Quality of Life

by Paulo Coelho on October 5, 2009

Would you do a list of 5, 6 or 7 things that you should do to improve your quality of life?
If I think about myself, I think that shouldl stay less time in front of this monitor. Besides that I really care about my quality of life, walking in the fields, enjoying every single moment. I would love to hear your opinion because this can be very useful to other people.

Thank you so much for sharing.
Paulo

DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR ENGLISH. BUT IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, POST IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE (PORTUGUES, ESPANOL, FRANÇAIS, ETC.).

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{ 932 comments… read them below or add one }

András October 7, 2009 at 7:02 pm

1. Pray 1 hr every day
2. Do exercise 1/2 hr every day (kung fu/running)
3. Learn 1/2 hr every day
1 full day of rest every week.

I m already trying to do most of these for a while.
I realise that even though it is not always possible to do all these every day (even if it seems simple), it should always remain a goal to keep, because this is tthe way to improve life.

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Alicia October 7, 2009 at 6:59 pm

1) To laugh, truly laugh from my gut at least once day.
2) To embrace a new idea or point of view without judgment, truly embrace with understanding at least twice everyday.
3) To listen, truly listen to the message being sent at least three times a day.
4) To accept the things I cannot change, truly accept with courage at least four times a day.
5) To love, truly love from my heart every minute of the day.
6) To believe, truly believe from my soul every second of the day.

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Carla October 7, 2009 at 6:56 pm

- Enjoy the moments I spend concerning about stupid stuff
- Stop thinking everything is my fault
- Exercise a little more
- Keep on living intensely the situations that make me happy
- Worry less

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Fábio October 7, 2009 at 6:50 pm

- ser menos crítico comigo mesmo e com os outros

- nao ter medo da espontaneidade

- fazer mais atividades físicas

- cultivar mais amizades novas

- voltar a fazer música

- olhar SEMPRE nos olhos de quem está falando comigo

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Angel October 7, 2009 at 6:45 pm

After thinking for about 40 minutes I finally have something…

1. Exercise every day.
2. Learn to play the guitar and to sing.
3. Use my camera to take photos everywhere.
4. Use my video camera to tell histories.
5. Write what I think everyday.
6. Say what I feel.
7. Beleive that someday and somehow I will find a girlfriend.
8. Stop using this necktie and business clothes.
9. Meet more people.
10. Give training courses for free for the people of my community.

Thank you Mr. Paulo Cohelo for asking.

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Kevin Hutchinson October 7, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Quality of life is a way of saying “happiness” and happiness is generated by actions and attitude, so my list would be:
- have an open mind: know that i know nothing
- listen to the world talking to me
- follow my gut and never regret choices
- always think about the Next Right Thing
- look for opportunities to help (reduce suffering)

My life is your life is our life is their life.

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swan October 7, 2009 at 6:41 pm

That’s a good thing to think about what we should do to have a better life… then we have to do it (and it’s not the easier part, but a work of every moment… with many failures sometimes…)

* have a caring feeling for ourselves (take care of your health and body to soothe your soul…. try not to smoke or drink too much, eat well, and be physically present to your body and stay active)
* Trust life and be more confident
* have a joyful state of mind, being optimistic
* care for others, whoever they might be
* believe …

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Vânia October 7, 2009 at 6:23 pm

- Saúde
- Dormi bem
- um trabalho q me fizesse feliz
- Saber q todos da minha família estão bem ( isso me tratia uma grande paz)
- Um companheiro amoroso.

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Avi October 7, 2009 at 6:17 pm

- spend time with people i love
- be inspired by other poeple
- reading
- to accept new challenges in life
and to be motivated to go on…
- to appreciate God for everything in my life

- where I am now

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Zakaria October 7, 2009 at 6:16 pm

1- Remember that you are not alone
2- Remember to smile
3- Remember to sleep at least 8 hours
4- Remember to be active physically at least one hour/day
5- Remember to get knowledge
6- Remember to love again & again
7- Remember to never back down

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JANET ROSS October 7, 2009 at 6:15 pm

FORGIVE MY FATHER BEFORE HE DIED BECAUSE HE WAS JEALOUS OF ME AND I TOLD HIM THANK YOU so is SOUL could be FREE

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lada October 7, 2009 at 6:08 pm

1) stop smoking and feel better and have enough money for my hobby again

2) manage with this particular love inside me so it could me more universal..not to hurt people, me..

