10 Steps in 30 Days to feel happier about life

“Live like there won’t be a tomorrow.”

We’ve all heard this more times than we can recall, but let me ask you this:

What did yesterday look like for you?
Did you wake up feeling excited?
What were you grateful for?
What did you do that you REALLY enjoyed?
Did you spend your day as if you knew you weren’t going to wake up today?

I would bet all the money in my wallet right now that you didn’t.
And hey—I didn’t either.
But why?

Why do we know that we should all live every day as if it’s our last, but we don’t actually do it?

Because we don’t truly believe that today will be our last day.

We assume that we’ve got time to do all the things.
We’re too busy thinking about what’s happening this week, or next month, or the plans we’ve got for next year.

We’re not paying attention to what we have in this moment…
the people we have next to us…
all the love and blessings that are already in our laps.

Like I said, I’m not above this. And I had a moment this week that made me realize it…

Without going into detail on my family’s private life, we’ve recently had a health scare that has had us all losing sleep.

I found myself bawling like a baby while working out at the gym, because I was imagining what it would feel like to lose my dad.

I cried a lot last week.

What really upset me was thinking about all the time I wanted to spend with him, now that I feared that time might be running out.

When’s the last time I just hung out with my dad for a day?
What hobbies does my dad really enjoy that I could do with him?
….Why don’t I even know the answer to that question?

I’ve started walking to my parents’ house every morning, just to sit with them for 10 minutes before starting my work day.

I don’t want to live every day of my life assuming that I’m going to lose the people that I love…
but we will—right?
We’re all going to lose the people that we love some day.
And we often don’t start savouring the moments with them until we think that loss is coming.

I don’t know what next week will bring, or whom of my loved ones will be there with me.

But I know that I want to find a better balance between pursuing my goals AND living as if today is our last day together.

In the spirit of that, here are the 10 Rules of Ichigo Ichie.

"Ichigo Ichie" is a Japanese phrase that means "one time, one meeting." It reminds us that every moment is unique and won't happen the same way again, so we should appreciate and make the most of each experience.

1. Choose to create special moments. Even if things seem normal and everyday, each moment only happens once.
   It happens, and then it's gone forever.
   Life is about doing things now or never.
   

2. Live like this is your one chance. There’s a reason why “ichigo ichie” has been practiced in Japanese culture for over 1,000 years.
   It reminds us to treat each meeting with others as if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.
   It’s a way to remember how special every moment with loved ones really is.
   

3. Stay in the present. Thinking a lot about the past or the future usually feels painful and is almost always useless.
   You can't change what happened.
   You can't know what will happen.
   But here in this moment, what happens to you is up to you.
   

4. Do something you've never done before. As Einstein said, you can't do the same thing over and over and expect different results. 
   Try something new, even if you’re scared. Do it scared!
   

5. Think about breathing. This is probably the easiest meditation practice, called “zazen.”
   All you do is sit down, put one hand on your stomach, and think about how you can literally feel yourself breathing in life.
   Sounds too simple? It is.
   

6. Practice noticing your five senses. Train yourself in the art of listening, watching, touching, tasting, and smelling to give each moment a different piece of your awareness.
   This also helps you notice more about the world around you and understand how others feel more clearly.
   

7. Notice when weird or surprising things happen by chance.
   Being aware of coincidences helps us to understand signs from the universe about what we’re really looking for.
   You can even keep a journal of cool moments, which will make it easier to spot patterns and clues in your life.
   

8. Think of every gathering like a party.
   Don't wait for the “right time”—a vacation, a trip, a birthday—to experience extraordinary things.
   Your attitude and your energy can make any event feel like a celebration.
   

9. If you don't like what there is, make something different.
   As human beings, we naturally like to transform—and we’re capable of doing it over and over again.
   If your life feels boring or too predictable, start paying attention to the fact that you can create a different one.
   

10. Treasure hunt for special moments.
    Like with any activity, the more you practice, the better you get. When you start looking for special moments in life, you’ll start to see them more.

These 10 steps are from the book, Ichigo Ichie, by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.

The truth is, we don’t know how much time we have with the things that we love.

Don’t wait to show love, have fun, or do something that excites you.
Don't forget to live your life.

Follow these 10 steps for 30 days, and I promise you will feel yourself change for the better.

If you’re committed to
working for yourself
AND progressing in fitness,
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