Updated October 2022
Living a ridiculously great life often seems like one of those dreams that you just can’t see yourself experiencing.
You intend to stay focused on what it is you want in life, but far too often, life itself gets in your way!
Oh, life is definitely beautiful, but it’s also noisy and challenging and full of distractions. It’s a wild yet sometimes amazing journey, But it can be a constant challenge, a nightmare instead of a dream, and too often to be comfortable, it comes with hard lessons.
No wonder it’s difficult to keep your eye on the prize with so much vying for your attention. And your attention acts like a lightning rod attracting more success and happiness or more distracting noise and challenges. It all depends on you and your focus. In every moment, we have a choice. Which side of life will we embrace and pay the most attention to? Will it be the one that brings more joy or more misery?
And you can be certain whichever side is chosen it’s going to affect us in all ways. Our minds, bodies, and souls, the person we become, and the life events and people we experience. And at the end of our all too fleeting time on Earth, we’d all like to be able to say we have lived a ridiculously great life. Or at least one in which we have continuously grown and expanded our life experience.
What gets in the way of this? Far too many of us have become accustomed to paying attention to the negative side of life. The things they don’t want, the things that upset or overwhelm them. And let’s be honest, it’s easy to do without even noticing the side effects.
If you’re not sure where your attention has been lately, take a look at your results. You’ve either accomplished what you set out to, or you haven’t. You have financial security, or you don’t. You’re happy, or you’re not. And if you don’t like what you see, it’s time to stop listening to the noise of the world and get on track for that ridiculously great life that’s waiting for you.
I have noticed over the years that the most effective among us have developed the ability to be less distracted than the rest of us, and there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same.
Here are some powerful ideas to get you started.
1. Stand guard over your mind
Living a ridiculously great life doesn’t come from your accomplishments, nice as they are, nor your relationships, however filled with love, nor from how much money you have…it comes from the quality of the feelings that you live in on a daily basis.
Negative emotions like frustration, fear, anger, or self-pity never make for a good life.
Cultivating passion, joy, appreciation and a feeling of being blessed regardless of any problems that crop up is what leads to that ridiculously great life.
An extraordinary mindset gives you meaning, no matter what life brings. And meaning is the new happiness in life.
2. You haven’t been handed a bad life
We’re not given a good life or a bad life. We’re given a life. It’s up to you to make it good or bad. Move on from your mistakes. Try something different. Remember, you’ve won battles before that no one but you knew about, and you can do it again.
Be open to whatever comes next. Have the courage to follow your heart, it somehow knows what’s best for you.
3. Choose great thoughts every day
Learn to select great thoughts. Every morning ask yourself, ’What’s the greatest thought I could think today?” It might be something as simple as “I am amazing” or “what if everything was easy today”. Then think it as often as you can. Thoughts propel you to your future fortune or future disasters.
4. Cultivate compassion
Reach out to those in need, those who are troubled and in pain. Don’t turn away because you’re afraid of being hurt or taken advantage of. We never know what others are going through. Don’t assume the negativity of someone else is due to a flaw in their personality.They could have had their heart broken, or got bad news about their health or lost someone they love.
Take a risk and extend kindness and compassion to them. Studies show that the more happiness you bring to others, the more happiness you feel. Remember, love and compassion heal and soothe both the giver and the receiver.
5. Don’t load up on misery
Constantly worrying about what might happen or always expecting the worse means that you’re missing out on the present moment. And it doesn’t lead anywhere close to living a better life. I know of what I speak here. It used to be my pattern of behavior. If I expected the worst and chose how I would handle it, that would make it easier when the worst arrived. Right? Only it didn’t.
Not only was I living in the energy of the worst, which, as we know, could only attract more of the same. But when the inevitable happened, and the worst showed up, it wasn’t easily handled at all. I still felt the same old fear and upset as before.
By constantly thinking about what might happen, I was missing out on the present moment, which is where life is happening. Let’s be honest; we can’t be immersed in all that’s wrong in the world and expect to live a positive life.
And since our time on this planet is limited, let’s not waste it.
Time spent thinking or talking about the blessings of life is time well used. Only invest your time in things that might add value to who you are and to the great life experiences that are in store. My life is certainly better since I discovered how this works!
6. Define success for yourself
Success isn’t what someone else says it is. It’s how you feel. It’s living your life in ways that make you happy. Create the highest, most wonderful vision for your life and set out to live it. Judge the day by the seeds you plant, not by what you harvested yesterday, always based on the premise that you are enough.
You are the arbiter of what success means to you. Your definition of success is different from any other person because you are different. You are uniquely you.
For some, success may mean having the most. For others, it may be about service to others. And for others, still perhaps being the best at video games. Who knows. Who cares. Define success for you today, and it might very well be different tomorrow as you grow.. that’s ok too.
7. Forget total mastery
Don’t bother trying to master every detail of your life; all you’ll get for your effort is frustration and confusion. Instead, search for those few things that make the most difference in your life right now.
Have a vision for your future, and take inspired action, which means no action until your vision is clear.
