1. Learn Something New
Learning new skills and practicing new tasks can take you one step closer to your goals. It will stretch your mental capacity and prepare you to move onto bigger and better things. There are lots of ways to learn new things. Online classes offer a flexible schedule and a break on the budget. Traditional schooling can give you a one up if you are trying to advance your career. Invest in yourself, and you will always receive a return on your investment.
2. Ask
Ask, and it will be given to you. Talk to your boss about taking on more responsibility at work. Ask to be put on projects you wouldn’t normally volunteer for. Not only will you be expanding your borders but the added accountability by working with and for others will help you to keep on the track of moving up.
Talk to others about opportunities you may have never thought of yourself. Other people see things you may have missed and don’t hold back ideas for you because of doubts or limiting beliefs. We often hold ourselves back because we are afraid to fail. Borrow some confidence from a close friend and go out and make something happen.
3. Visualize Your Future
One of two things will happen when you visualize your future:
You’ll see the life you could create if you stepped out of your comfort zone and pursued your dreams.
OR
2. You’ll see yourself in the same place, 5, ten years from now. And that should scare you to death.
Accomplishing your goals and reaching your dreams is going to make you uncomfortable at times. If you’re comfortable, you are not growing and moving forward. You could be stuck in the same dead-end, life-sucking, dream-killing job forever if you don’t make some changes in your life. If you can see where you want to go, what’s it going to take to get you there? Do you need a degree? Do you need to learn to be more assertive? Do you need to increase your skills in a particular area? Do you need to practice positivity?
Make a list of the small actions that add up to the life you want to live and take daily action towards them.
4. Put Away Self-Doubt and Negative Thinking
We touched on this earlier, but it is so important it needed its own section. You can do anything you set your mind to. I believe that. It’s not just a nice thing your parents tell you. It’s the truth. Stop doubting your abilities and thinking about what would happen if you fail.
What if you succeed?
Changing your thinking can be hard, but like any change, you just need to take the first step. Then continue taking small steps until you get where you want to go. First, you need to examine your thoughts. What do you say to yourself over and over? When you find yourself having negative thoughts replace them with something positive to stop the cycle of negative self-talk.
For example, one time when I was really stressed out I realized I was doing it to myself. I kept saying “I’m too busy” “I don’t have time, ” and my life became a constant struggle to fit everything in. I had myself so worked up I didn’t let myself rest or relax, and I got worn down. When I realized what I was doing, I started telling myself “I have time for what really matters” “Everything will get done.” It was like a night and day difference in my life.
5. Seek Out Others Who Have Gone Before You
Find someone who has been where you are and is now where you want to be. Follow their advice and let them be a mentor to you. Draw from their success to help you see what’s possible for your own life. Let successful people guide you to be the best version of yourself you can be. Talking to someone who seems to have it all can be intimidating. If that seems out of your comfort zone, push through. Soon you will have expanded your borders, and that will become your new comfort zone.
If you don’t know any successful people, you can read books and blogs of people who have achieved great things from being a little uncomfortable at times. They didn’t let the discomfort keep them from getting want they wanted out of life.
Knock on the door of opportunity, and it will be opened for you.
Journey to L.I.F.E. 