Albert Einstein once said, " Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow ." The vaunted theoretical physicist was not only succinct, but spot on. By learning from yesterday -- and what's implied is really learning from our mistakes -- we can create a better, more fruitful today. But we must guard against the impulse to dwell on those things we did wrong. Instead, we should see the start of a new day as akin to turning the page -- the chance to start anew. Yesterday is no more. Focus on what you can do TODAY so that it turns out to be an even better day than yesterday was. While no one likes to admit they've made a mistake, we're only human. As long as we recognize what we did wrong and aim to right the ship so that history doesn't repeat itself, we come out stronger and wiser in the end. Moreover, life is a precious gift -- one that can be taken away at any moment. We really don't know when it'll be our time to bid this world adieu,...

The great Albert Einstein once said, "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu believed that "if you are depressed, you are living in the past; if you are anxious, you are living in the future; if you are at peace, you are living in the present." Both men echo Francis Bacon Sr., who said, "Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand -- and melting like a snowflake." The gist of these quotes is that we should live in the moment -- otherwise known as mindfulness.  The dictionary defines mindfulness as "a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations." In other words, it involves being cognizant of your physical and emotional state without being judgmental.  Most peopl...

Forget about the past. Yes, you've made mistakes.  Yes, you've said and done things you wish you could take back. But that's water under the bridge now. You've learned from those experiences and are now wiser because of them. The only way to go is forward. Life is too short to spend it wondering what if you had done this, or what if you had done that. The bottom line is, you chose a path, and that path has led you to where you are at present. Having regrets serves no purpose other than to demoralize you. Don't let that happen! Take stock of your life and consider all the fantastic things you can do now and in the future. Taking memorable vacations with the family. Finally getting that degree you've been putting off. Learning a new language. There is so much for you to do. The future remains bright so long as you envision it that way. Don't let your past problems thwart you from realizing your life goals and dreams. When life tries to tempt you into...

Hug a little tighter. Kiss a little longer. Love a little harder. Life is short, and we ought to make every moment count. Cease putting off working toward your dreams. Forget about tomorrow, for we don't know if it'll ever come. Live for today. Seize the day. Whether you want to write a book, travel to India, or start your own business, now is the time to take the first step toward making your goals a reality. Nurture relationships that are worth your time and effort. Sever ties with people who don't enrich your life. Instead of aiming for a large group of acquaintances -- the people you have as "friends" on Facebook but seldom talk to -- focus on building a small circle of tight-knit friends and family. Tell these people as often as you can how much you cherish them. Indulge your hobbies as much as humanly possible. Write, read, draw or paint to your heart's content. Make or dance to music like no one's listening or watching.  Broaden yo...

It's a new day -- one full of fresh possibilities.  Let all your reasons for not achieving a goal yesterday be quashed as of this moment. Apply for that certification exam to enhance your qualifications. Commence your job hunt as the first step toward leaving the dead-end position you're in now. Start researching what it takes to get your fledgling business off the ground. Take an imaginary sledgehammer and smash the "t" in "can't" into oblivion. You can do anything you set your heart or mind to. The only one holding you back from reaching for the sky is yourself. Do away with any grudges you may hold towards friends or loved ones. If you find that the relationship is beyond repair, absolve yourself of all negativity by cutting ties and moving on once and for all. And resist the urge to compare yourself to others. Their lives are their own problem. Stay focused on you . We all have a tendency to put things we want to do off because, well, life ...

The late author, missionary, and public speaker Lillian Dickson (1901-1983) once said the following: "Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can only spend it once." I agree completely with the above quote. You can't use the same coin twice unless you visit the same establishment repeatedly and happen to get back a coin you provided when making an earlier purchase. But the chances of that occurring are slim to nil. We get only one life to live on this earth, so we might as well make the most of it. The time you're spending reading this post you will never ever get back, so it is my hope that you see it as time well spent. Spend as much time as you possibly can with those you love. Indulge your hobbies. Listen to your favorite songs. Eat your favorite foods. Work toward achieving whatever it is you have on your so-called bucket list, whether it's getting a master's degree, having three kids, or visiting every continent at leas...

Obviously, we live in all of these at different moments. Whether we're past-, present, or future-oriented depends largely on how we're feeling at a given point in time. For example, when something good happens, we tend to become very focused on the present and on the fruits that the favorable circumstance will bear in the future. If we're feeling a little blue about our current prospects, we may start thinking back to a time when things were going more smoothly in our lives. The more optimistic among us, however, might look forward to brighter days ahead. Many people say harping on the past isn't healthy, and I agree -- a line has to be drawn somewhere. But only by considering history -- our prior successes and failures, our earlier ups and downs -- can we can guide our behavior toward the ends we seek in the present and future. In other words, you need to examine the past in order to build on your triumphs and prevent making the same mistake twice (or more time...

As cliché as it may sound, I have found this maxim to be true: "Failing to plan is planning to fail." Granted, none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes that ultimately serve as valuable learning experiences. What's more, some of us plan and still end up with less-than-desirable outcomes. But far too many of my friends have wound up in difficult situations -- from grappling with poor career choices to navigating tumultuous relationships -- that could have been avoided had they only planned ahead. Here are a couple of reasons why we might fail to plan our decisions carefully: We're impulsive : We act in the moment without carefully considering the consequences beforehand. We're lazy : There's a reason why psychologists have dubbed human beings "cognitive misers." Naturally, we try to expend as few mental resources as possible. We're emotional: Whether we're happy or angry, our emotions often get in the way of reason, leading us...