Nothing can torture you more than your own mind. You can be present and mindful without being critical. Acceptance is the key. Accept yourself as you are now. It doesn't mean you can't grow or learn. It just means you won't torture yourself over your mistakes. Remember, we all make mistakes. It is a normal part of growth. Just don't stay with your mistakes. Let go and move forward into the present moment. There is nothing at all that we can do to change anything that we've done or others have done in the past. We can only change what we are doing in the here and now. That's where it counts, that's what matters. Don't berate yourself or put yourself down. Believe in your own potential. Learn to forgive yourself and others. Don't look for problems, instead look for solutions. Look at what you can do, rather than what you can't. Always empower yourself. Always keep hope and faith in your heart.

You've got to be able to look at the mirror and smile at yourself. If you can't do that, you've got work to do. You have to learn to get along with yourself, to like yourself, to be proud of yourself. You've got to learn to celebrate yourself. You need to be able to love yourself before you can ever appreciate anyone else who does. You're worth it. Put the work in to have the best relationship with yourself that's possible.

If you don't like the output, change the input. If things are not going the way you hoped, change how you do things. Don't be afraid to try something different. Don't be afraid to try something new. At the very least you will learn. That learning in and of itself is invaluable. Don't be discouraged if things don't work the way for you as they do for others. Just keep adjusting until you find your solution. Don't give up. Keep believing in yourself. Have faith. Have the courage to keep trying.

Every time you are convinced of something you close yourself off from any and all other possibilities. You have confined yourself to that box. At least do it with some conscious awareness of what that box is and make sure it's something you want. If that's ok for you and works for you, have at it. But if you find that upon examining things further that it's not what you want: don't be afraid to change your mind! People change their minds all the time, it's a natural part of learning and growth. Don't be hard on yourself. Accept, and go with the flow. Be conscious of the restraints you place on yourself by the things you believe to know.

You are whoever and however you decide to be. You choose in every moment how to react, how to act towards others, and who you ultimately are. If you stop and take a look at that and decide you want or need to change, don't be afraid. You can start anew in the very next moment. It does not matter if you've been that way for 1, 10, 50 years, or more. You can decide to do things differently starting right now. All it takes is a decision. Yes, you may lose some people along the way, but don't worry, you'll find new people. Don't be afraid to own your life. Don't be afraid to be who you've always wanted to be. Be true to who you are. Don't be afraid of change. It may be bumpy and difficult at first, like anything new, but if you're determined and ride it out, you will come through it just fine. You are the only one who is responsible for who and how you are in this life. By becoming and being the best version of yourself, you will enhance the quality of your life. Your relationships with others will improve. You will have a more positive impact in this world. Everyone wins! What legacy will you leave? It is never too late to change. Love yourself enough to become the best version of yourself. Become actively involved in the present moment. Become aware of your place in it all. How are you in all of it?

Replace a bad habit with a better one. Instead of trying to "break out of a habit", try to use the trigger or cue to initiate a different action. Find something better, healthier, to replace the habit. This will be a lot easier than trying to force yourself to do nothing when you feel very compelled to do something. Left unchecked this is why we often see one bad habit turning into another bad habit. Take charge by deciding ahead of time what you will replace with what. Keep track. Celebrate your victories. Strengthen and empower yourself. By repeatedly doing this over and over again you will weaken the association between the trigger/cue and the old habit. At the same time you will strengthen the association between the trigger/cue and the new habit. This is very important. Some people believe the solution is to try to avoid the trigger/cue, but avoidance does nothing to prepare you in the event you fall into that scenario accidentally. It's like preparing for the worst, not by being pessimistic, but by being proactive. The first step to change is believing it could be possible. The second is action. Inaction leads to chaos. It pays to be prepared. Believe you are strong! You are bigger than your problems and your fears.