1. Respect is earned, not freely given.

It’s a two-way street. In order to receive, you must give. It’s the golden rule, and this applies in many aspects of life.

2. You do not owe an abuser anything, especially your silence.

Take it from someone who’s been there at least four times. It’s a scary process but worth it. You will regain your power back. They will try everything under the sun to force you back into quiet submission. Don’t let them.

3. Do not lose sight of what motivates you.

Those closest to you have their own motivations, agendas, and ideas of what you could or should do with your life. They want the best for you but often their opinions leave impressions that may shape or dictate your plans for your life. Figure out first what you want to do, and by the time you have it in motion, anyone’s opinion won’t matter. They can either accept your decisions or not.

4. Speak your truth.

Whatever it may be, if it’s hiding in the shadows, it will only make you miserable. The longer you waste energy dimming your light, the less happy you’ll be. Find people that support you and let yourself be you.

5. Your health comes before everything.

If you are not well and you continuously push it off, your body will sooner or later force you to take care of it. This goes for mental health as well as physical. Drink water, get enough rest and moderate your work-life balance. Companies treat many employees as expendable. You do not owe them life and limb.

6. “No” is a full sentence.

Justification does not need to be given. “No” is a clear boundary. Understand how to use it for yourself and understand how to accept it from other people.

7. Be a lifelong student.

Never stop learning. When you stop learning, you stop evolving. That’s a scary plateau to be on when you notice everyone else is still climbing up.

8. Your productivity, or lack thereof, does not equal your worth as a person.

Society has grounded it into our subconscious that our productivity ties into our worth or our character. That’s absolutely not true. You are a human being regardless, not a robot.

9. Be confident and proud of the things you accomplish.

 You are the only expert on yourself. Set realistic goals for yourself and celebrate each step, no matter how small. And don’t feel compelled to tell everyone. Goals are for you, not for social media.   

10. Chasing happiness is unrealistic and will never come to fruition. 

Why? Because happiness is something you create in the present. If you believe happiness is always a step before you, or if you believe you don’t deserve it, you’ll have a harder time accepting it and have a lot less time to enjoy it.