30 Tips for an Extraordinary Life

posted 27th December 2010    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Life Lesson, Molly

This one is for you.   Yes, you.

I know that life can be frustrating and scary and overwhelming sometimes.  I know that pulling up the covers, or numbing the pain with one too many glasses of wine, or distracting ourselves by always being busy doing insignificant shit, is tempting.  I know that rousing ourselves to believe that we are enough and deserving of love can seem exhausting.  I know that having big, bold, audacious dreams can seem lonely sometimes.

Believe me, I know.

The thing is, gorgeous, that this is our life.  This is our shot.  This is our chance at being kind and brilliant and compassionate.  Our time to love hard, and kick our heels up, and create art, and change lives.  Our time to nurture family, and believe in the underdog, and dance naked in the moonlight.

You don’t have to be perfect.  You don’t have to be right. You just have to be as fully YOU as you can be, because that is your gift to share with the rest of us.

Just you.  You all of the time: in celebration, in pain, in joy, in acceptance.

And on that note, I’d like to share 30 tips to help you lead an extraordinary life by embracing YOU in all your glory. Get ready to glow, sunshine!

  1. Practice radical acceptance towards yourself and others.
  2. Stop trying to control everything.
  3. Laugh.  A lot.
  4. Balance your input (reading, watching, learning) with your output (creating, giving, leading).
  5. Take amazing care of your body: eat clean, floss, practice yoga, don’t smoke, breathe deeply, be mindful of alcohol, visit the doctor, eat less, move more, sleep 8 hours, get massages, and learn to listen to your inner signals.
  6. Celebrate your successes. Celebrate others’ successes.
  7. Embrace your strengths and stop worrying so much about your weaknesses.
  8. Tell the truth.  Even at work.  Especially with those you love. Most importantly, with yourself.
  9. Set boundaries with your time, energy and money.  Respect them.
  10. Be colorful.
  11. Create meaningful connections and nurture the heck out of them.
  12. Save a chunk of your money and give away another chunk. Use the rest on things, adventures, treats, and necessities that truly please you.  Be a conscious consumer.
  13. Stop freakin’ comparing yourself to others.
  14. Speak up, sing loudly, and raise your voice if something needs saying.
  15. Don’t be afraid to love with abandon.  Love is a renewable resource and yes, your heart is resilient.
  16. Go outside and play.
  17. Ignore the haters. It’s your life, your legacy, your choice.
  18. Explore your spirituality.  Connect with something larger than yourself.
  19. Share your story.
  20. Get clear on your top 8 values.  Honor them daily.
  21. Find your balance of deliberate action and spontaneous fun.
  22. Challenge the status quo.
  23. Be a hero to someone.
  24. Practice kindness.
  25. Stop taking yourself so seriously.
  26. Take your dreams very seriously.
  27. Act with personal integrity and be quick to admit mistakes.  Clean up your own messes.
  28. Cultivate mindfulness.
  29. Seek and spread inspiration.
  30. Fall in love with yourself a little more each day: treat yourself kindly, protect your passions, allow yourself space to grow, believe in your gifts, tend your gardens. Fierce love, baby, fierce love.

p.s.  Need a little jump start to putting all these tips in practice?  Why not join a 10 week session of awesomeness?  You + Me + 5 other wonder women will be starting group coaching over the telephone January 18th and 19th.   Whether it’s personal action or professional action you’re seeking, let’s knock it out of the park.  Extraordinary indeed!  MORE INFO + REGISTRATION HERE!

p.p.s.  Never considering coaching or group work before?  It’s time to reconsider.  Seriously, at least humor me, and check it out.  What if it’s exactly what you need to do for you at this moment?  GET IN ON THE ACTION HERE.

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Comments (30)

30 Responses to “30 Tips for an Extraordinary Life”

  • Bobbi Roth Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 9:29 am

    Molly! THANK YOU SO MUCH for this blog post!! I am a Molly-stalker, and this is one of my favorites. :) I am going to print this list and hang it up! I am hoping to be part of the Deliberate Living group; definitely purchasing the Joy Equation after the first of the year. :) So excited to started CHANGING MY LIFE!

  • Katie [blogs] Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 9:32 am

    ….and this is why you're my 2010 hero.

    …and probably 2011 too.

    Thanks for this., Great reminder to keep everything in check, nothing is as bad as it seems, and all bad becomes good. eventually.

  • Jill Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 9:40 am

    This post made me cry… it's exactly what I needed at what is turning out to be the most difficult time of my life (so far).

  • aftertherace Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 10:03 am

    I am going to print this out on a piece of paper and tape it to the mirror in my bedroom. I'll probably also keep a copy in my wallet.

    Thank you for this post!

  • Renee Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 10:21 am

    Aftertherace has the right idea – keeping this list with you at all times is brilliant!!

    I've started flossing. I know, what? Preventative measures ftw.

    #4 is my favorite… and what I need to spend more energy figuring out. Balance input with output. Yes, yes, yes.

