18 Life Lessons From How I Met Your Mother

1. Sometimes all you need is a nap

Ted is obsessed with making sure his life is going according to his plan. But as Marshal is saying, forget about your plan, for now. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. If something has derailed your plan, remember, your life cannot be designed like a building, things happen and you have to go with them. When they get you down, take a nap, re-energize and attack with a new game plan. Self-care is crucial.

 

2. Your attitude decides your behavior

Life will place a lot of hurdles in your way, you just have to accept that and conquer them. That is the motto with which you should face each adversary. If you look at each problem as a challenge that you can and will take on, your confidence and determination already give you a head start to fixing it. Also, pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone is how people grow.

 

3. Be your own cheerleader

It is important to have a healthy self-esteem. Take pride in your accomplishments no matter how small they are. Give yourself a self-five every so often.

 

4. Miracles do happen

When you’re down and everything seems to be going against you, miracles can happen. Whether they come in the form of an extended deadline, a girl, your friends, or even a cancelled exam on the day you suddenly fall sick, they’ll happen.

 

5. You need to accept when to move on

Occasionally, there are things beyond your control. You need to accept that they are beyond your control. Whether it's old friends or classmates, some people just aren’t meant to be permanent fixtures in your life. Same with classes, and majors. Sometimes, you make bad decisions, so you should know when to move on and start over.

 

6. ..and when to wait for it

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Things don’t happen with the snap of your fingers. Lengd-wait for it-dary things take time, but they’ll happen. So, you should think before you make the call to move on, or wait.

 

7. Ask for help

Everyone has their own areas of strengths. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your friends, professors, and family are there for you if you need. Whether it's an extension on an essay, or help grocery shopping, know when you need help and ask.

 

8. It's all about your mindset

Take this tip from Barney to heart. Don’t let a setback or a series of bad events become who you are. If you're ever stuck in a funk, go back to #1, take a nap, and then start being awesome!

 

9. Sometimes our friends know us better than we know ourselves

The way Lily bluntly tells Ted her opinion on everything from his clothes to his life choices, she’s only looking out for him. As Robin says, our friends are those people who can recognize our mistakes and care enough about us to call us on it. Sometimes, our friends know what we want better than what we ourselves think.

 

10. Nothing good happens after 2 am

As Ted shows us in the first season when he loses both Victoria and Robin at 2 am, nothing good happens after 2 am. Just go home. This also works if you are stuck on an assignment or in a fight with a friend or significant other. If it's past 2 am, and you're stuck, just stop and sleep on it.

 

11. Never force a relationship

Ted has a history of going back to ex-girlfriends and they never work out. In the nine seasons he dates 36 women before he meets “the one”. Never force a relationship; you’ll find that person eventually, but not by going back to the relationships that didn’t work out or trying to stretch one. The same thing applies to friendships and a career.

 

12. Star Wars references work in any situation

Whether it be a formal work dinner or a relaxed night at the bar, a Star Wars reference is always relatable and acceptable.

 

13. Don’t overthink, or you’ll get “The Yips”

Coined by Barney’s brother, “The Yips” is what happens when you overthink things to the point of talking yourself out of doing them. Just go for it or you’re going to miss out on a lot of opportunities in life. If you start overthinking and questioning yourself, you will start doubting every small thing, like the spelling of your own name.

 

14. Go after your dreams

Don’t stick with a major, career, or job just because you’re afraid to leave or it’s risky to go after whatever you really want. Chase after your dreams no matter how scary it is.

 

15. Sometimes telling a white lie is the nicer thing to do

Barney’s hangover fixer elixir was a placebo shake that tricked his friends into feeling better. Not all lies come with ill intentions, if you’re doing it out of love and to help others is it necessarily a bad thing to lie?

 

16. Just because you didn’t like something at one time long ago, doesn’t mean that you don’t like it now

Give everything a chance; you change and so do your tastes. Maybe you will find out that you love the dessert you hated as a child. Maybe you'll find out that you aren't as interested in your field of study as you'd thought during school. It works both ways. Always be open to change.

 

17. The front porch test

Lily used the “Front Porch Test” to see if she believed that Ted’s girlfriends were right for him. You should use the same for your life choices. Imagine yourself at the age of 70, sitting on that porch, and reminiscing about your life. Would you be happy you made this decision? Will it matter? Is this a lasting decision, and if so, can you see yourself growing old with it? (Applies to careers, tattoos and friends!)

 

18. Some friends are for a lifetime.

The only constant in Ted’s life through the nine seasons were his friends. They helped him get through the tough times, laughed at his embarrassments, and led him back to the right path when he needed. But most of all, they cared about him and had a great time. Don’t ever give up crazy times with your friends. Some friends you make will last you a life time.