3) the fact that I am differetn see from other points of view.. to feel blessed, not cursed, all the time.

4) do what I feel I need to do on this world.. don’t know how, but know what, so – START

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Moon_09baby October 7, 2009 at 5:59 pm

1- agradecer pela vida que tenho, antes de qualquer coisa
2- aceitar e aprender a conviver com minhas limitações
3- parar de olhar os defeitos dos outros
4- ouvir mais e falar menos
5- poder viver tempo suficiente para ver minha filha ser feliz, independente das decisões que ela tome
6- não ser um peso na vida de quem eu amo
7- envelhecer com saúde

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bora October 7, 2009 at 5:55 pm

. appreciating every moment (here and now)
. sharing life with close people
. reducing posessions
. listening to my favorite music with a cup of coffee in the morning
. not getting stuck on status, presitge, and how others think about me – just focusing on what “I” like to do and who “I” am.

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Paula October 7, 2009 at 5:55 pm

1. sleep well
2. eat well
3. travel
4. listen music and dance
5. not being a material girl!
6. love nature and save the planet

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sevgul October 7, 2009 at 5:54 pm

first of all; thank you Mr. Coelho

-not judging people
-have “really “friendsand spend time with them
-watching movie or reading books can change the taste of everything
-sharing the food,the knowledge, the love you have etc..
-being honest to self..

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redbossfan October 7, 2009 at 5:53 pm

- sleep more, so I would not start almost every day being tired
- eat a bit healthier than I do
- learn to not spend so much time worrying about things I cannot change and rather spend time doing things I enjoy
- seeing my friends more often, raher than talking to them online
- shut off my thoughts and just live the moment more often

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Sophia G. October 7, 2009 at 5:52 pm

I think our life quality is based in small things that most of us don’t have the time to remember..
1) Live your every day as if it was your last one..
2) Don’t be afraid to love and to be loved even if this doesn’t work out for you..
2) Stay still for a moment and hear the sound of the sea when you’re near..
3) Be amazed by the sunset..
4) Enjoy a glass of wine.. fell its taste.. don’t get drank..
5) Respect the animals.. they do have feelings as we do..
6) Be as free as you want, as long as your freedom doesn’t hurt other’s..
7) Live your life.. you only have one chance…

with respect,
Sophia G. from Greece

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Helena October 7, 2009 at 5:47 pm

Live the present and all its oppostunities.

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Lisset Berrocal October 7, 2009 at 5:45 pm

hola Paulo….

Talvez el hecho de pensar y no solo d eso sino de reflexionar en mi calidad d vivir me sumerje en mis recuerdos q deprimen mi vida y q creo q a mi corta edad (18) siento q e pasado por situasiones q aun eran esperadas para màs adelante .Nose si yo me adelante a vivirlas o el destino me la puso delante mio para provar mi fuerza d continar caminando en direcciòn recta y no en opuesta .

1.-Intentar estar mas tiempo con mi familia especialmente con mi madre.
2.-Estudiar algo productivo q me guste
3.-Espectar las olas del mar
4.-Parar un minuto de mitiempo y sentir paz
5.-Entender el ¿ amor ?
6.-Buscar una manera d vivir sin derramar una lagrima.Intentando ser feliz sin recordar el pasado.
7.-Dejar d ser tan renegar x cosas q no son tan importantes.Y ya dejar un poco d buscar la perfecciòn en todo lo que hago.