  • Susan Pogorzelski Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 10:57 am

    "You just have to be as fully YOU as you can be, because that is your gift to share with the rest of us."

    I adore this sentence…absolutely adore it. What a great reminder this list is, but this sentiment especially. One thing I've learned is that you can't ever be anyone but yourself…and why would you want to be? Who you are is what makes the world what it is, who you are is what makes a difference. If only you knew what an affect you had on people, on the world, you wouldn't want to be anyone else.

    Fantastic!

  • Big L Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 11:46 am

    Oooh, love the print and tape to the mirror idea. So doing it!

  • Wee C Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    Thanks for sharing yourself – all of you – with the world, Molly. Whether we know your or not, have ever met or spoken with you, or simply feel connected to you through the work you do, please know that your words and your honesty constantly inspire. You are sincerely appreciated.

  • Lauriane Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    You're such a great source of inspiration Molly… Thank you for this :)
    While reading I had the exact same idea as Aftertherace (printing it), and as I usually suck at coming up with good new year's resolutions, I think I might as well stick to those 30 points as my resolutions for 2011 :)

    THANK YOU :)

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Miss Roth- You are so, so welcome. I would absolutely be thrilled to get to talk to you every week in the DL group! WOO HOO! Thanks for your love & enthusiasm & general sparkliness. XOXO

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    What? You're my 2010 hero! Seriously, I couldn't do what I do without amazing people like YOU supporting me. seriously Katie, a tiny public THANK YOU.

    And yes. There is always good or at least, lessons to be learned about this crazy world.

    p.s. I have some book suggestions for you! Email soon.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Awh sweetie. I'm glad it found you at the right moment. I hope it helps build a little strength and inspiration during your hard times. Sending you wishes of love and calm. Let me know if we can help.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    I wrote this as a call to action of myself in 2011. I am SO GLAD it's helping you guys too!! I think I'm going to turn it into a vision board and put in my "office", but the wallet is such a good idea too.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Oooh. I like #4 too. I've got a whole lot of creating to embrace in the next few months, but I find one of the things that really helps me is consuming!

    Flossing and I get along. Alcohol and I are taking a little break in January. And my ass was on my yoga mat yesterday- it's a start! ;)

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks Susan! I haven't landed on my 2011 theme quite yet, but "Be more Molly" is totally in the running! Glad to hear there are amazing gals out there who agree.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Yes. I made it to Big L's mirror. Smooches! (Talk to you guys soon again- I can't to rev back up for Level 2! I miss you dolls.)

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    Wee C, my love, you are so welcome. Thanks for sharing and commenting and making me feel like a million bucks. Connection is my power juice- it's what keeps me going. So seriously, thanks for this shout out.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    It's something to aspire to, eh? I definitely can't claim all of them- but I'm working on it! XOXO Print away!!

  • Carly Rae Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    I'm writing this in my journal to look back on if I'm having trouble. Such inspiration in 30 short sentences!

  • Casey Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    Umm, did you write that first paragraph directly TO me? Woah. Great post. Great reminders. Time to get back into the game. Thanks for all you do :-) . You're an inspiration.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    Yes, Casey, I did! And you're right, love, it's time to get back in the game. Welcome home. (Thanks for all the love. Now turn that on yourself and get going!!)

    Don't be a stranger.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    December 27th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    Perfect! Perfect! Me too! ;)

  • Alisha Says:
    December 29th, 2010 at 10:54 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for this reminder. Perfect for bringing in the new year :)

  • Elise Says:
    December 29th, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    This is fabulous! I just did your 30-day Stratejoy Joy Equation and it was just what I needed to end this year with a bang and gave me the tools to start the new year with a fresh, positive perspective – thank you thank you thank you!

  • Heidi Says:
    January 2nd, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    i love ALL of these :) This one is so true, and while I will work on all these this year (because you are so inspiring and these are words everyone should live by) I'm going to remind myself of this EVERY FREAKIN' DAY…

    "Stop freakin’ comparing yourself to others."

    i do that far too often.

  • Kristin Says:
    January 16th, 2011 at 6:23 am

    I totally printed this and hung it up too!! :)

  • 40fabulousthings Says:
    October 27th, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    [...] read a blog post from Stratejoy that I love – and go back to once in awhile: 30 Tips for an Extraordinary Life. The two that I lived when I walked out the office doors [...]

  • Vahtikoira Says:
    December 31st, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    Hi Molly, thank you so much for such an awesome post!

  • Richard Says:
    February 5th, 2012 at 5:57 am

    Something we all know, but need a reminder from time to time. Thank you for that !

  • Jessica Says:
    February 26th, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Wowzers! I just stumbled across your blog for the first time today thanks to a friend who posted the link for this post on Facebook. I love lists like this! Another favourite of mine is 22 Ways to Become Spectacularly Inspirational by Robin Sharma (http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/02/22-ways-to-become-spectacularly-inspirational-2/). Molly I feel like you speak my language so I will definitely be subscribing and coming back!!

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