26 for 2026 - Change Your Life - Part 1

For the last 2 years, I've posted a list of "things" that I wanted to do in the year. For 2026, I thought I'd do something a little different.

Instead of focusing on what I want to do, I thought I'd put the focus on 26 things anyone can do that can have a positive effect on you and your world.

By positive effect, I mean these have the ability to make you happier, more satisfied with your life, more optimistic, and more successful.

These of course are my opinion. You may agree or disagree with some or with the entire list because you know what's needed in your own life. Perhaps this list will inspire you to make your own list.

In no particular order, just what comes out of my brain and onto my typing fingers, here are my suggestions.

1. Get a journal you can write in because it's the greatest emotional outlet you can find for such a low cost.

If you're upset about someone or some thing in your life, write about it in your journal. Analyze it. Ask yourself if you are right to be upset or are you really upset about something else.

Identify what the real issue is and then write down ways to handle it. Journaling is like a release valve on a pressure cooker. It forces you to really think about interactions and situations rather than fly into a rage and say things you may later wish you could unsay.

2. At the beginning of each day, watch or listeen to nothing on your phone, computer, or TV that is upsetting. Far better to listen to music designed to stimulate your brain and/or create a feeling of peace within you.

3. Hate separates people. Hate ruins lives. No one should hate another person because of political or religious beliefs or sexual identity. Tolerance does not mean weakness. Tolerance does not mean you must believe as others. Tolerance makes room for everyone. Learn to be tolerant.

4. In my United States of America, we have the Bill of Rights. It covers all of our citizens so don't try to pick and choose who gets to live under those protocols.

5. Live and let live is a good philosophy so don't do things that can harm others whether that's violent diatribes online or physical assault. Just like you, everyone has the right to live without fear of violence so embrace that concept.

6. Never take advice from anyone who's more screwed up than you. When anyone gives you advice, always ask yourself if the person dishing out the advice is living life more effectively with less hiccups than you. If not, smile and nod and feel free to ignore what they say.

7. Even when someone offers advice based upon their own bad experience, you need to be cautious because their own personality, attitudes, and actions may have played a part in their bad experience.

8. Learn to think for yourself instead of accepting the opinions of others whether that's online influencers, social media TikTokers, co-workers, or relatives. There's great value in learning to think for yourself. How do you do that? Question what you hear. Do your best to research at objective websites that offer facts—not opinions, not political rhetoric, but information that is backed up by fact.

9. Learn to recognize click bait titles and avoid giving those channels your time and attention. Anything with a click bait title is designed to create chaos and turmoil in the viewer.

10. Realize that much of the videos online now are peopled by Artificial Intelligence creations, not real people. For exmple, avoid accepting as truth what some elderly doctor may be telling you. He's probably an AI construct. Fact check everything before accepting it as truth and acting on it.

11. Realize that anyone online who is holding forth on a subject filters their thoughts through all of their life experiences and attitudes. Are they speaking truth or offering an opinion based on their emotions, memories, and attitudes. Analyze what you hear and see and check it for truth.

12. In this world of Artificial Intelligence, seeing is not necessarily believing. Deep Fake makes it possible to present the image of real people doing things they have never done and saying things they have never said.

Beware of trusting what you see. Fact check. Do searches for queries like: "Did the Gen Z Influencer really say, 'I think anyone over 60 should be laid off so we can have their jobs.' Or whatever shocking statement you may have heard.

13. If you work for a living in whatever capacity, be proud of that. You're supporting yourself and probably a family. Take pride in that. If others try to belittle you and/or your occupation, it's because they are lacking something and think that by devaluing you, that elevates them.

Like the old story goes, they think they can have the tallest building in town by tearing down all the other buildings when what they should be doing is working to erect the tallest building.

By the same token, respect others and their occupations. They're working hard to do the same as you.

Come back next Thursday, January 29, for the remaining 13 suggestions.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Here's an additional suggestion, not part of the first 13. At the end of each evening, take your journal and write what was good about the day, what bothered you about the day, and then list 3 things you're grateful for. Those 3 things don't have to be connected to the day—just 3 things in your life that you are thankful for and that you consider a blessing no matter how small.

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