I Stopped Caring About Pretty Much Everything & Life Is Awesome Now

I was tired of the constant weight on my shoulders from trying to live the perfect life with little payoff. In an effort to make a change, I decided to change tactics and simply stop caring about pretty much everything. It’s worked like a charm.

1. Don’t like my personality? Sorry, not sorry. This is by far the biggest eye-opener for me. I find that I’m consistently changing my persona to fit who I’m standing near. I act like I’m similar to them when I’m really not. Why do I do that? I need to be me. There’s no point in being somebody that you aren’t, no matter if it’s expected of you or not. If people don’t like me, that’s their loss. I make a conscious effort to present as myself and only myself. No more fakeness, no more facade. Because of this revelation, I’m unapologetically me.
2. I’m not worried about my house being spotless. I tally up the hours I spend every week trying to make my home spotless for people who may or may not come visit. In summary, these are hours I can spend in a completely different way. Perhaps enjoying my life instead? These days, I’ve decreased my domestic efforts and I only do the necessities. Instead, I spend the gift of time with loved ones, hobbies and binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy.
3. I’m not afraid to say no. I recently read Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. Have you read it? If not, do it ASAP. One of my favorite takeaways from that book is her simple statement: “I am unable to do that.” It’s so simple yet so powerful. “I am unable to do that task for you.” “I am unable to lend you that money.” Try it, it’ll be painful at the beginning but so worth it. You’ll gain loads of confidence you didn’t even know you had.
4. I’m a big fan of the block feature. This option can change your life. If you’re worried about the fallout of the decision, stop. Just block them. The end result is a feeling of security because you know that you won’t be hearing from that person anymore. You never realize how much anxiety is built up in the unknown. “Will they call?” “Will we fight?” As a result of this simple action, your worry will be eliminated completely.
5. I live in the moment. I realized that I often find myself waking up in the morning annoyed about plans I made and obligations I have that I really don’t want. Now I don’t hesitate to cancel those plans or not make them in the first place. I play it by ear and I have the freedom to do as I wish. Because of this, I sleep a lot better at night and wake up feeling way less miserable.
6. I put my phone down. I now require having long breaks from my phone and the internet. As much as I love them, I don’t need them in my life 24/7. I spend my energy elsewhere during these breaks. Face to face conversation is making a comeback for me and reading is bubbling up to the surface again too. Rediscovering things that gave me joy before the technology boom is rejuvenating.
7. I have much clearer focus. In making these changes, I find that my focus in every aspect of life has been better. At work, my mind is sharp and efficient and my relationships have much stronger connections. My hobbies have even benefited as I recently perfected my chocolate chip cookie recipe!  This seems so small in the grand scheme of things but it’s not. Rather, it’s a sign of how distant I’d become with my internal happiness and the elements that create it.
8. I have a lot less anxiety. Previous to dialing up my “Who cares?” meter, my anxiety was through the roof. My joy in life seemed non-existent and my muscles were tensing up regularly from stress. With the changes I’ve made, all the tension has started to dissipate and I feel a lot more optimistic about my life. The days of wishing the day away and wanting to stay in bed are gone.
9. I kick ass. My biggest personal realization in this? I’m amazing, possess top-notch qualities, and I have lots to offer in my life. My confidence is soaring and I feel on top of the world.  The day I truly noticed this change was about three months after I started this journey. While facilitating a group conversation, I asked others to speak of positivities they’ve brought to the team dynamic. I asked, “What makes you proud of yourself?” Nobody wanted to answer. They were all concerned with coming across as conceited, so I took the initiative. Absent of hesitation and anxiety, I stood in front of everyone and announced, “I want you all to know, I kick ass.” And it’s true, I do.