Straight up, the title of this article has a big claim, I know!
But I’m taking a guess that just weeks ago, like many others, you made a decision to change. A positive change. A new years resolution. You felt good. You felt energised. Aaaaannnnd…..You probably haven’t done much about it since. If this sounds like you, don’t quit yet.
So why are you willing to accept defeat? To carry on feeling like you could be more or do more? Why are you ok with missing out on life goals and new experiences that fill you with joy? In the past, I’ve accepted that I am a procrastinator. A really bad planner, well that’s my creative excuse.
But really, there is no such thing. Sometimes, the truth is simply, I over commit make my task lists too long and lose sight of my goals when really I want to research local yoga instructors, book in a session and get my Zen on. Sure, taking action is a requirement of change, but hear this; if you want to get more happening in your life, first, you must change the way you think. For reals.
A step in the right direction is to start with a wardrobe cleanse and a visit to the hairdresser. Always works for me!
So take a big breath and ask yourself “what do I want?” If the answer isn’t clear, repeat the question, again and again, until it does. When the answer arrives, ask “why do I want this? Who will I become? How will that make me feel? What does life look like once I have it?” While answering these questions, your mind is creating a vision of your future self which will help keep you motivated. The future you is AWESOME! Don’t let her down.
Understanding your ‘Why’, makes working on your goal so much easier. When you have a decision to make, simply ask, “does this help me move towards my goal?” Your choice will be clear.
The key to all of this is baby steps. Let’s be honest, you won’t go from zero to one hundred overnight. So start small. It’s not about how much time you can spend on your goal in the beginning, it’s about staying consistent.
If you spend just 10 minutes per day on your goal, make sure you do it every day. Especially when you don’t feel like it! Start with some research. Start with some planning. Just start! The hardest part of this process is forming your new habit. Once you get it, you will have momentum. You will have passion. You will achieve great things.
Make a vision board. Ok, so a vision board might not be your thing. Make one anyway. This doesn’t mean you have to get all arts and cafty, just stick some photos or instructions where that you can see them. A reminder of your dream every morning will start your day in the right direction.
I know what you’ve been thinking. ‘I just don’t have time’. It’s the biggest excuse our egos will tell us. We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it. It’s just not true. Finding the time is so much easier than you think. We all have 24 hours each day. The problem is we have been prioritising the wrong things. Get up a little earlier or go to bed just a little later. Do your thing in your lunch break or on the commute to work. Stop watching Netflix. Get off social media and go do your thing!
So what’s holding you back? If there is something in your way, make overcoming it the first step in your new years’ resolution and start living your new life.