12 Small Things You Can Do To Make A World Of Difference
By CJ Sutton
Producer’s note: Someone on Quora asked: What are small changes you’ve made resulting in a big difference in your life? Here is one of the best answers that’s been pulled from the thread.
1. Switch off the TV. When my wife and I did this, we ended up talking a lot more, reading books, and noticing little things in social circles that escaped others.
2. Attempt to read one book a week. This has had an immense impact on the “resting” of my brain and I have learnt so much.
3. Walk every day. Even if it’s a short distance. Make sure it’s outside.
4. Listen. When someone is speaking, don’t interrupt. People most often say what they actually want to say at the end of their discourse. Interrupting them will prevent you from getting the crux of their argument.
5. Cancel your Facebook account. Facebook used to diminish my ability to have real relationships with people. Since I’ve quit, I get a lot more stimulation by being on mind-stimulating forums such as this one. I also crave real social interaction and working on real relationships. It’s also shown me who my real friends are.
6. Study. Whenever I find myself in a rut, I study something that I think I’ll enjoy. Since I did this, my annual salary has increased by a very large percentages each year because I become more indispensable to my clients and employers.
7. Learn to say sorry. Saying sorry or admitting that someone else is right will immediately disarm him or her if they attack you. Another way to put this one is: Be humble
8. Don’t chase after money. Oh boy, this one has made a huge difference in my life. Seeing money as a means rather than an end has given me a lot of financial freedom.
9. Give. Giving at least 5% of my salary to those less fortunate than me seems to always come back in waves of prosperity.
10. Never say no to lending money. If someone asks me to borrow money, I almost always say yes (if I have it). If they don’t pay me back, I don’t remind them. It feels great! Not sure why 🙂
11. See the good in people. This is a recent one. Instead of finding people’s faults, rather find their strong points. Then, be diligent in seeking out your own faults and strive to be better.
12. Don’t worry about what others think of you. This is a hard one for me. I am driven by how others perceive me, so I make a point of escaping my comfort zone and putting myself in uncomfortable positions. It has really freed me up from trying to be what others want.