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Greicy October 7, 2009 at 5:35 pm

I love your idea, as usual!
1 – Be happy about myself, my life, my family, and thanks Good to have so much blessings every single day;
2 – Time to do nothing;
3 – Tell “I love you” many times to especial people;
4 – Play with my dogs in grass;
5 – Work out;

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sanny October 7, 2009 at 5:34 pm

I think for me, I should work more on the following things, hope it helps others too!
- Be more proactive
- Be less indifferent
- Have more confidence in myself and in the good
- Prioritise and stick to it, but allow sudden changes and adapt to the situation
- Plan/ worry less, start doing more
- Always be grateful and hope for the best; in prayer, in thought, in action

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Karin October 7, 2009 at 5:32 pm

1. Exercise more
2. Spend less time on the computer and read more instead.
3. Learn to enjoy the moment
4. Find and develop my talents
5. Eat better food
6. Save money

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christine October 7, 2009 at 5:28 pm

improving quality of life:
- be more relax
- less competitive (Singapore is driving me crazy)
- care less about what other people say
- sleep well at night
- act global, say, try at least live a greener lifestyle

cant seem to do any of them right though.

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AGLAIA October 7, 2009 at 5:27 pm

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Michala Moravkova October 7, 2009 at 5:23 pm

- being more patient rather than impulsive
- being surrounded by people, loving them and be loved
- overcome my fear
- loving my-self more
- doing what I really enjoy
- be more open and truthful to other people as to myself

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Pedro October 7, 2009 at 5:52 pm

- Do more excercise indoor or outdoor.
- Eat better (e.g. more fruits).
- Less use of the PC
- Travel more around the world.
- Be more receptive, pay more attention to other people feelings.

Chantal October 7, 2009 at 5:23 pm

Hello everyone,

Here’s my list and work at all of the 6.

1: Immigrate to a country with more light/sun than Holland because i have SAD.
2: Work less
3: Be more creative
4: Travel around the world
5: Find the love of my life ;-)
6: Losing weight maybe sport more ;-)

Blessings, love and light for everyone =)
Chantal

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Rachel October 7, 2009 at 5:22 pm

What would bring more quality to my life…
1. Simplifying
2. meditating & exercising every day
3. unplug: spend less time in working on the computer/iphone…technology
4. travel-interact with the world more
5. contribute more to humanity

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Karmel Johal October 7, 2009 at 5:16 pm

For a good quality of life:
1) Do what you love or like alot in your career as a result it will be highly successful and will bring you continuous happiness.
2) To spend time in nature- I also love the water so pour moi: sailing and swimming makes me feel free.
3) Practicing yoga:physically and mindfully because it enlightens and exhilarates and brings me to the present.
4) To be able to love and accept it in return.
5) Be with people I love/like alot and respect.
6) To accept the good.

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SzuggerCandy October 7, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Don’t aim to do what you like, aim to like what you do.

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Theresa Goubran-Keshta October 7, 2009 at 6:04 pm

A very important point and leads us to inner peace! Thank you.

Monica October 7, 2009 at 7:22 pm

that is precisely what I think….thanks

Barbara October 7, 2009 at 9:23 pm

Sometimes this can be a good idea, but sometimes it’s the other way round for me. For example when actually I know I could change a situation into something better (follow my dreams) but due to lazyness or fear I don’t change anything and instead I try to get so much used to the situation I am in that I start to believe I actually like the situation. In my opinion this can lead to missing the point where I could have changed the situation into something I really would have liked from the heart. In my opinion the energy that we sometimes use for accepting a situation and getting happy with it could instead be used for changing the situation into something much better.

Mandana October 7, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Dear Paulo,

here is my list:
- time to travel (there is so much I want to see, understand, learn…)
- work less
-spend time with people I love
- spend time to get to know me better and to find my individual Middle Way (Peace of mind)

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Mariana October 7, 2009 at 5:14 pm

To improve my quality of life I:
1. spend more time with my parents and pets
2. love every simple thing that mother nature give to us
3. Do more excercise and take care of my own person
4. Don’t get mad about things that are not important
5. Be more productive and love my job even more than I do
6. Read more books
7. Don’t take for granted all the things I have, I mean, love them every single day because I don’t know when I’m gonna lose them so I don’t want to feel regreted
Thanks :)

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Marieke October 7, 2009 at 5:14 pm

This is the list of things I should do or think more often. So many things in life that clutter up your day. So it’s good to list some things like this. And to read the lists of others!

