If you’re prouder of your past than your present, then you haven’t recognized your mistakes, you haven’t gotten better at what you do, you haven’t grown as an individual.

If you look back on the old you and cringe at your immaturity, assholery, or undeserved arrogance, then congratulate yourself. You’ve grown up, matured, and bettered yourself. Some people never do.

You probably know family and friends who cling to outdated views long since proven untrue, yet they lack the maturity and courage to admit they’re wrong. An extraordinary person sees these situations as opportunities to grow. They accept that some of what they believe today will be superseded by what they learn tomorrow.

People who admit they’re wrong and give up ideas that fail the truth test show they possess open-mindedness and humility. If you’re one of those people, you’re part of the elite minority.

Some folks act as a drag on others, sapping people of energy, and infecting them with toxic negativity.

Most of us aspire to inject joy into our interactions and leave people in a better state than when they first encountered us.

We may even have a few bad days. That comes with the territory of being human;

But if you can make others feel joy, inspired, or grateful some of the time while remaining neutral the rest of the time, you’re a net-positive. That makes you an asset to the world.

Nobody escapes life always saying the right words, taking the right actions, and thinking the kindest thoughts. That’s why we admire people who own up to their mistakes and do their best to clean up whatever mess lingers in their wake.

There have been times where we’ve screwed up and denied it, deflected blame. As we’ve matured, we’ve become more attuned to the impact our mistakes have on others and ourselves. But it’s the act of taking responsibility that made us better persons.

There’s no shame in screwing up; it’s how you respond to mistakes that define you.

Curiosity is the gap between what you know and what you want to know. Taking action to close that gap will fulfill you in a way that external reward never will.

All of us harbor curiosities that yearn for exploration. Time will work in our favor.

If you’ve dedicated a portion of your life to explore your curiosities, please congratulate yourself on a life well-lived.

Perhaps it’s culture, human nature, or a combination of both. There’s an idea that to achieve happiness, you must meet specific outcomes in life.

I’ll be happy only when my income reaches $250,000 or I’ll be happy only when I get promoted to Vice President.

The notion of conditional happiness is the shortest path to misery. But to believe it and live it, you need to experience the disappointment that stems from valuing your worth based on life outcomes. 

There’s a good chance you’ve lived up to some or all of these ideals. And if you haven’t? Don’t fret. You still have time.