May 6th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
    Emeri Gent said

    I am in sync with ways as they are presented, but I look at Way#2 & #4 from a different perspective and would add something else to them.

    Way#2 begins with what defining living means to you but I would also undefine what life means to me and so it is the continuity of defining, undefining, refining and redefining that makes life itself a discovery. Undefining life should IMHO lead to new meaning, a fresh awakening, to see old things anew, and thus undefining revitalizes the blessings in life that we may have defined too concretely and therefore maybe now have begun to take such blessings for granted. Undefining should make such blessings visible again.

    Way#4 The addition I would like to make is also to remind people who should be enjoying living. When I hear good hearted and well meaning people at work say “Thank God its Friday”, I tell them “Thank God its 10:48″ (or whatever the current time appears to be).

    Of course I reserve the right to be wrong and gracefully grow in all my curious adventures, wondrous errors and natural limitations and that is why I love Way#9; so a loving smile rather than an a logical agreement is always much more well suited to my personally inquiring and individually observing way.

    [Em]

  103. May 7th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hello Emeri Gent,
    How interesting you should write this on the very evening within an hour of when I was talking about you. I like that synchronicity.

    I always value your perspective of discovery. I might add “aspire” to our lives as in “breathe toward.”

    My mind has many thoughts with yours.

  104. May 8th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
    gina said

    hey im trying to start living now :) youve inspired me

    my blog is: http://justgblog.blogspot.com

    thanks :)

  105. May 24th, 2011 at 12:48 am
    Tamal Krishna Chandra said

    Surely this an excellent one. After reading the article, you surely have good knowledge on this subject. I hope, lots of people will benefit from it. Keep on writing such good posts to help people learn how to live their life in the best way. Excellent.

  106. May 24th, 2011 at 6:29 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    thank you, Tamal,
    It’s taken me a few years of living to accumulate that information. Living a life is the only way to do it. :)

  107. May 24th, 2011 at 9:49 am
    Tamal Krishna Chandra said

    I believe everyone is different. So everyone has to have different mindset to be unique. Just like that you are excellent in your own way. Thanks for a good response to my comment. Hope you would visit my blog and make a comment.

    The Ultimate Life Guide

  108. May 24th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
    Shayne said

    I want a knew start in life but I just dont know how to do it !

  109. May 28th, 2011 at 5:56 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Tamal,
    You bet we’re different, sometimes in unpredictable and small ways that change the way we communicate. If our goal is to ensure that the message we’re sending is the one that our audience is receiving. We sure have to pay attention to them, not just to what we’re saying. :)

  110. July 5th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
    Rachel said

    solid thoughts.
    are you connected to these guys at all? i can’t find your name on their site.
    http://serenitygirlz. blogspot.com/ 2011/06/ten-ways-to-start-living-your-life.html

  111. July 6th, 2011 at 6:38 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thank you, Rachel,
    I unhooked the link, because of course that’s not me … they are content thieves. Thank you for letting me know. :)

  112. July 6th, 2011 at 6:40 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Rachel!
    Thank you for letting me know! :)

  113. August 12th, 2011 at 1:17 am
    Andrea Kowalski said

    I have read this article in a critical time in my life. I am a young mother of two kids and juggled school and work in efforts to create a more comfortable life. As we have come part way there, I quit my job as I was miserable everyday I knew I had to go to work. I went back to the job I had when I was in school, which was definitely a pay cut. The pay cut takes a toll, but I am happier now. I have more time for the kids, and I am getting pieces of “me” back that were lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and I missed that. At first I thought it was a bad idea, as everyone said I should have stuck it out. I have a more positive energy now and am enjoying life with no regrets. Thank you for the reinforcement-perhaps there are more endeavors in the future!

  114. August 26th, 2011 at 2:13 am
    Dante Al said

    I’ve found that I feel, say and think negative things about others ONLY when I’m unsure of myself. The same, I think, goes for them. That being said, this uncertainty creates a lot of hesitation for many to truly live and do what makes them happy, even at the times they can. Literal karma may not exist, but happiness like negativity is contagious. If you are genuine to yourself and finding beauty in the world, you will spread it and fortify yourself against the uncertainty of others, while they learn to do the same.

  115. September 25th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
    Jagadeesh said

    Life is all about Family,friends,love,relationships. In this if any thing not there in any one’s life, they will be in search of that one.

  116. October 10th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
    "Happily Ever After" Does Not Exist In Real Life said

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  117. November 23rd, 2011 at 4:24 am
    jada. said

    sometimes you feel so inspired and you feel confident about how to live your life, then some where down the line the positive energy is gone and you’re back to square one, then you run into a blog that brings the energy right back. i think i need to ‘check into’ myself more often. so for me to know when my heart and my head is disconnected is a big one. thank you liz.

  118. December 10th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
    ur friend said

    Thanks for all the positive information you have given Liz. From now on in my life, I am going to take risks and never hold myself back. Everybody dies but not everybody lives.

  119. December 17th, 2011 at 11:22 am
    Luís Amorim said

    seriously i felt lost 4 a wild…
    that was a wake up call!!!

    nice (advise/work) Liz Strauss

  120. December 25th, 2011 at 4:33 am
    Steve Wilson said

    Live in the now and ignore the future? I have to manage my retirement account for the future and so does everybody who has a now or future life.

  121. December 25th, 2011 at 9:00 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Steve,
    I’m sorry that you see the two ideas as mutually exclusive.

  122. December 27th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
    Sahil Kotak said

    Thanks a lot for this post! I was very depressed the other day and your post helped me to gain the confidence in myself back again!

    Thank you!

  123. January 4th, 2012 at 9:01 am
    Rick said

    Great advice!!

  124. January 7th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
    Eirik said

    Hello i really loved what you wrote and i have been thinking alot, i just dropped of a school because i didnt think it was for me… i started as an apprentice, or whats its called, i am working but i dont like the work i dont feel like it fits me, and i live at home but i wanna drop the job i have and move away and take control over my own life, its just i dont have the money for it, and iam scared to drop out of the job because iam scared how my parents will react… would really appreciate tips and respond! :)

  125. January 22nd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
    Let the losers win | Harmonious Life said

    [...] Dapat 1 quote nich barusan di blog rujukan kak Sidney: Let the losers win [...]

  126. January 23rd, 2012 at 3:06 am
    She’s 11 and knows where she’s going…do you? said

    [...] it is for some of these reasons or situations that The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life is perhaps one of the most popular posts ever written by Liz Strauss, Founder of SOBCon. Maybe this [...]

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