6 Guidelines for Essential Life Skills

Most of us at one point or another, have thought that we’d be better off living in a fairytale, without any annoying problems that require problem-solving. We’d never face any stress, discouragement, or failure. But as it turns out, life wouldn’t be so grand if it were all cupcakes and roses for us each day we woke up. In fact, life would be dull and meaningless, without a monumental mountain along the horizon for us to climb and conquer. These guidelines for essential life skills are important.

Guidelines for Essential Life Skills

Life is more of a journey, where bumps and bruises are sure to happen along the way, and learning from our mistakes and failures is what makes us better people. Knowing how to think for ourselves is also an important skill to have. These are guidelines for essential life skills that everyone needs to have whether you are young or old.  

1. Self Control 

We live in an age and culture that tell us that we deserve whatever it is that we want. For most of us, there is be a strong urge to gratify some of our desires and temptations, which only intensify when our emotions and thoughts get in the way.

But we have to remember that these desires will only bring us temporary satisfaction while choosing to have self-control will bring healthier long-term results. It’s imperative that we remain focused on what our values and goals are, versus impulsively giving in to those temptations.

Maybe you keep daydreaming about that sports car that you see every morning on your way to work? You know that you can’t afford it, but you fantasize about how cool you would look behind the wheel. Or perhaps you are contemplating studying for an exam, or choosing to wing it and instead play a couple of hours of video games?

Both of these scenarios, or whatever your temptation may be, will be lifelong challenges unless you learn to have self-control.     

2. Critical Thinking 

Having the ability to think rationally, logically, and critically about something will keep you from simply falling for someone else’s beliefs or biases that may be false as they relate to a particular matter. Being able to think clearly for ourselves is a skill that helps us differentiate between true and false, right and wrong, and even good and bad.

This doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to be judgmental or critical of others, but instead, you are able to look at things the way they really are, and not how you feel or wished they were.  

3. Managing Stress  

The modern world that we are living in is extremely busy and hectic, to say the least. Trying to cram everything into 12 hours without forgetting an important errand that needs to be run during the day, can create a lot of worry and anxiety in the back of our minds.

It can even keep us awake at night. All of this insurmountable stress over a period of time can lead to serious mental and physical health problems later on. Some of these symptoms may be body pains, headaches, chronic anxiety, and depression. That’s why self-care and managing our stress are important. 

Managing stress will look different for each of us based on what you enjoy and works best for you. Some of these techniques include therapy, enjoying a new hobby, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, journaling, listening to music, going on a vacation, or spending time with others.  

4. Positive Thinking  

Growing up, we learned in math class that a positive number adds to the overall sum. The same holds true for positive thinking. Having a positive mindset will add positive momentum to what seems like an impossible situation, which in turn, can produce powerful results.

Positive thinking can bring more purpose and meaning to your life. It can also be inspiring and a motivation for others around you.         

That doesn’t mean that negative thoughts are all bad. You can have negative thoughts about something that help you to have a realistic perspective on a situation. It can also protect you from a wrong idea or being hurt by someone. The trick is knowing when to think positively and when you need to be realistic.   

5. Never Stop Learning

Just because you’ve stepped out of a high school classroom or college course for the very last time, doesn’t mean that you’ve learned everything there is to know for a successful and meaningful life. Learning is a skill that is a continual process and something you should look forward to each day you wake up. 

Continuing to learn about the world around you will help you become more skilled in different areas of life. There are so many knowledgeable resources out there, from family members, friends, and neighbors, to learning something interesting on the internet or the TV. Never stop learning. 

“Prepare Your Family For Survival” by Linda Loosli

6. Don’t Give Up 

When life’s challenges become overwhelmingly difficult, it’s easier for us to simply toss in the towel and call it quits. But I’d strongly encourage you not to! Obstacles are actually what makes life so great. When you choose to press on towards your goals, even amidst those odds and difficulties, the reward is that much sweeter on the other side.

Did you know that some of history’s most remarkable and inspiring individuals didn’t become famous overnight? It may surprise you to find out that people like Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Edison, failed more times than they succeeded? It’s true! Think of where we would be today if these men had given up and just felt sorry for themselves. This is why you need to be persistent. You never know what rewards and accomplishments you will achieve if you don’t hang in there and keep striving.

7. Personal Responsibility (from my friend, Harry)

Be responsible in making life choices whether they are good are bad. When you make a poor life choice, don’t continually blame someone else even if they contributed to your poor decision. Remember, it is your own choice regardless of their temptations good or bad. When you make a good life choice, don’t be a braggart. Relish the result of your good choice in silence unless your decision process could help someone else make the same good life choice. And, even then, be careful not to be overbearing and be careful not to share intimate personal information. Be your own person and trust God to guide you rather than mankind. He will not tempt you to make poor life choices, but mankind will almost assuredly do that.    

Other Skills Posts to Check Out

30 Pioneer Skills We Cannot Lose

10 Homesteading Skills We Must Know

Grocery Shopping Life Skills

Critical Survival Skills You Should Practice

Final Word 

These are guidelines for essential life skills that young and old people need to have. They will give you the motivation and determination to do the impossible, and the discipline to make wise choices. This has been a very tough year for all of us. If we’d apply many of these skills the challenges we are facing could be much easier to deal with. What are some other essential life skills that people need to know? May God Bless this world, Linda.

Copyright Images: Red and Green Apple on Books Deposit photos_76421097_s-2019