Ten cliché’s you shouldn’t dismiss

Cliché’s are often met with skepticism, seen as pointless just because they’re overused. But some contain truth – motivating support to keep us challenged and improving our lives.

10 Hindsight is 20/20 – Of course it is. There is no challenge in picking this week’s lotto numbers after they have been announced. Since you can’t go back in time, when you experience those learning moments when the outcome of a situation smacks you upside your head, file these memories away in your “woulda-shoulda-coulda” file for the next time you experience something similar and do it differently next time.

9 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – So true, but we have to stop thinking that we know what the beholder is thinking.  Don’t waste energy speculating why someone isn’t attracted or interested in you. Everyone has different things they look for in friends, dates and partners. There is more to being attractive than a chiseled jawline and ripped abs.

8 Just breathe – Take a moment and take in few deep ones. Many times when we get overwhelmed or stressed, our breathing gets more shallow and rapid. Taking a few moments to take in some deep breaths oxygenates the blood but also gives us an opportunity to gather thoughts. Think about another cliché phrase: “In with the good, out with the bad.”

7 Make it work – This may have been made popular by Tim Gunn from Project Runway, but it is important to remember that there are times when failure isn’t an option. The task may require you to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. It may also require you to complete it in a different way than you would in a perfect world.

6 It’s progress, not perfection – This famous Alcoholics Anonymous quote is about not getting discouraged by things that take time. Don’t worry about getting it absolutely 100 percent right. Stop using the fear of failure to keep you from trying something.  Continue your attempts to improve.

5 Suck it up – This is also known as “put on your Big Girl Panties (BGP) and deal with it.”  There are times in our lives when we just have to acknowledge that a situation is going to be difficult or suck. The longer we put it off or stress about how we don’t want to do it, the better possibility that we have to not complete the task or make it more intimidating than it needs to be. Many times, the anticipation is worse than just doing it.

4 Can’t judge a book by its cover – It’s unfortunate that people judge others before taking the time to get to know their personalities, passions, tragedies, strengths and quirks. It’s good to remember that most of us are not Mrs. Cleo-employed psychics and need to challenge ideas about what we think we know about others. We may be surprised.

3 Get a life – Seriously, find one! Find those things that interest and intrigue us. Pursue those situations that can make our lives feel more fulfilled and eventful. Hold onto those people that turn us on and make us smile.

2 Nothing ventured, nothing gained – If fear of failure wasn’t a factor, we would all probably try to accomplish some things differently. Approach situations with positive amounts of courage and confidence without concerns about what happens when you don’t do it as well as you want to. Challenge yourself to practice those things that we want to improve. Dance like there is no one watching you.

1 Actions are more important than words – It really speaks to someone’s integrity and strength of character. This belief can be beneficial in many ways including building honest relationships and reinforcing responsible living. Be a person of your word and not someone who talks out of their ass or doesn’t follow through. It’s important to remember that “playing” a good game is much more important than “talking” a good game. Talk can definitely be cheap!