Do you want your life to serve as a warning or an example?

“Our lives serve as either a warning or an example to others.” Tony Robbins

You have a choice.

You can choose to be an example of what’s possible. Of what a passion-filled life looks like. To be a poster child for healthy, vibrant and JOYFUL. Living a life around your purpose and making a difference.

Or, you can choose to serve as a warning for what happens when you don’t take responsibility for your life and instead allow yourself to be a “victim” to circumstance, the economy or other people’s behavior. Frustrated, lacking fulfillment, depressed and stressed out.

Choose to make your life an EXAMPLE!

This is NOT about being “picture perfect” or fitting into some kind of society driven image of successful. It’s about taking responsibility for your life and living to the fullest. Would you rather be fit, energetic and healthy, inspiring others to do the same, or would you rather develop a serious illness that reminds everyone around you that life is short? Would you rather take risks and live life to the fullest, enjoying every single chaotic moment you have, or be that old woman on her death bed warning her grand-children not to waste their life being “safe” and cautious?

The truth is, it’s about YOU, not anyone else.

It’s about you getting honest with yourself and living a life you can be proud of. One that you can look back on one day and say, “I rocked the sh*t out of it and enjoyed every single moment!”

Let’s look at some ways you can do just that…

Stop “just getting through” your life.

Working for the weekend? For that summer vacation? For something else, that’s sometime in the future? Stop it. Live for NOW. Make this moment the best moment of your life! Bring more pleasure into everything, stay present and engaged, and don’t waste your time daydreaming about the future. That’s the best way to allow life to slip right on by.

How can you make your job more enjoyable? Should you be doing more fulfilling work? Is this job really worth wasting 40 hours of YOUR LIFE every single week? Take a look at the things you do in your life that require you to “get through” them. Where can you make changes so that you’re living a more fulfilling, joyful and memorable life?

Take better care of yourself.

I get it, donuts, pizza, soda… they taste good. They bring temporary pleasure into your life… but it’s not lasting and it’s not worth it. You get ONE BODY. Just one. So take better care of it! If you want to live a life that is memorable, exciting, filled with passion and joy, you need to be nourishing your body, not poisoning it.

If you don’t want to end up with disease, then take responsibility for your health RIGHT NOW. Not later on… down the road. NOW. Bring in more veggies, whole fruits and water. Stop drinking soda and alcohol. Stop eating processed crap. Get rid of the coffee and give green smoothies and juices a try.

Stop hiding.

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” Nelson Mandela

Stop trying to fit in, instead embrace all that is weird and quirky about you. Own up to your preferences and opinions. Do the things YOU want to do, not just what your friends or family wants to do. Choose your work based on your passions, not what society or anyone else says is a better fit. Wear what you want to wear, do what you want to do and say what you want to say.

Stop hiding your uniquely beautiful self from the world.

That’s another sure-fire way to waste GOBS of time and energy. In relationships you don’t belong in, at jobs that don’t fulfill you and with people that don’t get you. What’s the point?

Make a difference.

Whether it’s recycling, volunteering or donating to a cause, be of service! Living a life of service is one of the best things you can do FOR YOURSELF, as well as for others and our world. Seriously, the fastest way to feeling fulfilled, happy and filled with love is to give back. Pick a cause that’s close to your heart and find a way to support it.

You don’t have to give hours and hours or tons of money… maybe you just volunteer occasionally, spread their message across social media or donate when you have extra money to give. Or, find a way to incorporate your cause into your every day life! Eat less meat, work somewhere that sponsors non-profits or shop at environmentally friendly stores.

Take Action NOW!

Where are you playing small, treating yourself poorly or wasting precious time and energy? What steps can you take TODAY, this week or this month to remedy it? How can you bring more pleasure into your life and make it more memorable? Share one thing you’re going to shift in the comments below.