As a 22 year old university student I don’t exactly have a lot of life experience to draw upon. That picture to the left is me when I was 10 years old. Even then I was trying to learn everything I could about life.

Let me just clarify I am not some wise spiritual guru who can help advise you on how to live your life. You make those decisions, no one else. I am just sharing my personal lessons in the hope you can gain some perspective on who I am.

So without further ado, here are five lessons I have learnt from life so far.

1 – Appreciate Everything You Have

It goes without saying that you must always appreciate everything you have. Whether it is the material possessions you own, family members or friends, everything and everyone should be appreciated equally.

I know that I really appreciate the stability and support my parents have offered me over the years as I left college and took a gap year. I know that without that I wouldn’t have been able to develop into the individual I have become today.

You have to appreciate all the little things that make your life great. If you don’t take time to appreciate them now, it may be too late. Furthermore, if you don’t have anything that you value and appreciate in your life it can be a very lonely world.

2 – Don’t Waste Time

Seriously, don’t waste a single moment of your life.  Life is precious so go out and live every day like it is your last.

3 – Do Something You Love

As a university student I often get talking with others in my lectures and around the university campus about what they want to do after they graduate. Most respond with a blank look and a vague answer. Some know what they want to do but don’t show passion or drive to want to do it.

I personally believe you should do something you love. You may not know what it is yet, but don’t settle until you find it.

I hate meeting people in their late 20s or 30s who have simply settled for a comfortable career with a decent paycheck. Life is not about settling for second best. It is about seizing the day and finding what you love to do.

4 – Support Others Who Have Helped You

The other day I wrote an article about why I love to give back in business. I learnt this lesson after working with various business mentors who had incredible social values such as empathy and compassion (Beatriz Alemar being one of them!)

You should never think you are better then anyone else. If and when I reach my goals, I will never ever forget those who helped me out along the way.

If you want to be successful in life you cannot afford to be selfish. The moment you do that is the moment you risk having something bad said about you by a former business mentor or former friend.

So take the time to help others who have helped you get to where you are today.

5 – Don’t Accept No For An Answer

As a young person you can easily assume that if someone says “No!”, you should just give up and not bother trying again.

I have learnt in life that persistence pays off. You can achieve anything you want. No-one can tell you any differently.

You may have been rejected now but it doesn’t mean you won’t succeed in the future.

If I stopped working on developing my business ideas after being  told by some people I wouldn’t make it, I would have given up on my goals years ago. But I didn’t and neither should you. It’s OK to make a mistake every now and again.

So those are my lessons I have learnt from life so far. What are yours? Leave me a comment below with your thoughts.