Something as simple as a sliver when removed, floods the physical body with immediate relief.

As I stood in my bathroom with a tweezers and needle in my hand this past weekend, I gently pulled out a minuscule tip of wood from the inside of my thumb. Elation. A deep breath of an erasure of a simple yet aching pain each time I would use my hand to hold a book, mug or tool. I began to consider the relationship to small eradications in our own lives and the significant difference they can make. Most definitely, small removals, deletions, and refrains can affect our overall joy and contentment in our day-to-day routines.

Let’s take a look at simple ways we can change our lives for the better:

1.Eliminate the critical voice you speak with to yourself

Remove the criticism, remove the judgment, remove the negative bias when things don’t go your way each time. Simply changing that voice changes the energy within you and therefore, what you radiate to the world.

~Read more: 5 Steps to Instill Positive Self-Talk

2. Change how you speak to others or about the day

A simple norm to follow is only to speak words which are honest, kind and true. Whatever you say needs to fit all three in order to be uttered. Not only will this train you into speaking after you have thought through what you might say, but it also avoids rash comments, reactionary comments or sarcasm that will not deepen the type of relationships of quality and sincerity you may silently desire.

3. Refrain from comparing yourself to anybody, ever, at all. Period.

The only exception is to compare yourself to who you were yesterday, but even then, it’s not helpful. When we compare we are unable to celebrate what is going well, not only for ourselves, but for the person we are comparing ourselves to. In episode #286, the focus of the show was how to let go of comparing and has everything to do with the ultimate goal of healing ourselves. When we let go of comparison, we give ourselves the space and energy to heal what needs our attention. When we compare, we are avoiding what would ultimately help us to live a more fulfilling and tranquil life full of contentment.

4. Be present, be vulnerable, be resolute

Whenever we have the opportunity to communicate with someone, especially face-to-face, the best way to ensure a positive and productive outcome as well as potential for building something for the future – whether a network for work or a lasting friendship or romance – is to be fully present, listening without agenda, sharing back and forth naturally and knowing where we stand on whatever the issue may be, not bending to please, but communicating with respect for ourselves and the goal of building a civil, honest and respectful relationship.

~On being fully present: episode #9, 6 Ways to Live Fully Each Day

~On being vulnerable: episode #126, A Powerful Couple: Boundaries & Vulnerability

~On being resolute: episode #179, The Importance of Knowing Yourself & The Critical Must-Have for a Healthy Relationship

5. Slow the pace and give yourself space

When we slow down, we give our mind the creative space to reveal what it needs to share with us – about our hopes, our worries, our desires – our truth. When we listen, we learn. We learn about what needs to heal. We become rested so we can make better decisions to lead us to our stronger, our more healthy selves and a better life that is filled with love, support and sincere respect.

~Read more: How to Slow Down to Live Well

It still amazes me how such a simple extraction – a sliver from my thumb – can change the focus of my attention, change my ability to do everyday tasks without thinking, change my understanding of what I can do with ease. Seemingly small stressors, while they may appear non-life threatening, debilitate our ability to live fully, live deeply and therefore, live well. How we think, what we say, how we engage, how we move through our days – these are the ingredients that determine the overall quality of our lives.

Such good news reveals how close we all are to living today more of the life we wish we had, and how simple it can be. Today, take the time, five seconds, five minutes, to check your thoughts, to check the words you utter before you say them, to pull your foot off the pedal of life’s schedule, and begin to notice a significant positive change.