If you could change anything, what would you most like to change about yourself?
- A fragment of the Berlin wall, at the Imperial War Museum, London.
We all want to change whether it’s stopping smoking, losing weight, reducing stress or controlling habits. How can we do it effectively?
How do you want things to be?
It’s been said “If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” In order to realise your dreams you have to first form an image in your mind of what those dreams actually are.
Start by choosing something that you want to achieve and break it down into a number of steps that you need to achieve in order to get there. Break those steps down further into smaller tasks and start by doing what you can so that you tick something off every day – no matter how small it is. This way you will know that what you are doing is moving in the right direction to your ultimate goal.
Don’t get stuck in the trap of thinking about what changes to make. This is a common way for us to become distracted from our goal and ultimately become disillusioned with the whole process. Remember, thinking about change will not motivate you, but actually making the changes in your life will.
Even when we make changes, it is all too easy to overlook them. We commonly don’t notice we change. If I said “Are you the same person you were yesterday?” you would probably answer ‘Yes’, If I said “Are you the same person you were twenty years ago?” you would probably answer ‘No’. In reality the things you did yesterday changed you to be the person you are today.
By noticing those changes as they occur, maybe its a change in your thinking or a break from normal behaviour – will encourage you to keep focused and that closer to your goal..
Thinking about our problems without taking action only drags those problems into the future with us. Changing the focus on how you want things to be rather than how you don’t want them to be will maximise your mentally healthy thinking and vitality of life – helping you realise the dreams you always wanted.
To re-cap
- Thinking about our problems without taking action only drags those problems into the future with us.
- Begin to focus on how you want things to be, rather than how you don’t want them to be.
- Make sure you create a clear mental image of what you want to change about yourself.
- Don’t get stuck thinking about how to make the changes focus on what is needed.
- Write down the steps that need to happen to reach your goal.
- Break each step down into manageable tasks.
- Do one of the tasks every day, no matter how small it is – it will get you closer to your goal.
- Just thinking about change will not motivate you, actually making those changes will.
- Notice the things you do differently, no matter how small – it might be a thought, a feeling or change in behaviour
- Even if you have an off day – Continue on the next day – Keep going!
- Small steps add up to big change – and a whole new you!
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson – Writer
Be happy,
Mathew.
