Sometimes we get stuck in a rut. We can’t install a dating app, look for work in another city, or take up a new hobby because we tell ourselves, “That’s not me.” But when we think that we can’t succeed, we don’t even try. I know, it sounds corny, but most universal truths do.
Interested in what helps people to keep moving forward, Redditor u/Mememakermaker asked other users: “What advice did someone give you that changed your life?” And they were heard. As of this article, the post has received over 2.2K comments, many of which share tips on relationships, career, and other important areas. Here are some of the most upvoted ones.
#1
If you wouldn’t take advice from them, why would you take criticism?
Image source: Howdydobe, Beth Macdonald
#2
My therapist told me not to fight my drinking cravings, but rather to ignore them.
Instead of white knuckling it on the couch trying to ride it out, she suggested I find a project and keep myself busy instead.
It worked. Today I’m 41 days sober.
Image source: erik316wttn, Scott Warman
#3
“A quiet life is not a boring life”
Image source: JusticeforKimPine, Siavash Ghanbari
#4
Don’t make permanent decisions on temporary emotions
Image source: 4evadreaming, Elisa Ventur
#5
If something is worth doing, its worth doing badly.
At one point in my life I just did not want to do anything because of depression and anxiety and it sucked. I was brought up to believe “if something is worth doing, its worth doing right.” So I decided because I didn’t think i could get it right I wouldn’t bother doing anything.
I read this, and realised I’d been doing it all wrong. I may not be able to get up and shave and shower and run 2 miles in the morning. But I can get dressed and brush my teeth. That’ll do.
Image source: madcow87, Alora Griffiths
#6
“You can be the ripest, juiciest peach there is, and there will still be people who don’t like peaches” – Dita Von Teese
Used to stress about people liking me or not, stemming from different experiences as a kid. I read this quote and realised that I can be the best I can be, but I’m still not gonna be to everyone’s taste, and that’s alright. Helped me stress down almost entirely about that.
Image source: Loevetann, Kelly Neil
#7
Not everything in your brain needs to come out of your mouth
Image source: Nudnick1977, Alexander Krivitskiy
#8
Not quite advice, but a male co-worker said his wife was his best friend and I realized my husband and I weren’t friends at all. tried to change the relationship but eventually left. 10 years later married a man who was my friend, still married 13 years and he is my best friend.
Image source: Nature-prevails, Misunderstood Whiskey
#9
My 5th grade teacher ms. Davis.
“If you are getting frustrated it’s perfectly ok to walk away for a bit a come back to the problem, it’s better to walk away and come back with a clear head then just getting more frustrated”
This was the first person I met that saw me and got me.
Image source: Ok-Letterhead4601, Taylor Young
#10
I was always told to think three things:
Does this need to be said?
Does this need to be said by me?
Does this need to be said by me right now?
If it’s a no on any of these, shut up.
Image source: ruiner32, Brian Wangenheim
#11
Be the person your dog thinks you are.
Image source: damndingashrubbery, Ralu Gal
#12
Hating someone is like drinking poison yourself and waiting until it kills them.
Image source: ziftarous, Peter Forste
#13
Comparison is the thief of joy
Image source: LewisandLucy, Ethan Sykes
#14
Dont find someone to grow old with, find someone to stay forever young with.
Image source: MrSensifity
#15
“Good memories can be just as toxic as bad memories”
For people in bad friendships/romantic relationships, so many people hold on to the good times in the past, hoping that it’ll be like that again. You remember how good things were at the start, and you convince yourself ‘they’re not that bad, remember that one good time…..”, even though at present, you’re being treated like sh*t.
But what’s in the past has already happened. Your current reality is not that anymore. Good memories can really trap you in bad places if you’re not careful.
This advice has definitely been a wake up call to me before.
Image source: Embarrassed-Bar-2869, Roman Kraft
#16
Not really advice, just a remark someone made a few times that hit home.. They said that most things people do have nothing to do with you, even if it’s directed at you. It really did change my life in that I hardly ever take things personal anymore.
Image source: StaplePriz, Elevate
#17
Nobody knows what the [hell] they’re doing
Image source: giantbooze, Tony Tran
#18
Never have an argument with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you through experience
Image source: PaddyTheClaw
#19
“you don’t have to know exactly how to do something. You just need to know that it can be done, and the rest can be figured out.”. My former boss when I started my IT career. Changed how I looked at the problems I dealt with at work and at home.
Image source: admlshake, John Schnobrich
#20
Wear sunscreen.
Image source: Gogo726, BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific
#21
ONLY worry about what you CAN control… which isn’t very much.
Image source: TheSpeakeasyTalkShow, Dev Asangbam
#22
A manager at my boring office job questioned my motives for being there, leading me to pivot completely, go back to school, and pursue a career in an industry im passionate about.
After graduating college I worked retail and food service for about 5 years before landing a decent paying office gig. I was pretty miserable there, but I always assumed that was the best path to success cuz it worked for my dad. I was in my managers office doing a quarterly review or something and she asked me the classic “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Since my dad started out as a programmer and worked his way up the corporate ladder, I’d always assumed that was the best way to success and happiness. So I told my manager “idk doing what you’re doing I guess.” “Why?” She asked. I responded “I mean…isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” And then she dropped a line that literally changed the course of my life: “Is what you WANT to do, or is it what you’re EXPECTED to do?”
Y’all, I was floored. I was at a loss for words making that ‘surprised Pikachu’ face. You know the one. After my review I went back to my desk and spent the rest of the day thinking about her question. I decided in the following weeks that being an office drone WAS NOT what I wanted to do so finally, at 27, I decided to forge my own path instead of doing what my parents/society expected me to do. I went back to school for media production (didn’t finish cuz I ran out of money/COVID) and here I am 4 years later with my first production job working teleprompter at a local news station. It’s not where I want to end and it’s been a long hard few years to get here, but it’s the foot in the door job that I’ve been searching for.
Image source: DOGA_Worldwide69, Ant Rozetsky
#23
Be curious not judgemental
Image source: 1991_finest
#24
Work is not like school. You don’t hand-in an assignment and it’s done. Instead, you constantly chip away at things over time. In my first job I was upset that my work was never “perfrct”/done like it was at school. This advice helped me shift my mindset so that I wasn’t so hard on myself.
Image source: Sharkitten, Mario Gogh
#25
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
Image source: TheRealKoy97
#26
Consider what saying “yes” will cost you – time, energy, money, etc.
If you really can’t part with what it would cost, then “no” is a statement of fact, and an act of self-respect.
Also, recognize that other people are allowed to be upset or have negative emotions, without it being your job to fix that – even if they say you’re the source or reason.
Obviously if you’ve hurt someone with your words or actions you should apologize – but if someone’s mad at you for not doing them a favor? Too bad. You’re probably not their only option and they’ll just have to learn to solve their own problems.
We’re each responsible for our own happiness. We can choose to add to the happiness of others, but it’s nobody’s job to ensure someone else’s happiness.
Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today,
Image source: hdizzydawg, engin akyurt
#27
Don’t worry about what other people are thinking about you, because everyone is only thinking about themselves.
Image source: sadie789
#28
“Act like you have been there before.”
It’s just another way of saying be confident in yourself, but just saying “be confident,” doesn’t really tell you how to be confident. Saying “act like you have been there before” is more like instructions.
Image source: PolymerPussies, Andrew Wise
#29
“You can’t help people if you can’t even help yourself.”
Image source: KanpaiMagpie, Kristina Tripkovic
#30
You can’t change what happend. No matter it was your fault or someone else messed it up. Don’t be mad about it. Deal with the challenge.
Image source: Secolo1603, Elia Pellegrini
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