It really is important that you remember to stay in the power of appreciation for where you are right now. It’s the only place from which to start living that great life you desire.
8. Act as if
When you act as if you’re the master of your circumstances, you become so.
Don’t fall into the victim mindset. It’s easy to think you have no choice but to accept whatever comes your way. Not true. The mindset of not being enough might be loud and overbearing…don’t listen. Believe in yourself – that makes you a winner right away.
9. Don’t worry about the naysayers
It’s easy to allow people who are filled with negativity to take up space in our world. We come across naysayers constantly; some are colleagues, some are in our social circle and, let’s be honest, some are family members. Don’t allow them to have an impact on you.
Don’t get sidetracked from your path; step out of the fray and give yourself time to breathe. Try some aimless wondering, sit beneath a tree or in a garden, and create some space for you to re-connect with YOUR values and truth.
10. Be brave
Be brave enough to listen to your intuition. It’s guidance from your soul. Miracles can happen when you listen to your higher self. Remember every stress, every feeling of worth or lack, every fear that has you in its grip was first created on the inside.
11. Choose to be extraordinary
Decide what makes life extraordinary for you, and then be consistent in keeping this the main focus in your life. Remember to keep the main thing the main thing. To embark on the journey toward the extraordinary requires courage. Be bold enough to choose your own path and strong enough to follow it.
In the beginning, you might not feel as though you’re doing well in your desire to travel the new path you want to take. After all, sometimes it feels as though you’re just trying to survive. And this is when most people throw in the towel.
Please don’t be one of them because one day you’ll be more than a little better at walking this path, or a little more successful, or a little happier – you’ll be much, much better and experience much more of that ridiculously great life. Wait but a little while and continue forward. It will happen.
12. Shape your life your way
Every decision you make. Every choice in every moment is developing and shaping your life. 80% of your life depends on how you manage your mindset.
Starting today, forget what’s gone before, appreciate all you’ve become and look forward to what’s coming next. You have the ability to find the opportunity in any situation. You have the ability to choose not to see challenges as worse than they are.
13. Believe in big things
Have little goals, and you can expect little achievements. Have giant-sized goals far beyond anything you think you can accomplish, and chances are high you’ll get big successes.
Big ideas and big plans are often no more difficult than smaller goals. Remember, there’s no order of difficulty in miracles. Put your creative intelligence to positive use to find ways to win, not to prove you can’t do it.
14. Remember who you are
Never forget you are here on the planet to fulfill a purpose that only you can fulfill.
Don’t believe the lies that say you can’t do it. Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.
You have incredible potential, and even if you’ve been knocked off your feet today, you’re still designed for ultimate success and greatness, and anyone who tells you anything different is lying to you or just doesn’t know any better.
I’m not trying to persuade you that you won’t have obstacles and circumstances that seem unfair. I’m pretty sure you do.
But so does everyone else, and if you’re being totally honest, you’ll admit you’re nowhere near the point of having exhausted your efforts to keep moving forward toward a ridiculously great life.
15. Spiritually Speaking
If you look at all the things you desire to do, to have, and to be from your current limited state, from your present limitations it seems to be impossible. Don’t let this stop you.
Drop this mindset and move into the state that says, “I can do this and more.” That’s your point of power; that’s your natural state of being.
Assume the feeling that you are what you want to be until it feels normal and natural, and watch your future dream become a present fact. This makes it easier for your stronger self to emerge.
Your journey will become easier if you remember that your present self is in charge right now and can walk all over your dreams if you let it. Only you can stick up for your future. Only you can be in charge of allowing your future self to bloom.
You have a serious choice to make about your own life every single day. Give it your all. Bring your best effort spiritually and mentally, and whilst I won’t tell you that you’ll be successful no matter what, I will say things definitely won’t end up okay if you do nothing.
Over to you: is there something you have done that has brought you closer to your ridiculously happy and great life? Please let us know in the comments below.
My hope is that we, you and our community of encouragers, can share some of our ideas with each other and maybe spark a breakthrough for others.
Thank you so very much for reading and sharing your inspiration here. I appreciate how you help make this tiny corner of the internet a truly encouraging place.
Encourage one another.
Love Elle
28 Comments
Hi Elle – great post – I’d just add if you want to lead a ridiculously great life then HAVE FUN needs to be in there with the rest.
Hello Mark – too true, we need fun and something to look forward to as well. Love that thought. 🙂
Elle, I think I see 14 points that can be easily expanded into 14 chapters of your latest book ! ! !
“Success = the quality of feelings you live with on a daily basis!”
That is the heart of the biscuit for me !
Write on, Elle !
Joseph, you must be my biggest cheerleader. Bless you for that. I think you’re right the heart of the matter really is the quality of our feelings throughout the day. I’m sure there’s some scientific reason for it, but regardless, it definitely works for me! 🙂
I feel we win or lose depending on the quality of our thoughts and emotions, Elle. So I’m all for standing guard over my mind. I think this is an essential part of mindfulness that will bring us genuine happiness if we stick with it. Love all these points and the heart behind them, to live intentionally.
