Reinvent Yourself Swiftly

Take a lesson in personal development from Taylor Swift By Kathleen Davis

1. Move on.

Breakups suck. However if you do some self-analysis you'll find it takes two. Maybe you need to be a better listener or realize in life its a two way street and you didn't contribute as much. Whatever the reason, take some time out, learn the life lessons, move on and apply them to the next relationship that comes along. You win some, you lose some. If you internalize the lessons you'll become a better person in the process.

Also, boxing and yoga helps.

2. Forgive & Forget

True Story- 99% of the time, if people hurt you it's because they are actually hurting themselves. When Kanye was a d!ck to Taylor he had A) just lost his mom B) was numbing out with substance abuse and C) had not yet become Kim Kardashian's baby daddy/ "Kimye". Clearly, he was lost. Once you realize that its easy to forgive. Plus, carrying around other people's emotional baggage is the most energy zapping waste of time. Forgive people and who knows, you may end up being friends.

3. Don't take yourself too seriously

LIFE IS SO SHORT. I cannot stress that enough.

It's too short for drama, fear, regret and anything that doesn't propel you forward.

Drop the people who drag you down. Drop them now.

Snap your fingers and you'll be 80. Get out of your own way, learn to laugh at yourself and if you can't well... good luck with that.

Find humor and it will get you through.

4. Support your Squad

The older you get, the more important your friendships become. Embrace the friends who have come into your life and celebrate their achievements. Go on trips, take classes together, set mutual friends up, host parties and birthdays. You're only as good as the company you keep so make sure you surround yourself with quality people who accept and support you.

5. Stay Humble

Staying humble humanizes you. It is one of the most common and required traits among the most successful leaders in Business, Tech, Entertainment not to mention personal growth and self-development. Staying humble means you have an awareness of "the struggle" (its real by the way). You can empathize with others. Being empathetic makes you a great listener which leads to new innovations, ideas, and collaborations. Thinking you know it all makes you egotistical. These are the hardest people to work with as they are impossible when it comes to collaborating- It's their way or no way. People with big egos believe the school they went to, their last name, GPA or appearance should automatically take them right to the top. People don't have time for that in the real world. Staying humble also means you never forget your roots. This makes your achievements feel so much more warranted. You earned it and you appreciate the people who helped along the way. No one handed it to you on a silver plate.

6. Stand up for yourself ( & others)

Business can be a dog eat dog world. Ideas are stolen, relationships ruined, jobs lost. However it can also be the type of world where there's an issue that's affecting others and its very hush hush. Taking a stand isn't always easy but by offering a solution in a calm way that benefits those without a voice you officially have LEADER surrounding your aura, next job or promotion. Remember when Taylor wrote an open letter to Apple detailing her disdain of free music on behalf of herself and fellow singer/songwriters? I mean who doesn't like getting paid for their work? Slow clap for Taylor.

7. Don't wait to apologize

If you screw up and say something uncalled for just own it. It's easier than the mess that will unravel if you don't. Don't be responsible for turning something stupid into a catastrophe. Clean it up, dust yourself off and forward march....Petty problems are a waste of energy. Say sorry, offer a compromise, accept the heart emojis in return and don't do it again.

8. Let the universe do its thing

Once you've learned and applied the lessons chances are the universe will test you.

A new opportunity, relationship, job, etc will appear at the right time. This isn't a spiritual lecture, it's simply a fact of life. Maybe (like Taylor) you supported your "squad-mate" (Ellie Goulding) and you were rewarded by meeting and later dating her friend (Calvin Harris) without obsessing or crying on your guitar (or whatever instrument you play...) Instead, calm, cool and collected.. See what I mean?

The point of personal development is to commit to strengthen areas of yourself that are weak, underdeveloped and need improvement. Really commit to be being a better individual. Not to snag a DJ boyfriend but to actually be a more well-rounded, mature human being which in turn, leads to a higher quality of life.

Write down your long and short-term goals. Simplify that list and create a straight forward plan to achieve each one with a deadline attached. You only get one life so embrace your strengths and share them with others. Work on your weakness's and stay humble. Support your friends, forgive people and let go of those who bring you down.

Time flies so give this life your best shot.

-Kathleen Davis