A new year is more than about how you can achieve your highest achievements. In this 2019, instead of trying to make your life seems right by writing a checklist of resolution, let’s start to focus on how you make your life feels right. Here are 10 lessons to make your 2019 full of positivity.

1. Don’t settle for shitty things

The first lesson I have learned in 2018 was the realization that every single decision is actually within my hands. You always have options which are followed by consequences and you are actually never stuck.

So, if you feel like you’re not happy in the place you’re standing now, then move somewhere new. If you hate your job, quit and find a job which feels like a hobby. If you feel like someone is toxic for you, then leave the relationship.

Sometimes, it’s better to take a painful decision to avoid us from a long-term suffering. In 2019, be brave to make a life-changing decision more often and be courageous to take a leap of faith.

2. Always be an ‘empty glass’

No matter how smart you are, please keep in mind that there will always be something which you didn’t know before. Be a student of life. Always seek more knowledge and new experiences.

If you meet new people, keep an open mind and listen to everything that they will share with you. Never stop learning and don’t judge anything before you dig deeper about it.

Ask a lot of questions. Google everything. Educate yourself. In 2019, don’t ever think that your glass has already full- remember that you can always explore more lessons out there.

3. You are what you attract

Everything that happens to you is actually the reflection of who you are and what you do on your daily basis. So, if you spread positive things to your surroundings, you will get positive feedback from the universe and vice versa.

This is actually what so-called as the Law of Attraction. Psychologically, people who are always being positive will only put their attention to the good things in life, which will also lead them to be happier and have positive attitudes.

In 2019, if you can’t stay positive all the time, surround yourself with the people who are genuinely spreading positive vibes.

4. You will never EVER please everyone

No matter how kind you are, not everyone will like you because it’s impossible to fulfill everyone’s needs and keep them happy all the time. Having the urge to keep everyone’s happy is a waste of time. 

If you give your best efforts for some people and they are still asking you for more, maybe you need to stop saying ‘yes’ to them.Find new people who will accept you for who you really are.

In 2019, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ more often as you have no responsibility to make other people happy. You are responsible for your own happiness. 

5. Learn to manage your expectations

Everybody will experience a broken heart once in a while and sometimes, it wasn’t because of other people, but it’s because of our own expectations.

No matter how many years you’ve known your loved ones, don’t ever put any expectations on them. It’s not because you can’t trust them, but it’s because you can’t expect other people to think, feel, and do the things the same as you do.

If you have a good intention for other people, just do it without expecting them to do the same. Remember that people will always give disappointment if you put too high expectations on them. In 2019, trust and love others without any expectations. Give more and expect nothing in returns.

6. Learn the art of letting go

People will eventually come and go, a day full of sunshine could be replaced by a heavy storm and the things you’ve owned could be gone in just a second. Hence, the key is not to be too attached to anything but yourself.

From now on, learn to fall in love without losing any part of you away and don’t ever beg anyone to always stay. Set people free and let them roam, they will eventually cross path with you again if you are destined to be together.

Have faith that every loss will lead you to other things which are better for you. In 2019, always remember that what’s meant to be yours will never pass you by.

7. Stop stressing over the things beyond your control

Sometimes, we are too obsessed to fulfill society’s success standards and we force the universe to always give what we want. You see, the obsession to own or achieve something is exactly the key of unhappiness. It’s a never-ending cycle, which will always give you the feeling of never enough.

Learn to let things flow the way it is. Maybe God makes you wait a little longer before He grants your wishes, but someday, when you least expect it, things will happen in the best possible way. Try to see the beauty of patience and perseverance.

In 2019, don’t over-think and over-obsessed, sometimes the best thing you can do is breath and have faith that everything will work out for the best.  

8. Always appreciate your loved ones

People won’t always stay by your side. Some people will grow apart and we’ll never know what’s going to happen in the future. Thus, cherish every moment that you have with the people around you.

Don’t look back to your past for too long and don’t overthink the future which hasn’t happened yet. Appreciate everything in your present moment, especially the people who are always there to support you.

Instead of looking for love and chasing the people who don’t reciprocate your feelings, try to switch your attention to those people who have loved you from day one. In 2019, choose the people who should stay in your life and otherwise.     

9. With or without anyone, you can stand by yourself

You are your own hero. Realize that you’ve won countless battles in your life and you’ve survived until today. Remember those days when you thought you wouldn’t make it, but you did. You should be proud of yourself for walking this far with those wounds inside of you.

Eventually, you will realize that at the end of the day, the only person who can save you is yourself. You are not competing with anyone but yourself. You are fighting against your own demon.

In 2019, please learn to love yourself more and be kind to yourself. Forgive those mistakes from the past and accept those wounds which you need to heal by yourself. Remember that self-love is the key to live your life peacefully.

10. Live today

As cliche as it sounds, you only have today because no one can guarantee that you’ll have tomorrow. So, start living now.

Book that flight. Apply for that dream job. Break up or makeup. Staying or leaving. Make decisions. Fall deeply in love with the wrong person. Feel the pain of a broken heart and learn how to attract the kind of love you deserve.

Make mistakes and repeat it again until you won’t make the same mistakes over again. Go sky diving. Bungee jumping. Get lost. Say what you feel. Be honest. Confess that you love him or her. Try everything which makes you feel brand new.

In 2019, please learn to be alive.    

Author(s)

  • Rayi Noormega

    Writer, BS in Psychology

    Rayi is a contributing writer for Thought Catalog and Unwritten. Her writings have been published at Huffpost, Elite Daily, Magdalene, and many more. She is currently living in Indonesia and is a Copywriter at McCANN Worldgroup Jakarta.