Change is rarely an easy thing. For some, the task feels so overwhelming that they aim to avoid it entirely. However, refusing to change your life if it isn’t going well can have a severely negative impact on a person’s emotional and mental wellbeing, as well as halt their self-growth.
Change doesn’t have to be scary or difficult. Instead, these 10 simple tips below will help you change your life in small ways that will make a big impact on your overall well-being.
Change your Life
Be Honest and Speak-Up
Many people are hesitant to speak their honest thoughts, opinions, and feelings out loud because they fear doing so will cost them friends. However, Lolly Daskal, the CEO of Lead From Within says that “honesty is the cornerstone of success,” and many other positive attributes, such as confidence, hinge on one’s ability to not only be honest with themselves but with others as well.
Allow Yourself to Really Feel Your Emotions
A research team at the Harvard Decision Science Laboratory discovered that strong emotions which are commonly labeled as negative can actually have positive effects on a person’s life. For example, the team’s research suggests that anger has the ability to help people feel powerful in their own lives and can help them to overcome their fears. Therefore, Covisioning President, Marcia Reynolds, Psy.D, suggests that harnessing your anger and internalizing can be incredibly useful when it comes to overcoming personal challenges and making improvements that will change your life.
Take a Moment to Focus
Each day, carve out a small bit of time to focus on your goals for the day, and the attitude you want to have to go into that day. In doing so, clinical psychologist John Duffy, Ph.D suggests trying to make each day a better day than the day before. This could be something as small as not sleeping in or making an extra effort to help someone in need.
Forgive and Move On to Greener Pastures
According to Lolly Daskal, switching things up within your social circle can truly change your life, as long as you are surrounding yourself with the right people. While it’s imperative to be able to forgive those who have caused you pain or heartache, it’s equally as important to learn from those lessons by instead choosing to fill your life with people who are in your corner and truly want what is best for you.
Learn How to Unstuck Yourself
Many people experience phases in their lives when they start to feel stagnant or stuck, which can lead to unhappiness. Luckily, there is a way to unstuck yourself when this happens. Clinical psychologist Deborah Serani, Psy.D says to first reflect, and then get active, as these two components are critical if you want to change your life. First, take a moment to understand what is making you feel stuck. Next, understand where it is making you feel stuck (i.e. home, work, school, etc). Lastly, focus on your inner-self (your mind and your heart) to determine the best course of action.
Get a Better Night’s Sleep
Ari Tuckman, Psy.D says that although most people understand that getting enough sleep is important, they often overlook it. Although many people feel like foregoing a little bit of sleep provides them with extra time to do something more productive, Tuckman says that just one night of shortened rest can put a serious damper on a person’s ability to solve complex problems, pay attention, and remember things.
Focus on Gratitude
Focusing on what your life lacks versus what it has is a surefire way to become unhappy, according to psychotherapist and founder of Urban Balance, Joyce Marter, LCPC. Showing a bit of gratitude can go a long way when it comes to manifesting positivity and success in one’s life. An easy way to show gratitude is to express thanks to someone who did something kind for you recently.
Minimize and Focus On What is Essential
Many people are living in excess of what is essential, and if this is true for you, it’s important to understand how doing so can create complexity and stress in your life. Lead From Within CEO, Lolly Daskal, says that simplifying your life allows you to focus the things that are the most important, and create the necessary space you need to change your life for better.
Accept What Cannot Be Changed
Psychologist Jennifer Delgado suggests that failure to accept unchangeable circumstances can lead to feelings of being stuck, unhappiness, and blinds us from realizing our true potential. When faced with a difficult situation that is beyond our control, Delgado says the best course of action is to change our perception of that situation, because it is ultimately our reactions to these situations which will be the determining factor in how we feel about them.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, remember that if you want to change your life, doing so requires a commitment in order for them to be successful. Don’t just implement these small changes today and tomorrow, but the next day and every day after.
As legendary race car driver Mario Andretti has famously said, “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” With that in mind, make that commitment today to change your life for better!
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