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We are living in unprecedented times. 2020 has been a year met with great challenges. No one could have predicted there would be a Worldwide pandemic that would cripple countries economically and kill hundreds of thousands of people. 

No one would have imagined the impact it would have on businesses and industries across the globe. Companies have laid off employees and some have closed their doors. Families have endured the loss of loved ones and financial upheaval. Several sports are playing with no fans in a bubble. New terms were introduced to our lexicon like, ‘sheltering in place’, ‘flatten the curve’ and ‘social distancing’ that have kept people isolated from one another. We are living in a different world. 

This pandemic has changed the way we do life. It has brought things into proper perspective and has shown us what is important in life. During my time of quarantine and social distancing, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the past, work on the present and plan for tomorrow. I am determined to make the necessary changes to live a better life now and after the pandemic. 

If you are ready to make the necessary changes to live a better life in the pandemic and afterwards then these 5 truths will help you: 

1. Life is short

No one is going to live forever. I do not want to sound morbid, but it is the truth. But, for some reason many people act as if they will live forever. They exhaust valuable time and energy on things that do not matter. They worry about things they cannot control. They live in fear of what might go wrong so they never take action. 

One thing the pandemic has emphasized is that life can be fragile and unpredictable. Life is too short to live haphazardly. Do not waste time waiting for the elusive day when you have enough money, the right support system, the economy improves or the perfect timing to live out your dreams. The reality is that many people will go to their grave without experiencing all that life has to offer. The worst thing that can happen to a person is to die with their dreams still in them.

There is no greater time than now to start moving toward living your best life. Stop waiting for tomorrow because it is not guaranteed. Stop waiting for someone to give you permission because they may never show up. Stop waiting for the perfect moment because it may never come. Take hold of your life. Live without regrets. Live without others approval. Live without fear. Your life deserves it. 

“Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember ‘Life is too short to be little’.” – Dale Carnegie

2. Failure happens

Do not let the fear of failure keep you from going after your dreams. Do not let the fear of failure hold you hostage. Even the best leaders in the world failed. Failing is a part of life. When failure happens, identify the root cause, deal with it and move on.

Thomas Edison, one of the world’s greatest inventors, understood that failure is a part of life. He said, “I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

Failure can help us realize things about ourselves that we never knew. For instance, failure can show us how strong a person we are in the face of adversity. It can help open our peripheral vision to see other opportunities for success that we would have missed without failure.

Failure is painful, but it happens. When we learn that failure is not our identity but just an event that happened then we can embrace the failure and use it as a stepping-stone for current and future success.  

3. Take action today

Focus on what you can do today. Do not worry about what you should have done yesterday or what you need to do tomorrow. Take action today. If you focus too long on what happened in the past or what you need to do in the future you miss living today. 

If you want to start exercising, move forward with that business idea or begin a new career then today is the perfect time for action. Conditions may not be ideal to move forward, but they usually are not. Do not wait for the optimal conditions because if you do, you may miss your opportunity to shine. 

Success never shows up while you sit around thinking, talking, or telling others about it. Success comes when you take action. And remember, if you wait until you feel 100% ready to begin your success journey then you will likely be waiting the rest of your life. 

“Dreams don’t work unless you take action. The surest way to make your dreams come true is to live them.” – Roy T. Bennett

4. Separate from negative people

Some people need a balcony view of your life. They complain and gripe about everything and appreciate nothing. They will drain your energy and deplete your enthusiasm if you allow them in proximity of your life. 

Life is too short to spend it with people who live in a perpetual state of negativity. Every time you encounter them, they have nothing positive to say. Every word that comes out their mouth is doom and gloom. 

It’s difficult to think forward when you are surrounded by negativity. Seek out positive people who can encourage and help keep you balanced. Decide today that you will not allow negative people to determine how you think, feel, and act. 

5. Accept change 

Change is a way of life. It can be unexpected and sudden; or it can be welcomed and planned. Life is a never-ending series of changes. We must learn to embrace and adapt to the ups and downs that come with change. 

Embracing change does not happen overnight. The key is learning that change is a process, not an event. Many people fear change, which ends up limiting their progress and they forfeit the process. Nothing or no one stays the same. We get older, people move away, machines break down, companies downsize, and businesses close. Change stops for no one.  

Change means learning, moving, growing and perhaps achieving something you never thought possible. Change comes with your approval or not. It is a part of life that everyone must deal with. So, you might as well get on board the train of change and see where it takes you. 

Jack Canfield said it best, “Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.”

What’s the biggest thing the pandemic has taught you? Share your stories & thoughts below!