Ah yes! The year is almost over, so you're going to see a lot of "how to make next year your best year"-type stuff. Lotta flash, no substance. That changes now. See, the 10 things below were things I applied to my own life this year and I'm so much happier. I lost weight! I'm in love! Outkast got back together ... kinda! Seriously, read these.
- Stop arguing for viewpoints you didn't originally form yourself. If you're going to do the grunt work of talking up someone you've never met, shouldn't you get paid or something?
- Properly address criticism. There are times when people are going to attack you or things you create for reasons that have nothing to do with you. There are other times where people are going to attack you or things you create because your stuff just isn't good. Learn how to tell the difference. That being said ...
- Know when you're criticizing something and when you're just talking shit. One inspires debate and discourse; the other one makes everyone hate you.
- Stop taking out your financial frustrations on people who are just as broke as you are. Being mad at fast-food workers isn't going to add any zeroes to your paycheck. Unless, you know, that's a job you can get.
- Instead of that usual "stop hanging out with negative people" thing, here's a new one: Don't hang out with anyone who makes you feel like you have to apologize for their behavior to someone else.
- Root for something. Loudly, if possible.
- Enough of this "real men do this, real women do this" nonsense. We've got 300+ million people in this country. Do you honestly want everyone to be the same?
- Hug the CRAP out of the people you love. They're great! Come over here right now, I'm going to hug you.
- Outrage for the sake of outrage is pointless. Choose your battles, or when matters of importance actually come up, nobody will be interested.
- 2014 is going to be the year you go out dancing more. If you're paying attention, you're already seeing a transition from bottle-service culture into something resembling old-school dance clubs where the focus was grooving--not looking cool by blowing $250 on a $39 bottle. Get ready to sweat.
Sound good? Apply these 10 with ruthless aggression and you WILL have a great 2014. Now get over here, I wasn't kidding about that hug.
Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye's Facebook page.