Out With the Old and In with the New
There’s no better time than NOW to make positive changes in your life. If you want to improve your life, why not start right away? Life is too short.
You can start by reflecting on the past months or year and make a plan for what you’d like to accomplish in the coming months. Sadly, I know lots of people who never do these things. No time for reflection. No aspirations or goals for self-improvement for the future.
Lots of people just let life happen… let the cards fall where they may. They’re sleeping through life by default rather than by living by design. If you’ve been one of those people, no worries; it’s never too late to start. Maybe you’ve been programmed to think doing something else won’t work. But if you’re not happy, I’m telling you there are things you can change – no matter what your situation.
With the fast pace of life today, so many people are caught up with day-to-day activities that they don’t make time to plan for their futures.
This is a dangerous way to live.
Fifty-eight percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings and this doesn’t seem to be improving. Rather than facing the problem people just ignore it and hope it will go away on its own.
I know because I used to be one of those people. It’s scary to think about and brings up intense feelings of regret and shame. For years I was scared to even look at my bank account. What an awful place to be. I just couldn’t bring myself to face the problem and figure out how to fix it. I was paralyzed by it…so I buried my head in the sand and pretended it wasn’t there.
Being in that situation was a scary, stressful place to be because in the back of my mind I knew I was anything but prepared for any sort of emergency. And life’s inevitable emergencies WILL come up – cars break down, furnaces go out, family members get sick, etc. It’s not a matter of IF; it’s a matter of WHEN. Can you relate to this?
Another thing I find sad is that most people have given up on their childhood dreams to be something magnificent when they grow up. They’ve not only given up; they’ve forgotten.
But why?
Society tells us we must be “practical.” We must be “realistic.” So we limit what we do to follow suit. We continue running in our hamster wheels racing to get to only God knows where.
As the great Mary Morrissey says, “You don’t get to not create a life, so at least make up a possible life; something that you would love to experience or be or do or give or express.”
Doesn’t that just make more sense than just letting life happen?
It REALLY is possible to do something you love and even get paid well for it. This is a concept that just isn’t on most people’s radar.
In 2016, just like any other year, you’ll have exactly 525,000 minutes. You have the same amount of time as a co-worker, neighbor, a homeless person and even people like Oprah or Richard Branson who accomplish so much; they have the same amount of time as you.
I’m not saying you should up and quit your job or do something else drastic. What I’m suggesting is making small steps every day towards something that would improve your life.
If you love your job, great! Keep it! If not, start taking gradual steps to change it. If you don’t have much fun in your life, figure out what “fun” means to you and then start adding those activities to your lifestyle.
So how will you choose to invest your time?
Have you thought about it?
Why not make this year different?
The options are there for YOU. You just have to decide to do it.
It’s an exciting time in our world; with technology and the Internet, possibilities are endless and open to most people.
Ideas to improve your life and get yourself on a happier, more fulfilling path:
1. Evaluate How You’re Currently Spending Your Time
One of the biggest excuses people have for not trying to improve their situations is because they just don’t have time.
This is one of the lamest excuses out there. EVERYONE has time.
It’s all about how you prioritize your time that counts.
What’s more important, working on making your life better for an hour or watching Dancing with the Stars? It’s your choice.
So take a critical look at how you’re spending your time. Do the activities that consume your time align with your core values? If not, make a plan to readjust things.
Sacrifices might have to be made, but if you’re happier and living a more fulfilling life, it’s worth it, right? And you might find the things you’ve been doing aren’t making you happy anyway, maybe you’re just using them to numb out like TV watching.
2. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
When was the last time you stepped outside your comfort zone? Is fear keeping you from venturing out?
Most things worthwhile are a little scary, maybe even a lot scary, but that’s where the magic happens.
Real growth happens outside the comfort zone.
Temporary discomfort is totally worth it if your life is better on the other side. Wouldn’t you agree?
I know I’m harping on a subject that’s on hundreds of other sites, but I’m hoping this might be the right time in your life and this blog inspires you enough to try something new, get over your fear of whatever is holding you back from what you really want or simply changing up your regular routine a bit.
3. Question Your Beliefs
Take a look at the beliefs you’ve had since you were a kid that you’ve likely carried into adulthood. These deep-seated messages hang out in your subconscious mind and could very well be things you never even think about. Even so, they still can be damaging to relationships, goals and your actions. Examining these beliefs can teach you a lot about yourself and you might be able to identify things that are holding you back in life.
4. Improve Your Self-Awareness
We all have parts of ourselves we aren’t aware of – our hidden selves or blind spots. These things aren’t necessarily negative, although they usually are. They could be mannerisms, personal values, personality traits, habits, feelings and thoughts.
A deep level of self-awareness aligns us with who were truly meant to be, do, have + create.Click To TweetIt helps us live our own level of greatness. Working with a life coach can be helpful in discovering our blind spots.
5. Set a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
You’ve heard other people talking about them, but why not set one for yourself? Reach far past your usual limits and set a goal so big, it’s scary. You could choose something you’ve always wanted but have never had the spine to do. Set one and get to work! You’ll not only amaze yourself, but you’ll feel great satisfaction knowing you DID it.
6. Spring Into Action
After you’ve set your BHAG you need to break it down (into smaller, manageable steps) and take immediate action. There’s no time like right NOW. Get inspired and just do it. Make a list and start crossing things off.
7. Create New, Habits for Self-Care, Personal Development & Your Health
Why not start that exercise plan you’ve been talking about, wake up earlier, read at least 10 pages of a personal development book a day, start a meditation practice. What other habits could you do to improve yourself?
8. Avoid Negative People
We all have them in our lives, whether they are family or in your circle of friends.
They come in many forms:
- They could just have a really negative outlook on life.
- They are constantly depressed or sad.
- They are comfy in their mediocre life and would love for you to stay there with them so they put you down and laugh at you for trying something new.
- They could even be someone who means well but tries to encourage you not to make changes in your life. i.e. “You don’t need to lose 20 lbs., you look beautiful just the way you are.” OR “Are you sure you want to start your own business? That sounds risky, you already have job and benefits…wouldn’t it be safer to stick with that?”
The bottom line is, if you’d like to keep your vibrational frequency at 500 or above, then you need to surround yourself with positive people. Limit time with the negative Nelly’s and Ned’s.