-Stop wanting to do everything today. Some things can wait.
-Eat healthy
-Make beautiful things, and make things beautiful.
-Relax an hour a day. Just do nothing at all.
-Keep on dreaming and brainstorming on things to come.
-Exercise, keep that body moving

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Paula October 7, 2009 at 5:14 pm

1. Give up trying to please others, it is not something I have control over, it is their choice to be pleased or not. So I will do what pleases me first and foremost.
2. Love myself, so that my cup is full to love others from.
3. Be honest, sincere, and generous of myself even if others don’t like it or think I have ulterior motives for being those things.
4. Watch and learn from nature and the way it works, God showes us how the universe is arranged and how it works, so I need to pay attention and quit trying to make it other than it is.
5. Find and appreciate the gift and beauty in all things and people, likes and dis-likes are a subjective decision, find something good or beautiful in something I dis-like and my opinion will change about it, there is peace in changing my point of view.
6. Stop trying to keep up with society and the status quo, my happiness exists in those choices I choose for my self, not those handed to me by others……we are each unique not clones. Show my true self at all times.
7. Give up caring about others opinions of me, their thinking can only affect me if I let it, so my life is easier and more balanced if I do not let others opinions and expectations of me cloud my awareness. I will be the good person I want to be and I will not let the pictures that others think I should be cloud my own picture of me and my life.

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dawn October 7, 2009 at 5:13 pm

1. Spend more time with family (which has become so very evident lately with my father-in-law fighting cancer)
2. Be more healthy for myself and for my children.
3. Get away from the computer and in to the real world more.
4. Write letters instead of emails.
5. Hug all my friends each time we part, make sure to tell those I love, that I DO LOVE THEM each time we say our goodbyes.
6. See in myself what others see.
7. See in others their true self, rather than the gloss they put out for show.
8. Just love the ones I am with while they are here to bless my world.

P.S. I love your CLONING CONFUCIUS quotes….very, very thought provoking!

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renata October 7, 2009 at 5:12 pm

1. try to apreciate more the present and stop thinging about the future.
2. spend more time with my parents
3. to smile more
4. to take care about myself
5. to start reading more books like before
6. to not take to much serious the life
7. to travel to the places that i miss and a want to visit

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mili reza October 7, 2009 at 5:11 pm

para que haya calidad de vida en mi vida..
Incrementaría mi libertad de ser y de pensar.
Necesitaría paz en mi relación amorosa.
Necesitaría mejorar mi relación familiar.
Gozar cada hora del día al máximo
Ejercitarme ayudaría mucho.

Básicamente tres cosas: libertad, salud y convivencia!

Un saludo desde México!

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Fabrizio October 7, 2009 at 5:11 pm

1. feeling that i understood what is my road to follow in this life and doing it!
2. spend time with my family;
3. to be present!
4. live surrounded by nature, following it’s rythms
5. sit in front of an amazing sunset

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Ana Paula October 7, 2009 at 5:10 pm

1-Fazer algum trabalho voluntário que realmente faça a diferença na vida de alguém;
2-Caminhar à beira-mar (faz 10 anos que não vejo o mar);
3-Ler mais e diferentes estilos, pois a leitura nos permite viajar sem sair do lugar;
4-Ser menos hipocondríaca;
5-Prestar mais atenção aos sons da natureza: vento, canto dos passarinhos, chuva, etc.)

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Eun October 7, 2009 at 5:10 pm

1. Reading less fashion magazines
2. Not buying things that I am not sure if I really want it for myself.
3. Keep my room and inside of my bag clean.
4. Writing journal before going to bed at night.
5. Trying not to have the feeling of guilty.
6. Trying to be honest when I want to fake myself to look good to people.
7. Going out alone for the movie.

