Stress is not good for you. It doesn’t help you learn how to conquer a situation or make you a more confident person. We get the most stuff done and discover our inner-power when we are relaxed or at peace with what is going on.

To take your life on the path you desire and understand what changes need to be made to do so, you need to chill out and realize that you aren’t doomed for failure.

We are here to tell you to take a chill pill, no matter who you are.  2012 is about to come to an end and the only thing you should be doing is reflecting on the year you had, acknowledge where you made your mistakes and start putting forth a tentative plan to better yourself for the coming year.

To make a move on creating your prospective future, you need to chill out about certain aspects of your life because odds are, they aren’t affecting how your life will ultimately unfold as much as you think. These things are only stopping you from concentrating on the truly significant factors of your day to day operations that will in fact play a big role in the person you decide to become in 2013.

1. The few things that aren’t going right.

Things are not always going to be perfect and nothing will ever be as easy or simple as it seems. When things do go wrong in your life, take a moment to be thankful for all the things that are actually going right and giving you a reason to push forward.

Be thankful for what you have escaped and remember that it once troubled you just as much as the current situation. Troubles allow you to grow as a person and without them, you would still be a child.

2. Trying to label everyone and everything.

Stop thinking you can control people or label them or even change them because you won’t and you can’t. Sometimes you just have to accept people for who they are. This means you are willing to let go of who you think people should be and how you think things are supposed to turn out.

3. Worrying about what everyone else thinks.

As we always say, stop worrying what the rest of the world thinks about you because then you begin to live your life under their control and not your own. Life is about the choices you make and the best thing you can possibly do for yourself is stand up for what you believe in and do what you love to do.

It really is that simple. You can end half of your troubles immediately by no longer permitting people to tell you what you want. You have to put your life in your own hands.

4. Wasting time on the wrong people.

This isn’t high school and you don’t have to accept all of the people that come into your life. You cannot make someone respect you, you cannot make someone care about you and be there for you and if they can’t do these things themselves, you don’t want them in your life to begin with.

Don’t fall into the trap of trying to be everyone’s best friend because it just cannot be done. At some point you have to realize the truth – that they no longer care or never did, and that maybe you’re wasting your time and missing out on someone else who does.

5. Old wounds and grudges.

To find true peace within yourself, you need to let go and forget about old wounds and grudges. If you are still angry about these things, you are not leaving room for any new things to come into your life. You need to accept the past and push your spirit forward with good intentions.

Nothing empowers your ability to heal and grow as much as your love and forgiveness. The past is the past, so be mature enough to move on and learn from it.

6. Superficial judgments.

You are not a child anymore, superficial judgments are for the small-minded. Give people a chance and take some time to see the real beauty  around you. There must be something deep inside of them that makes them attractive enough for you to want to spend time with them. The more you mature, the more you will be able to look beyond another person’s appearance and see the beauty of who they really are.

7. Letting small disagreements snowball out of control.

Misunderstandings are going to happen a lot in your life, but you cannot let problems with communication make you forget about the countless lovable moments you spent with others. If you are angry at someone close to you,  clear the air and have a conversation with them. Pick their brain and understand their point of view because that is usually the root of the argument.

8. Showing a lack of self-respect.

Be your own best friend. Be comfortable with who you really are and what you actually bring to this world. Don’t beg for anyone’s love, attention or even respect. If they don’t want to give it to you that is their problem. Trust your inner spirit and follow your instincts. Be the person you will be happy to live with for the duration of your life.

9. Thinking that now is the wrong time.

There is no such thing as the wrong time for something until you create it yourself. Don’t be afraid to act, you can make this the right time and the right place for anything if you just start doing and not thinking. The next new year is all yours, it’s a new beginning and a new conception of life.

Make it count because when you really think about it, a human being is born in 9 months, and this year, that new person is you. The only question is: Who do you want that person to be?

Preston Waters | Elite.