You know the old saying ‘hindsight is 20/20’? Well I was thinking of all the life lessons I’ve learned and how much easier life might have been if I’d been given certain pieces of advice when I was younger – and listened to it!

Here are my top 5 pieces of advice I wish I’d gotten earlier:

Number 1:

Stand up for yourself.

There is nothing wrong – and I mean NOTHING wrong about not taking crap from someone else. Learn how to be assertive, not aggressive and you’re onto a winning start. Have the confidence to realise that there is nothing wrong with you and people who bully/put down/have a go at others do it because they are so unhappy about themselves.

You can also ignore them.

You don’t have to listen let alone believe what they tell you.

Number 2:

Wanting to have a family is not a bad thing!

This one is from my own experience. I was brought up being told to ‘have a career’ and ‘never have kids’. So I did the career thing – it didn’t go so well. I tried lots of other types of jobs – some of them were out and out disasters. Then I had a family – never been happier. Is it hard work? Yes! Do I make mistakes…all the time? Yes but I’m trying! Do I wish I’d done it sooner if circumstances had allowed? Absolutely.

There is nothing wrong about admitting your desire to become a parent and keep the human race going! Would you rather we were extinct? If so see number 3!!

Number 3:

If you wouldn’t take a person’s advice why would you listen to their opinion?

It can be all too easy to let others influence the way we think. Especially if you feel intimidated by the other person (re-read number 1!). However, ask yourself this: “Would I ask their advice on ………….?” If the answer is ‘No’, then why the hell would you pay attention to their opinions? Here, I’m really talking about their opinion of you, not world politics as most of them don’t have opinions of their own on such matters anyway!

Number 4:

Don’t ever take your health and the ability to move for granted!

Again, speaking from experience! Sometimes life doesn’t so much as throw a curveball at you, rather it hurls a bucket of bull crap in your direction. This can lead to changes in your health, the ability to do things you could do easily in your 20s or mean you have to find ways to deal with pain on a daily basis.

So if you are fit and healthy and can do everything you need/want to do – Congratulations – just don’t take it for granted and don’t assume it will stay that way forever!

Number 5:

Trust your gut instinct

It’s there for a reason – that little voice in your head, that feeling you can’t quite explain, the ‘just knowing’. Listen to that. Pay attention to that.

It’s possibly the greatest survival mechanism you have and yet the most ignored. Whatever the situation, if something ‘tells’ you something isn’t right, it isn’t right. Do not ignore this – I’m speaking from experience!

Do you agree with my list?

What pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given?