Nine Anti-Anxiety Life Tips:

1. A small ambition is enough. Ordinary people don’t need grand dreams; just do the small things in front of you well. There’s no need to weave a world-changing script for yourself at 18. You never know which unexpected path these small experiments and goals will lead you to. Set aside big goals for now and first handle what you can do well today and this week.

2. Happiness is not a goal, it’s a byproduct. Don’t deliberately pursue happiness. Happiness is like a climax—the more you chase it, the harder it is to reach. Don’t chase happiness; make others happy, and happiness will become a byproduct that happens along the way. Don’t ask “How can I be happy?”—ask “Can I make someone’s day a little better today?”

3. Luck is more important than you think. Of course you should work hard next year, but a large part comes down to luck. The fact that you can sit in a classroom and receive an education is already like winning the lottery. When things go well, don’t attribute everything to yourself; when things don’t go well, don’t completely deny yourself either. It’s not that you’re so amazing, it’s just that you haven’t been that unlucky.

4. Worry less, exercise more. Don’t discuss the meaning of life—go run a couple of laps first. Many people aren’t stuck because they can’t figure things out, but because they’re not moving enough, not running enough. Don’t force emotions that could be run off to become anxiety.

5. Be strict with your own opinions. Opinions are like butts—everyone has one. Unlike butts, your opinions should be regularly and seriously examined. Don’t treat “I have an opinion” as an honor; what’s truly impressive is the courage to admit “I might be wrong.” Be an evidence-based player, not an emotion-based one.

6. You don’t have to be a teacher, but live like one. Don’t treat experience as a bargaining chip—dare to teach and share. The more you share, the more you learn; the more you teach, the more you understand. People who love to share are more irreplaceable.

7. Define yourself by what you love, not what you hate. Try to use “I love” or “I like” instead of starting with “I hate.” The attention you spend on things you hate is better spent on things you love.

8. To judge a person, see how they treat those weaker than themselves. True character is not about how you treat those above, but those below. You can tell a lot about someone by how they speak to servers during a meal.

9. Don’t rush—plan your life to 80. You don’t need to know what you’ll do for your whole life right now. Life doesn’t have a fixed script; allow yourself to write it slowly. You don’t wait until you figure everything out to act; you act, and then you understand. You don’t need big dreams, but your life can’t be empty. It’s okay to go slow—fill it up little by little.