I feel like too many cards rely on gaining life, and the main source of life gain is your lands and 1 Sorin, which isn't huge. Either more life gain, or replace those creatures with other ones. And isn't Hardened Scales a must?

You also might want to consider Reap What Is Sown for instant speed counters.

what type of life gain do you think would fit well into this deck?... I have an Ajani Steadfast I can add, but I know that won't solve my problems... Maybe i should add a couple extra Abzan Battle Priest or?

i honestly think the deck would run better with 20-24 lands and cut some of the creatures i found with the abzan counters its easier to just go with 21 abzan affects like battle preist and the flying one then you have lots of life gain

I'm unsure as to what exactly to do because I feel like the 20 abzan effects is quite normal and I want a deck that isn't normally seen and can compete.

I have realized that the deck has a hard time dealing with destroy/control decks, any ideas to fix this?