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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

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life If you wouldn't take advice from them, why would you take criticism?

Howdydobe , Beth Macdonald Report

#2

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

erik316wttn , Scott Warman Report

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snipergun
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keep going, great job so far, good advice too. Fighting things make you focus on them.

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#4

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Don’t make permanent decisions on temporary emotions

4evadreaming , Elisa Ventur Report

#5

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

madcow87 , Alora Griffiths Report

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#6

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life "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.

Loevetann , Kelly Neil Report

#7

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Not everything in your brain needs to come out of your mouth

Nudnick1977 , Alexander Krivitskiy Report

#8

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

Nature-prevails , Misunderstood Whiskey Report

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Jody Brown
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and I knew we were soulmates within a few weeks. We were married 1 year later. Just had our 28th anniversary and most days together are still honeymoons.

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#9

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

Ok-Letterhead4601 , Taylor Young Report

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#10

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

ruiner32 , Brian Wangenheim Report

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Skara Brae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, this would dramatically reduce the comments here on B.P. (Oh, I shouldn't have said that)

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#11

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Be the person your dog thinks you are.

damndingashrubbery , Ralu Gal Report

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Michelle M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their expectations are just too high. If I am half the person my dog thinks I am, that's good.

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#12

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Hating someone is like drinking poison yourself and waiting until it kills them.

ziftarous , Peter Forste Report

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Kyle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Changed my life. I quit hating and being angry at people for not being what I wanted them to be.

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#13

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Comparison is the thief of joy

LewisandLucy , Ethan Sykes Report

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Leonard Hamers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Comparison can also be the source of happiness. Be happy with little things, they are the important things in life. A lot of people live in horrible places.

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#14

Dont find someone to grow old with, find someone to stay forever young with.

MrSensifity Report

#15

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life "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.

Embarrassed-Bar-2869 , Roman Kraft Report

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Leigh C.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I realized this in my last relationship. All the good times became far and few between. I would try to plan outings but he would decline or grumble. He didn't seem to be interested in family activities and would rather get high with his friends. Don't do drugs, people. Seriously. You could lose everyone in your life you would have loved if you had a clear head.

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#16

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

StaplePriz , Elevate Report

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is the height of conceit to think that people think about you. How much do you think about them? People are too wrapped up in what YOU think about them to even notice you. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

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#17

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Nobody knows what the [hell] they’re doing

giantbooze , Tony Tran Report

#18

Never have an argument with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you through experience

PaddyTheClaw Report

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Ruth Kennedy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or as I've seen it phrased - 'You can't reason someone out of a position that they didn't reason themselves into.'

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#19

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life "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.

admlshake , John Schnobrich Report

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Jo Johannsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In most of life, you don't need to have the answer memorized; you just need to know how to look it up or look up the tools to figure it out.

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#20

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life Wear sunscreen.

Gogo726 , BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific Report

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have psoriasis or eczema sunlight on your skin, twenty minutes a day at least, will do wonders in help clearing it up. I have psoriasis on my hands. I used to wear gloves when I drove. One day I had to get the horse ready for the vet. I was out there for over an hour in the sun, at one in the afternoon. It was 97 degrees, full sun. I had no gloves or hat, because I thought it would only take about twenty minutes max. Well, it didn't. BUT that evening and the next day I noticed that my psoriasis was MUCH diminished. Doctor said it was the ultraviolet rays. Since then no gloves when I drive and the psoriasis is much reduced.

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#21

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life ONLY worry about what you CAN control... which isn't very much.

TheSpeakeasyTalkShow , Dev Asangbam Report

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KatHat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ehhh, I don't like this much. I can't control climate change, or the hurricane offshore, or if someone's angry with me - but I need to live in the world and prepare for bad weather and try to get politicians to take action, etc. I fully agree that we shouldn't let that worry overcome us - which is the hard part - but not worrying at all would mean we don't take actions that will protect us in the future.

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memyselfandI
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taking actions to protect yourself in the future is a type of controlling the situation.

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MagicalUnicorn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's what my boss always says, relieved me from a lot of stress about work

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Brandon Conner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope this doesn't come across as unsensitive, but I think a person can control a lot of things. You can control yourself and your reactions because they are yours

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Ben Steinberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if you CAN control your worrying...so dial this back a little, eh?

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Robert Baker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zymurgy magazine said that worry is paying interest on a debt you may never owe.

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Christina Keenan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Control is an illusion. You can't control anything in the world. You can only control yourself and your reactions to what goes on in it.

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Vishy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not that easy for people like me with anxiety disorder.

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Ivana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just reminds me of how insignificant my existence is and how little my efforts impact the world around me. Hard pill to swallow as a political activist. I dedicate around 3 hours a week to help with one issue or another and I feel like I am wasting my time. Cut down on meat consumption and avoid plastic and the world is still burning around me. If everyone worried more then perhaps things would change. Everyone has this defeatist attitude where they don't try at all because the issue is far bigger than them. I feel like we all believe we can't do anything about worker's rights or healthcare because we focus so much on what we can impact individually rather than focusing on what we can accomplish as a group. More collective action and less individuals trying to suffer through everything alone.

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#22

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

DOGA_Worldwide69 , Ant Rozetsky Report

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SentimentAndBadJokes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, great that they had a boss that actually looked out for them and their best interests, rather than trying to suck the soul out of their employees. I love good managers :)

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#24

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

Sharkitten , Mario Gogh Report

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Earl Grey
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In school, you learn the lesson and then take the test. In real life, you get tested and then hopefully learn your lesson.

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#25

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should

TheRealKoy97 Report

#26

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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,

hdizzydawg , engin akyurt Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one: 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.

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#27

Don’t worry about what other people are thinking about you, because everyone is only thinking about themselves.

sadie789 Report

#28

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life "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.

PolymerPussies , Andrew Wise Report

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Act like you have been there before and risk making an @ss of yourself. Seen to many occasions where people embarrassed themselves because they acted like they knew how to act in a particular setting.

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#29

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life "You can't help people if you can't even help yourself."

KanpaiMagpie , Kristina Tripkovic Report

#30

30 People Share One Piece Of Advice That Changed Their Entire Life 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.

Secolo1603 , Elia Pellegrini Report

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