3 Steps You Must Take Now To Secure A Happy Future

3 Steps to future happiness.

Whether we like it or not at this present moment in time we are being dragged kicking and screaming through the storm of change. Things are collapsing all around us, we are losing lives, jobs and our sanity.

I have to confess I was feeling a bit worried about the future and what effect COVID 19 would have on my life. Then I read an insightful article by Kim Duke about finding your inner farm girl (see here). And I had to agree with her and to change my perspective on this whole disaster.

Are we are going through tough times? Yes. Is it worrying? Yes. Will things get better? Yes. But not before they get a whole lot worse. That is simply the nature of the beast.

It is the cycle of evolution: Norm Storm Reform.

It reminds me of the story of the two frogs who fall into a bucket of milk. As hard as they try they just can’t climb out of the bucket. One frog convinces himself that it is impossible to get out so he gives up trying and dies. The other keeps on going, paddling his legs trying to jump, resting. Eventually the motion of his legs turns the milk into butter and finally he has solid ground to stand on and then to leap out of the bucket to freedom.

At the moment we are all in a bucket of milk trying to cope with an unfamiliar situation. It’s important to keep going but it’s also important to start thinking about the future. Not just your future that’s what everyone did in the past. Now it’s time to think about the future of the planet, the earth and all living creatures and plants we share it with.

Thinking big is not easy when we are used to thinking small. Most of us have only been focusing on the next immediate task or getting through the week. Deciding whats really important to us and how we want to show up in the world — well they are big questions. The sort of questions we only ask when we are forced into a big life event, like divorce, death or a terminal illness

So now really is the time to take stock and start thinking and planning for the future. But not just for your own future but for those who will come after you.

Here are 3 steps I learnt on a business course that I have adapted for life.

Step 1: The Norm

Take stock of your life. This is the hard part as you have to be brutally honest with yourself and look calmly at your life and what was your normality. It’s time to look at what you have been doing for the last three years, your behaviours and the situation you are in. No judgement is needed you just need to deal in the facts without attaching any blame or criticism.

Be specific as this will help give you clarity and help you to understand what habits or behaviours you have developed that have got you into the current situation, for example spending your money on clothes instead of saving money or hanging around with negative people because you were scared of being alone. Here are some questions you can ask:-

Where do you live? Why do you live there?

Who are your friends? Why are they your friends?

What was your income for the last 3 years?

What have you spent your money on?

Did you plan this life? Did you make informed conscious choices?

Have your habits helped you to thrive and prosper or have they put you in a difficult situation?

Step 2: Identify the Storm

What’s happening right now? What are your biggest worries. Are your worries realistic? If your friend was in the same situation as you would you think they were worrying too much? Which of your habits or behaviours do you need to change for the future? Do you need to change your circle of friends? Or change your spending habits and save more?

Step 3: Reform

It’s time for you to become someone else and for that you need a vision.

Think about the person you want to be. See that person in your mind. Now bring some energy to that new person. Keep the image in your mind run on the spot for 30 seconds to generate energy then throw your arms into the air and shout yes. Be glad and happy and welcome in the new you.

Now it’s time to start reprogramming your internal operating system to match the new person you are creating. You need to be familiar with yourself so that you can stop yourself from self-sabotaging. If you are anything like me then you will be your own worst enemy. Here are some of my excuses:

I can’t.

I’m too tired.

I’ll do it tomorrow.

There’s no time.

Don’t beat yourself up if you fail every now and then! Praise each victory and if you fail one day don’t worry tomorrow is a new day start again. Small victories add up to a big victory. Like the frog in the bucket keep going. Try to live everyday in the energy of the person you want to be. Ask yourself: What do they do? How do they spend their time and money? How do they show up in the world? Then start to live the way you imagine the new you lives be happy and keep going.