What’s your genuine, heartfelt life advice?

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Feeling a little melancholy and thinking about life and all the stuff that comes with it.

What advice do you try to live by?

I’m a big believer in looking at the intention in any act, and its advice my mother gave to me that has served me well. Often if some does something wrong but was genuinely well intentioned, it’s easier to see past their mistake.

Just do what makes you happy

@Feckedupbundle sorry but I don’t agree with you. I think what you say is a cliche and not that helpful. Other people’s opinions of you ARE important. They are a really important source of information. Not only that, but if most other people don’t agree with you, understand, like, or respect you then you are really going to be stuck. Everybody in the world needs and relies on those around them.

I am in my 60s I am happy and have achieved a lot in my life. I could not have got to this place without considering the opinions of others. Sure, not all of them have been wise, kind or helpful but it’s absolutely essential to consider them. People who don’t weigh up what other people think turn into the Donald Trumps of this world.

@LampHat can you explain that one to me?

Make your health your top priority. In the end, it’s all we have.

Look after your gums by having regular hygienist appointments across your adult life.

I agree with this. Those people I’ve known who have been particularly lacking in empathy or care or shallow don’t care what others think of them and don’t listen. There’s a difference between being crushed by others opinions and lacking self esteem, and genuinely listening and being reflective and willing to learn and grow.

Apologise swiftly, readily and earnestly. People will appreciate you for it, and understand that when you don’t, there’s a good and valid reason.

I learned from a good friend that you can get anyone to like you by asking them about themselves.

As my 90 year old Great uncle told me a few months ago "treat your mind and body like a garden....what you plant will grow, so make sure it's only good things you plant"

"Life is a fight for territory and once you stop fighting for what you want, what you don't want will automatically take over.”

If you can’t be good don’t get caught.

"Put the fire in front of you out first." I read this online recently (from someone's grandma who'd lived through the Great Depression) and it resonated. I was facing lots of metaphorical fires and it felt overwhelming.

So now I just focus on one fire at a time, starting with the most urgent.

Forgive easily but never forget.

In reaction to a previous post I would say that the most important thing to know is that other people’s opinions ARE important. Listen to everyone, weigh up what they say, always remind yourself that there are wiser, more experienced and more educated people than you out there. Be prepared to accept that you might wrong.
That might not look good on an inspirational cushion or t shirt but it’s the truth.

You can change any situation by changing your attitude towards it

Sorry but this kind of statement, though very common, is a type of gaslighting. There are so many things in life that are simply awful and can’t be changed. Nobody should be told to change their attitude towards terrible stuff. If things are bad, they are bad and a person experiencing that should be receiving empathy and validation, not being told to change their attitude.

Not only that, but there are lots of bad things in the world that we should be encouraging each other to be ANGRY about, not denying our feelings about.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Be your own best friend. It really is the best advice. Be kind and compassionate to yourself. Forgive yourself. Steer yourself in the right direction. Give yourself a nudge when needed. Look after your body, mind and soul.

Keep your life varied - be active in different ways - physically, politically or for a community cause, artistically, socially, at work, at home etc. Treat all these aspects of life as important. Then if one or more go wrong, the others thriving will keep you on an even keel.

Don’t have children. They break your heart.

Buy the sports car, you never see a sad person in a sports car ☺️

Give hugs, love life and smile even if you don't feel like just smile.

Develop gratitude for small, everyday things. Your life will be happier.

Alcohol destroys lives- be careful with it.

Get outside more.

If you are not confident fake being confident, the more you do it the easier it gets and you become confident, just keep faking it, you would t believe the amount of seemly ‘confident’ people who are doing this.

Have a daily routine, when you practice a routine, mundane tedious things become second nature

Practice loving yourself, nobody is perfect and you are as good as the next person with their flaws

Get daily exercise (even walking) and enough sleep, you will feel better

Do as you would be done by, and never set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.