Seven Things You Can Do Right Now To Take Back Control Of Your Life

Step number 1, take personal responsibility

Do you feel like your life is out of your hands? Are you frustrated with the way things are going? Does it all feel like too much? Good. It means you’re ready. Ready to take charge. Ready to accept responsibility. Ready to change your life for the better.

I’ve spent years studying the habits of highly successful people. CEOs, entrepreneurs, public figures, and highly reputable world leaders. I realized that the only reason any of these people got to be where they are today is that they accepted responsibility and took charge of their life. The moment they did so, their lives changed for the better.

When the hole gets too deep, sometimes it seems impossible to dig your way out. I’m here to tell you that it’s not impossible. No matter how deep of a hole you’re in, there is a way.

Start By Planning Out The Next Ten Years Of Your Life

As a new father, I recently realized the importance of planning, which is the first thing you should do to take back control of your life.

First, before anything’s possible, you have to see it in your mind. As Napoleon Hill would say, “whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, he can achieve.”

It would be best to write down your goals and ambitions for the next ten years and then scale them down. What would you need to accomplish by year five to be in line with your ten-year goals? What would you need to do by year one?

Think big. Don’t hold back. You can accomplish anything as long as you set your mind to it.

Now ask yourself, what can you do right now to ensure that you’ll accomplish your one, five, and ten-year goals?

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I’ll spend the first four sharpening my axe” — Abraham Lincoln

Commit To Reading One Book A Week.

Did you know that not even 80% of America’s population picks up a book after high school? The statistics are even lower for those who graduate from college. For some reason, many of us are lead to believe that we’ve learned all that there is to learn at one point or another.

Bill gates reportedly read an average of 50 books per year, around one book per week. Elon Musk grew up reading two books a day. Anthony (Tony) Robbins claims to have read over 10,000 books in his lifetime. Most successful CEOs read an average of 4–5 books per month, around one book per week.

My point?

It would be best if you read more books.

Reading is the key to self-improvement. Specifically, reading self-help books. Try picking up one of these three books for a start.

• The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
• The Magic of Thinking Big

Hangout With Those Who Hold Similar Morals And Ambitions

Jim Rohn once famously said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with,’ and he was right. Have you ever noticed that a group of close friends carry similar habits? Same fashion style, similar use of slang words, the same posture, and sometimes even similar partners’ choices.

Your best friends and closest family members hold the greatest influence on your life. It’s your responsibility to identify the top five people you should be hanging around and make it a habit of doing so. Think about the wealthiest person in your family or social circle. Spend some time with them, and slowly you’ll begin to adopt a similar mindset on money.

I don’t have a huge social circle, and — to be honest — my top five won’t take me far, so I read books, listen to podcasts, and study the habits of successful people. Choose a role model that you look up to and study the habits and quirks that make them who they are.

Use A Journal

If you don’t already use a journal, consider using one now. They cost only a few dollars, and the benefits last a lifetime.

I started using a journal at an incredibly young age, like eight or nine. Now at 21, I can look back and view my life from a fresh perspective. I don’t need to rely on memory to recall notable life experiences.

Write down stuff like current priorities and goals and things like emotions and good things that happened that day.

Don’t be afraid to write down any negative experiences because you can look back down the road to reflect on these experiences and even potentially learn something.

Have An Accountability Partner.

An accountability partner should be someone who isn’t afraid to tell you straight. When you start to slack off, it’s them who pulls you back on track. For me, the one and only accountability partner would be my wife. She’s not afraid to tell me how it is, and neither should yours (your accountability partner, that is — hopefully, your wife does that already).

The role and responsibility of an accountability partner are just that — to hold you accountable for the decisions you make in life. Choose somebody honest and close enough in your life to hold you responsible for your actions. Somebody who can tell you when you’re screwing up — and it’s your responsibility to listen.

If I would have had someone like that years ago, maybe — just maybe — I’d be further in life than I am now.

Learn To Let Go

Some things are out of your control. For instance, in the event of a car crash, your immediate reaction might be to get angry and yell, either at yourself or the other person responsible. In these circumstances — as hard as it may be — there’s only one thing under your control; your attitude.

Under any circumstance, you — and only you — have the power over your thoughts. It’s not always how we act but how we react to a certain event.

Sometimes you have to let things go. I had to, for the last four years — you know what I’m talking about.

“Just keep in mind: the more we value the things outside our control, the less control we have” — Epictetus

Stop Trying To Be Someone You’re Not

Don’t change for anyone. I made the mistake of changing who I was for someone who — turns out — loved me for who I was, not for who I was becoming.

You’re special because you are you, and if you don’t like the person you see — work on becoming someone to be proud of. I lost myself, so I took the opportunity to create the person I wanted to become.

Focus on the things that bring you joy. Find your passion(s), and don’t ask for anyone’s permission to do so. I lost a huge part of myself when I gave up drawing — even more so when I (temporarily) gave up writing. I told myself that there were more important things in life. I was wrong.

The worst thing you could do to yourself is denying a part of who you are. Embrace all of it, no matter how weird or quirky. You’re you, and someone will love you for it. Fuck everyone else.

So What Can You Do Right Now?

Start by accepting responsibility. Your life is in your hands. Your finances, relationships, health, and work responsibilities are there because of your decisions. You have the power to change your life for the better by making better decisions.

If you want to avoid making bad decisions, then plan out your life, write down your goals, and commit to reading at least one book a week.

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” — Jim Rohn