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Eduardo Manzano October 7, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Caro Paulo,

Segue minha lista:

1- TER PAZ
2- PRATICAR A ÉTICA
3- TER SAÚDE
4- VER MEU FILHO CRESCER COM QUALIDADE
5- APRENDER COM OS MEUS PAIS E ANCESTRAIS
6- COM O MEU TRABALHO (ARQUITETURA) PODER MELHORAR O AMBIENTE EM QUE VIVEMOS, CRIANDO ESPAÇOS LÚDICOS, JUSTOS E CONFORTÁVEIS.

Um grande abraço!!!!

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Jenny October 7, 2009 at 4:58 pm

Dear Paulo and all,

Here follows my list of things that would improve the quality of my life:
1. see my parents, boyfriend and brother more often
2. get another job or project without so much stress
3. eat more fish and seefood
4. work less to get more energy in my free time
5. loose weight
6. study something I really like to know (Japanese, piano, step etc)
7. get more exercise (work-out, walk, bicycle etc)

Love, Jenny

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Maribel October 7, 2009 at 4:53 pm

He hecho tantas listas que ya no recuerdo, pero lo que mejor me ha funcionado para mejorar la calidad de mi vida es visitar su blog casi todos los dias Señor Coelho.
Usted me insipira, sus palabras me calman y me hacen tener esperanza y fe en mi misma, que de alguna manera un dia encontrare mi camino y podre finalmente olvidar la culpa y dejar el miedo.
He leido casi todos sus libros y cada vez que termino uno corro a la libreria a buscar una mas de sus obras… gracias por inspirar a tanta gente a encontrar su destino personal.

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Maribel October 7, 2009 at 4:53 pm

:)

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Maribel October 7, 2009 at 4:48 pm

He hecho tantas listas que ya no recuerdo, pero lo que mejor me ha funcionado para mejorar la calidad de mi vida es visitar su blog casi todos los dias Señor Coelho.
Usted me insipira, sus palabras me calman y me hacen tener esperanza y fe en mi misma, que de alguna manera un dia encontrare mi camino y podre finalmente olvidar la culpa y dejar el miedo.
He leido casi todos sus libros y cada vez que termino uno corro a la libreria a buscar una mas de sus obras… gracias por inspirar a tanta gente a encontrar su destino personal.

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Rania October 7, 2009 at 4:43 pm

1)Be less anxious
2)Stop taking antidepressants
3)stop thinking toooo much
4)be wiser
5)look at what i have and thank the Lord every single day
6)Not to be oversensitive to what poeople say or do

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xara October 7, 2009 at 4:43 pm

in order to improve my quality of life:

1. i have to keep on learning and understanding myself in order to live in harmony with nature and all its creations

2. i will love and appreciate my parents.

3. learn to rest and when to work harder.

4. learn the difference between responsibility and obligations.:D

5. yoga and meditation.

6. learning a thing or two every now and then to keep the mind at work and never stale.

7. smiling and laughing. it really do wonders for you and people around you.:d

namaste
~xara

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Marta October 7, 2009 at 4:37 pm

1 Believe in what you do
2. Stop thinking about unpleasantly things
3. Look around to see other people
4. Work on our personality and trying to throw bad features away
5. Be polite

Sorry for my english.

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breda October 7, 2009 at 4:29 pm

I am enjoying reading the blog as always.Thank you Paulo for having the inspiration to help me put my focus sharpely on ‘What I need to do to inmpove my quality of life’…I will write on it later.
I am going for a nice Autumnal walk now,with Kealan : )
love,
Breda

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Yenny Vera October 7, 2009 at 4:23 pm

Me encanta hacer esta lista,

1.- doy gracias a dios todos los dias por estar viva.
2.- por tener unos padres, y unos amigos maravillosos
3.- por conocer el amor y compartirlo con todos mis seres queridos
4.- escuchar la musica que me gusta
5.- y sobre todo por ser feliz y saber que todos los problemas asi sea el mas grande tiene una solucion que llega por nosotros mismos o por la ayuda de dios.

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