2. Look at someone directly in the eyes while they’re speaking to you. Show them how present you are to the conversation, that this interaction and relationship truly mean something to you.

3. Genuinely thank someone for something. It doesn’t have to be for anything they’ve done. You can thank your mother for not drowning you every time you were a total tool as a teenager, your friends for putting up with you or your partner for being the only person you can really be yourself with. Remember how important gratitude is.

4. Try something new. It doesn’t have to be a big thing (like skydiving or something). It can be ordering a different dish that you usually get at lunch or driving home a different way, just to see a slightly different part of the world.

5. If you’re with someone, kiss them like you really mean it. Grab them by both hands and really hold on.

6. Take a moment to just be aware of exactly what you’re doing. Count your steps while you’re walking, actually look around you and pay attention to your breaths. Practice mindfulness and awareness of the present moment. Remember to be in the now.

7. Go easy on yourself. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything that those around us need, meet this and this deadline at work or take on a million projects. You don’t have to do everything. You can’t do everything. Sometimes you need to just relax and be.

8. Believe in what you’re doing. If you can’t believe in yourself and your ability to do great things in this life, no one else will.

9. Practice forgiveness and letting go. Statistics show you’ll live longer if you learn to control your anger and frustration and not let it become you. You’ll also be a much better person to know. Also, forgiving other people for their shortcomings helps you to forgive yourself for not being perfect. It’s funny how that works.

10. Smile, even when things are terrible. If you’re depressed and nothing’s going your way, force yourself to grin and hold it there for a minute. It might not make you happy or fix your problems, but remember you have to start somewhere.

11. Take a moment to remember you’re not the center of the universe. Think about someone else’s problems. Think about your grandmother and how hard she worked her whole life. Think about your best friend. Think about Lindsay Lohan. That’ll always make you feel better.

12. Remember your family isn’t the “craziest” or “worst.” Everyone’s family is dysfunctional. You don’t have it worse than other people, and even if you do, playing the Oppression Olympics gets you nowhere.

13. Talk to someone about something that’s bothering you — or something that’s wonderful! When we’re so focused on what were doing, we often don’t focus on us. We ignore the internal in favor of the external. It’s important to keep in mind that we’re people with emotions that need tending to.

14. Push yourself to be more open, honest and caring toward those around you. Exercise your heart to be stronger and more trusting and know that others can accept the gift of your candor and realness.

15. Be fabulous. Dress up to sit around the house, make yourself feel sexy and release your inner diva. She’ll be happy to get out for a change.

16. Strike up a conversation with a stranger. Realize that the world is so much bigger than the one we see every day and choose to interact with it. Chase waterfalls. Don’t stick to the streams and rivers that you’re used to.

17. Get off Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LiveJournal, SiliconIndia Dailydose, google +, youtube or what have you. Disconnect. Be connected to your own thoughts and plug into your own consciousness. It’s a beautiful thing.