Hi Sandra, it certainly takes some training doesn’t it. To keep on the lookout for times when we wander off mentally into the weeds! 🙂
I love this line – “The most effective among us have developed the ability to be less distracted than the rest of us and there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same.” Being focused on our goals and having discipline to stick to it, helps us create the great life that we want. I agree with the first comment. This post could be a great book!
Hello Cathy. Life is so filled with interesting distractions – it does take a lot of discipline to be able to shut it out and keep our attention not on the facts as we currently see them, but on the life we’re choosing to live. Speaking for myself it’s an every day practice, getting distracted and bringing myself back. 🙂
Elle,
What a wonderfully comprehensive list. Something for everyone. For me, I find that if I “stand guard over my mind” and work with my thoughts and emotions any situation can turn out to be great – because my experience of it is determined by my mind.
I love this thought: “… move into the state that says ‘I can do this and more.’ That’s your point of power, that’s your natural state of being.” So true!
We must win in our mind, before we can win in life.
Hello Debbie, I so agree with you that the mind is where our experiences of life begin. Take charge of that and we take charge of our life. Somehow we have the whole system upside down! 🙂
Elle, I really do love this! I think for me one of the biggest factors was focusing on a goal, creating a business I love – both the big goal and the little steps to get there. Of course, I’ve had to look for miracles along the way, focus on good thoughts and kick out the bad, be brave, and so much more along the way. But it has created so much richness and happiness in my life I have to pinch myself!
Hello Jessica – Personal development is a funny creature isn’t it. We learn something new and apply it and then discover there’s more learning to enjoy…I think looking for those little miracles when something doesn’t quite work out the way we think it should is a great way to get to the experience we want. Richness and happiness are our great by-products. Love what you have to say. 🙂
hi elle; another amazing post. i think number 6 is especially important. too often we get discouraged because our description of what success looks like is not of our own making. Its what our friends or neighbor have or what our parents said we should have or what the media says should be important. for me i am professionally successful in that i have helped many people and am a recognized expert in the field of brokering amusement equipment. i have testimonials for my coaching even though I haven’t had my first paying client yet. i’m in demand for radio shows and podcasts. I’m personally satisfied. financially my needs are being met and its just a matter of time before i receive the increased abundance that is waiting for me. thanks again for sharing. take care, max
I’ve missed you Max. You are such a ray of sunshine, scattering your wonderful attitude everywhere you go. I’m so happy for your successes and I know many more are on their way to you. 🙂
hi elle; i’ve missed you too. been having some email problems that fell on the heals of some health issues. i hope i finally have it straight so i get the email alerts on your new posts. one of my friends said maybe my message isn’t clear enough and that is why I haven’t yet attracted those perfect coaching clients to work with me. I see myself as a life goals coach. helping them get clear on what they want determine how to kget there and keep them motivated inspired encouraged along the way. but that doesn’t lend itself to a catchy name. 🙂 i do think i need to emphasize how i’ve been through the wars and am perfect to help them do the same. hoping to hear from you again soon my friend. xoxo max
This is a brilliant post Elle, so many resonate for me, especially Choose great thoughts every day and be extraordinary, be brave and remember to dream big- yes I am embracing this right now. thank you xx
Hello Suzie – glad you enjoyed it and I so appreciate you taking the time to say so. 🙂
Hi Elle! I’m so thankful I was able to find this blog. It’s funny because I have just recently created a post regarding happiness and what makes a person really happy. I love how you defined success as something which is not what someone else says it is. It is indeed how you live your life and how you look at it. I just made the realization that happiness is something that comes from within ourselves and in turn reflects brightly outside by the way we act.
Hello Grace and welcome. I’m thrilled for you that you recognize happiness is an inside job. If we carry that idea around with us then the ups and downs of life most definitely have less impact on how we feel. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? Good job you! 🙂
Thanks Elle! Now that I found this site I’ll surely keep on coming back for more dose of inspiration. May you have a wonderful day ahead of you! 🙂
“When you act as if you’re master of your circumstances, you become so.” There is such a truth in that statement Elle. We can’t always control what is happening but we can control how we react!
Hello Carolyn – you speak the truth. We can control to either react or respond…I think for most of us it takes a little practice to get out of the old pattern of usual reactions. What do you think?
Having long term goals that fill you with passion helps you to create a great life. Goals that make you feel excited and motivated every day, despite any setbacks along the way.
Love that Kathy. Something that get us out of bed in the morning with a happy heart definitely does keep us on track towards a happy future. 🙂
Ichoose to be with you and it brings me close to happy and great life.
Thank you for encouraging me,for inspiration and spark of breakthrough for me.
LOVE HASAN !
Hi Hasan…welcome to the LPN community…may you find inspiration and encouragement amongst friends. 🙂
Hello Elle –
Thank you for bringing this post back. It’s a great one, for sure.
I really like “Define success for yourself” !
What a great reminder that in the end, we are the ones whom must be pleased with our own success, no one else !
Cheers !
Peter
So true Peter!