5 Steps to Create The Life You Want
Change is inevitable. Progress is optional. You’re either going to move forward or move backwards. Either way, you are moving. So, why not take the opportunity to discover how to create the life you want?
A lot of people think that getting what you want in life means working hard, making money, and working hard for a better life. In fact, this is partly true. But to create the life you want, you need to think carefully and ask yourself, “ Are these dreams I am working toward really my dreams?”
Before you can move forward, you need to look inward. Tony Robbins says that to create the life you want, you must:
- See things the way they are.
- See things the way you want them to be.
- Make it happen.
These can be broken down into five steps you can start taking today in order to not only create the life you want, but to feel good about trying to do it too.
1. Understand and see things for what they really are:
The first step is to see things the way they are. It sounds easy enough, but the truth is that as humans, we tend to either see things as better or worse than they are. Our perspective depends on many factors, including our limiting beliefs and the way we prioritize our human needs.
Understanding why you are the way you are is essential for you to be able to create the life you want. So, determine which human need shapes your choices and is your key finding fulfilment, then take an honest look at your life and find out if you are being true to yourself.
Only when you get in touch with yourself can you stop hiding behind a mask and stop going after goals you don’t really want.
2. Imagine:
Now that you understand where you are currently – and what makes you feel happy and fulfilled – you can begin to imagine how to create the life you want. To uncover your dream life, use the rocking chair method. Imagine that you’re 90 years old and you’re in your rocking chair, looking back on your life telling your grandkids about your adventure and the lessons you’ve learned.
What are you most proud of? What are your biggest regrets? Is there anything you wish you had achieved, or made more time for?
Take those regrets and accomplishments and visualize them as goals. You’re beginning to mentally create the life you want. The key to visualization is to treat it as if it’s already happened. Use words like “ I am” and “ I can”. “I’m fit and healthy” and “I’m my own boss”.
3. Decide:
To create the life you want, you must decide you want it more than anything, and you must truly believe you can achieve it.
Successful people typically have a desire to control their lives. This means you believe that you make the decisions in your life. You choose how you react to your circumstances. You even choose the way you feel. It’s a reinforcing way of thinking that puts you in the lead.
You’ll also need to prioritize yourself and your dreams. You may need to let go of guilt that other areas of your life won’t be getting as much of your focus. You may have to make major changes in your life. You may think “The time just isn’t right”.
Tim Ferris says in his book, “The 4_ Hour Workweek”: “Conditions are never perfect.” One day a disease will take your dreams with you. He means: The time will never be right. Get over it and decide to do it.
4. Take action:
Tony says that “A real decision is measured by the action that you’ve taken. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” So, don’t be one of the people who settles for an ordinary life. It’s time to make yours a masterpiece. To create the life you want, you must bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Set goals and write them down. Better yet, tell a friend of these goals. The act of writing or saying your goals out loud tricks your brain into thinking they’ve already happened. Then when you achieve them, you reinforce the entire process, and you train your brain to expect success which leads to more success.
Break your goals into small daily tasks. If you want to achieve financial freedom, it’s better to start tracking your budget and learning about investing. If you want to start your own company, join a mastermind group, find a mentor, or start making a website. Every goal you achieve will begin to create the life you want.
5. Believe in yourself:
It isn’t always easy to get the life we want. Our human need for certainty can keep us stuck in unproductive patterns. We stay in unfulfilling relationships because we’re used to them. We stay at jobs we hate because we need a steady salary. Breaking these patterns requires a strong belief in yourself and your vision. Connect your day-to-day goals to your overall vision for your life. So, write your diary to remember your goals and to see how far you’ve come.
In conclusion:
Remember to celebrate those successes, and learn from the failures to identify the cause of the problem, but don’t dwell on it. Always focus on solutions because growth is addictive. Once you achieve a goal, you’ll start a cycle of successes.