7 Things You Should Start Doing Right Now
If you want to change your life.
Two years ago, I wasn’t the person I am today.
I didn’t feel confident being me. I didn’t have a morning routine to motivate my way throughout the rest of the day. I had no steady income. I was afraid to act on my dreams for fear of failure.
One day, I woke up and had enough. I wanted the change. So, I implemented small habits that changed my life.
Now my self-esteem is higher than it has ever been. I have many sources of income, and I love what I do for a living. I enjoy every single day of my life. I am fearless and genuinely content with who I am and where I am going.
It all started with minor changes. And you can give them a go, starting today.
Give yourself a break.
We are programmed to strive for more. Hustle culture made sure of that, as the rat race became glorified.
We fear missing out on opportunities as we subscribe to the belief that whatever we do is not enough.
Yet, it is necessary to pause and admire the fruits of your labour. You have nothing to give if you are pressing on fumes.
Step aside from the daily grind. Unplug from your smartphone. Learn how to feel comfortable alone with your thoughts.
Take mindful breaks. Watch the sun rising. Watch your kids play. Sip that coffee in silence.
We should learn how to take a break, celebrate our success and reward ourselves for the work we have done. When you are not busy, you get to appreciate the value of the here and now.
That is the moment when nothing passes you by.
If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
If you are anxious, you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
— Lao Tzu
Overcome limiting beliefs.
People live in patterns. They give us purpose, but they also keep us stuck.
Those habits are constructed upon limiting beliefs we picked up in childhood. We all have them.
The key lies in recognizing limiting patterns that keep us repeating wrong choices.
Observe the thoughts and emotions that you live by every day. It is not a complicated science. All it takes is awareness.
How do you feel at the thought of starting a conversation with an attractive person? Do you feel worthy of their attention and time? Do you feel like a fan and treat them like a celebrity?
The concept you hold about yourself and the world is the exact concept that determines your actions and choices.
One of the best things you can do for your personal growth is to improve your thoughts.
Without realizing whether self-talk is supportive or degrading, it will be impossible to change your life. Your internal dialogue determines your action.
Your personality creates your personal reality.
— Dr Joe Dispenza
Feed your mind right.
Once you realize your limiting beliefs, it is start to reshape them into a mentality that supports your goals.
Mindset makes or breaks you.
When you wake up, the first thoughts that come to your mind determine your day.
Watch out for the content you take in. Is your morning routine the one that inspires and motivates you, or is it a blur of random news and choices?
When you eat the right food, it keeps you energized. Feed your mind with the right information to stay on top of your mental game. Cut out bad habits and replace them with empowering ones:
- Breathwork.
- Meditation.
- Exercise.
- “No phone in the morning and the evening” rule.
- Read inspirational pages.
- Journal for at least 10 minutes.
Simple habits make for powerful changes.
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
— Marcus Aurelius
Let your friends be an inspiration, not a limitation.
Your tribe affects your performance.
It doesn’t matter what you are doing, but who you are doing it with.
If your friends, or co-workers are disrupting your wellbeing with their criticism, pessimism or toxic positivity, it is time to draw the lines.
Boundaries are your allies. They give you freedom. People-pleasing comes at the price of achieving your goals.
I understand you don’t want to come off as rude or unsupportive, but it will always be your life. Yours alone. It is time to take responsibility for how you want to steer your course.
If people who radiate their negative energy have such a powerful influence on your choices or lack thereof, think how much will you benefit from people who motivate and inspire you to become a better person.
Who you spend time with is who you allow yourself to become.
Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.
— Mark Ambrose
Learn to say “hell no”.
This one was the hardest shifts for me to adopt. So far, it has become my favourite. It has been the most impactful habit I have been cultivating.
The ability to say ‘no’ changed the course of my direction. When you say yes to everything and everyone, you forsake your authenticity. When you start saying ‘no’ to things and people that drain you, new opportunities come to life.
Set your standards high. Don’t feel ashamed of being picky. People who don’t settle for less achieve their goals. You have a saying about what goes into your day and what stays away.
When you learn to say no, life gets easier.
You get what you tolerate.
― Henry Cloud
Give thanks.
When you open your eyes and recognize abundance from the minute you wake up, the day bears a new value.
Train your brain to see positive things.
When I was determined to switch my mindset to a gratitude mode, I would stick colourful notes on my walls with things I can be grateful for. Those were reminders I saw lying in bed when my feet didn’t yet hit the ground. It kept me focused on riches laid out in front of me.
With time, gratitude became natural to me. I find it hard to complain and criticize, as I always find beauty in the mundane.
Gratitude is the ultimate form of receivership. It turns what we already have into more than enough.
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
— Oprah Winfrey
Practice the art of letting go.
Detachment doesn’t mean giving up.
Detachment, from people or situations that hurt us, means you are no longer attached to the emotional burden they carry. You state that they can’t control your actions. You become free.
When you let the past rest in the past, you get clarity of the future and the goals you wish to achieve.
Letting go is not the act of cowardice. It makes us stronger.
The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.
— Steve Maraboli
Huge leaps don’t make for a strong foundation.
Daily habits make or break your life.
- make pauses during the day.
- Observe your thoughts.
- Reevaluate the content you watch, read, and listen to.
- Surround yourself with the right crowd.
- Worship boundaries.
- Tap into daily gratitude.
- Disconnect from what no longer serves you.
See? Fundamental ideas that profoundly change your reality.
You are one step away from a better life. Start today.
Thank you for reading, — Katarzyna
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