I'm a therapist, and I always tell clients it's okay to live a 'good enough' life — here are my 5 top tips

• It's important to remember that sometimes life is out of your control, but how you handle life's challenges isn't.
• Taking care of your mind and body will pay off in the long run.
• Focus on the moment rather than the past.
• Create a life that means something or leaves something behind.

There's no such thing as a free exit.

A young woman I'd worked with for three years was ready to leave therapy. She was calm, happy and about to step out of the room into the Rest of Her Life. I was excited for her, but I'd miss her. That's the thing about being a psychologist: just because you want people to live happily without you doesn't mean you enjoy it.

"So it's over," she said. "This is where you say something wise and illuminating that will sustain me all the rest of my days."

"What if what I say is not Good Enough?"

She grinned at the reference to her perfectionist standards, something we'd worked hard on. But she wasn't finished with me. "If you say goodbye and good luck, I'll slap you. I've spent a lot of time and money here and I expect the best you've got."

She hugged me then which some psychologists frown on but I let clients create their own ending: if they want to hug, I do too. And I promised when I got home that night I would write her some parting words, tips for life, boiled all the way down.

So here it is, my version of all that really matters.

SEE ALSO: 10 things I'd wish I'd known about raising 'smart enough' kids

1. Crap happens.

Crap happening to you is as certain as death — and it comes first. No matter how cool or blessed you think you are, you’ll be tested. So arm yourself; stay open to change and keep building yourself an emotional toolkit that will see you through the tough times.

2. Date yourself.

Okay, not exclusively, that would be weird. Nurture your mind, body and spirit — and take yourself out for some fun, sometimes. Yours is the only relationship you can’t leave. Treat it with kindness and respect.

3. Keep your past behind you.

We all have histories, some nastier than others. Invest in understanding yours but don't let it trap you and hold you back. Life is right here, right now, so commit to being in the present while planning for the future.