12 Principles to Create an Extraordinary Life

We are currently living through some of the wildest times in human history. The world around us seems to be going into complete chaos. Now, we are on the verge of a deep recession, we are more divided than ever, and people around us are hurting. One thing we all have in common is that we want to live happy lives, but how do we do so when everything around us seems to be falling apart? Creating a life we are proud of comes down to personal responsibility for our own actions. In this article, we will discuss 12 principles for creating an extraordinary life that we can look back on and be proud of.

12 Principles to Create an Extraordinary Life

1. Mindset
2. Consistency
3. Discipline
4. Process
5. Adaptability
6. Continuous Learning
7. Max Effort
8. Goal Orientated
9. Ego
10. Habits
11. Purpose
12. Think Long Term

1) Mindset

The first principle of this list is crafting a positive mindset. Creating this for yourself is the first step that you will have ot take in order to change any circumstance that you find yourself in. 

How is mindset crafted though?

New mindsets are created but allow new experiences or information to reshape how you look at things around you. Crafting a new mindset can be accomplished by changing your environment, reading thought-provoking books, taking on new hobbies that transform you, or listening to valuable information on the internet. 

The world that we live in now is very chaotic.

Everyone is constantly battling for your attention and mental real estate. This is a valuable space that you must protect at all costs.

2) Consistency

Nothing in life gets done without consistent effort to move the needle forward. Rome was not built in a day, brick by brick it was forged into the great empire that it once was so will your extraordinary life.

What does that life look like to you? What defines success in your eyes? That vision you just crafted can only be accomplished with consistency and the audacity to believe in yourself. 

A growth mindset states that anything is possible if you are willing to learn and consistently show up for yourself!

3) Discipline

Discipline is one of the hardest things to cultivate when you are starting from ground zero, but when you start building momentum it is hard to stop.

To start 2022 we had an issue with staying disciplined, our solution was a program called 75 hard and picking up the sport of jiu-jitsu. Through the sport and the desire to finish this challenge, we started to build the momentum that carried us through one of the best years of our lives from a personal growth standpoint.

Looking back, I never want to return to the person I was. Having discipline creates freedom in your life that cannot be found anywhere else.

4) Building Processes

Having processes in place allows us to be more efficient with our time. At the end of the day, we only get 24 hours to get things done… well in all reality maybe 12 hours since the majority of our days are either spent sleeping, eating, or mindlessly scrolling on the internet.

Be aware of what you do during the day. Counting the days does not make something magically happen, you have to make the days count in order to create the life you desire.

5) Adaptability

Adapting to your surroundings is a very important and valuable skill that needs to be cultivated to have an extraordinary life. Being an exceptional human being is a process that in itself is adaptive. You morph and grow with time.

Be like water.

6) Continuous Deep Learning

There is a difference between learning and deep learning. Learning can be done by just reading books and sitting in a classroom. Deep learning is only accomplished when you immerse yourself in the activity you are trying to learn.

Deep learning opens you up to the possibility of failing. Failure is a huge driver of why people do not start in the first place. In order to create this life that you desire you must put the fear to the side and embrace the failures that will inedibility come your way. 

If you want to learn something new you have to dive in head first and learn to swim. You will mess up, get beat up, and most likely fail, but that is the point!

7) Doing Your Best

When you decide to take on the challenge of deep learning it is important to embody putting your best foot forward at all times. Doing your best is a way of life. The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.

If you work a crummy job. Try your best at it.

If you have an assignment you do not want to do. Try your best.

Your effort is something you are in complete control of. Others will notice the effort you put into something whether you did it correctly or not. Obviously, you want to get to the point where you are putting in a good effort and getting the results you want, but that may not be something you accomplish right away!

8) Goals

Being goal-oriented gives you a target to pursue. Goals without action plans are just wishes.

Set S.M.A.R.T. goals to hold yourself accountable and make the goal more real!

9) Managing Ego

Having an ego is a great thing, it will propel you to new heights that you may have never imagined. The issue that arises with people is they get drunk off their own perceived greatness and run into the issue of biting themselves in the butt.

Having a healthy relationship with your ego is a dance that will take some time to perfect. You do not want to come off passive and let others walk all over you in the name of “not having an ego” but you also don’t want your own ego to create blindspots for yourself.

Be aware of your shortfalls. You do not need to voice them but the constant self-assessment will result in a life that is above the rest. 

10) Creating Strong Habits

Habits build momentum in our lives. The way we can build positive habits has been a studied topic for a number of years now.

You are what you do. Every day you make a choice to embrace positive habits or not. Whether you are conscious of it or not is another story.

11) Finding Your Why

The thing that will push you through all obstacles in life is having a strong why.

Why do you do the things you do? Answering this very intimate question is a profound way to find the need spark to push you through challenges that may rise. Life is a roller coaster, it will have its highs and lows. How you navigate the lows will be a testament to the character you are building.

Know your why. 

12) Longevity

The beautiful thing about living in the 21st century is that modern medicine has made it so we can live for long periods of time. By the time I hit a later stage in my life, my life expectancy will have probably increased.

Nothing that was great was built overnight. Changing how you think in terms of years or decades will separate you from those around you. People have a horrible capacity to do this. Everyone is after the quick fixes.

Be different and stand out. You have to in order to create a life that you’re proud of!

One day we will all pass away. That is an inevitable fact. How are you going to spend your time here on this earth? Whether you believe in a God or not, our belief is that while we are here we should put our best foot forward and try to positively impact the world. Creating an extraordinary life is a lifetime pursuit. When you look at it from these principles you can sit back and smile knowing that you will accomplish those things you envisioned in due time!