8 Things To Change Your Life In One Year
How to become the best version of yourself in the next 12 months
1. Pick one skill you want to cultivate and put all your effort into developing it
We tend to want to do it all, which makes us end up doing nothing. Don’t overestimate your time and discipline. Chose one skill and focus on that one only. Once you’ve mastered that, you can go on to the next thing. Remember that it’s better to know how to do one thing in depth and excellence instead of learning how to do several things half good.
2. Commit to the goals you set
One of the best ways to hold yourself accountable for the things you want to achieve is the following: Imagine yourself in a year from now, having put maximum effort into working towards your goals. Then imagine yourself a year from now, not having done anything to achieve your goals. Every time you want to quit, remind yourself of the difference between those two lives. Keep that future version of the life you will live if you stay focused and disciplined at the forefront of your mind. Nothing feels worse than missing out on your own potential.
3. Stop complaining and appreciate how lucky you are
If you have a roof above your head and can pay your monthly bills, you are better off than the majority. Instead of focusing on everything that sucks in your life, focus on everything that worked in your favor and all the privileges you have. Start a gratefulness journal and savor the favorite moments in your day. This is a magical way of transforming the way you live your life because what happens is that you will start actively looking for things that are great during your day. And what we focus on magnifies.
4. Read every day
Books are one of the most magical things in this world. They can take us into different lives, times, spheres, and concepts. Reading sparks creativity and imagination, and it aids in relaxation and calming the nervous system. It has even been found to help with depression by significantly improving social, mental, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. On top of that, it is one of the most valuable sources for learning and developing. Instead of scrolling on social media at night, make it a habit to read until you fall asleep.
5. Have an emotional outlet
Everyone needs a way to express their thoughts and feelings. Communicating what is going on in our inner world helps us tremendously understand ourselves and our behaviors better. This will, in turn, lead to taking more informed actions. An emotional outlet can be in the form of a journal, talking to a therapist, songwriting, or any way that allows you to express your feelings fully.
6. Find more people that elevate and inspire you
It’s common knowledge that the people we surround ourselves with have an immense influence on how we live our lives. Often, we find ourselves surrounded by people who may be great friends and a robust support system, which is essential. But they don’t necessarily help us grow. Sometimes, even the opposite is happening, especially with old friends. They want us to stay exactly the way they have always known us. They dislike the idea of us changing and developing. It would make them feel uncomfortable because it would demonstrate that they are still in the same place while we are evolving. That makes them sound like bad people, but often they’re not even aware of it. It’s a mechanism to protect themselves from change. This doesn’t mean you have to eliminate those people from your life, not at all. But make sure you find more people who encourage you to evolve and improve and demonstrate what is possible to you. Go to conferences, parties, co-working places, anywhere you can meet new and interesting people, and make a conscious effort to connect.
7. Move every day
Moving your body is one of these things that has a positive rippling effect on your whole life. You start to feel better, eat better, look better, attract better, sleep better, and just live better. Make sure to integrate movement into your daily life, take long walks, go on runs with a friend, do yoga classes, go on bike rides, and make these activities non-negotiables. If it requires a lot of discipline for you (which it probably does for most of us), come back to that thought of what your life will look like in a year from now if you stick to everyday movement.
8. Stop waiting and be right here, right now
We have a tendency to be in a constant state of waiting. Waiting for the next holiday. The wedding. The promotion. The moment we have finally lost those 5 pounds. The moment life is really starting. But life has already begun long ago. It’s happening right now. We need to let go of the idea that there will come a point we have arrived, and all will make sense. Start to practice being in the here and now. You can do so by taking a few minutes every morning and/or evening to meditate, which is exactly that, a practice of being fully present. You can do so by taking in your surroundings more fully. When in conversation, focus entirely on your counterpart. When sitting on a train, take moments to focus on your breath. When going for a walk, focus on all the sounds around you. When you’re a complete mess after a break-up, allow yourself to feel all your feelings. Life is not only good or bad. But instead of facing and processing what is happening, we developed a habit of distracting ourselves. Don’t miss out on your life. It’s happening right now.
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