The new year is a perfect time to start building a new you, but as we all know, yearly resolutions rarely stick.
Much in the way that successful diets are “lifestyle changes,” not temporary behaviour changes, such are the resolutions we make each year come January. In order to actually change your life for the better, you have to make decisions you can stick to on a long-term basis. If you feel overwhelmed thinking about this, don’t worry — we have a realistic and effective way that anybody (yes, including you!) can begin to nudge your life into the direction you want it to go:
Design your life. No artistic skills required!
If you’re new to this concept, here is it in a nutshell: Life design is about making conscious choices about how your life goes instead of being passive. As author Audrey Bellis says, it’s “life by design, not by default.”
Have you been floating along in life up until this very moment, only to realize you’re not happy with where you’ve ended up? You’re not alone. Fortunately, each one of us has the skills and abilities to stop being passive and start designing our life at any moment.
There are a lot of ways to begin this process, but here are our favorites:
Get Comfortable with Introspection.
Not surprisingly, this is a big hurdle for many people. If you don’t know where you want your life to go, it’s time to start reflecting on your inner self and answering some of the “big questions.” Try meditation, conversation with a close friend, or journaling to get started.
Figure Out Your Passion, Regardless of Reality.
This important thought experiment will pave the way to designing your most fulfilling, exciting life. How would you spend your time if money were no object? Another approach is to think about how you’d like to feel on a daily basis instead of what you’d like to do. Maybe you’re not sure what your passion is quite yet, but you want to feel well-respected, powerful, or safe — this is valuable information that you’ll need for the next step.
Start Pursuing Your Goals This Instant.
Now that you know what your passion is (or how you’d ideally feel in your everyday experiences), it’s time to act. This can be as simple as researching a class you want to take, sending an email, or adding a date to your calendar. Now that you’ve got the ball rolling, keep taking steps in the right direction. Before you know it, your life will already be changing for the better.
Stay Persistent, No Matter What.
Life design means never closing the book on your goals. Remember — it’s a lifestyle choice, not a new year’s resolution. The big secret to making your dreams real? Make each step along the way easy and actionable. Slow and steady wins the race.
Don’t Go It Alone.
There’s no better way to achieve your life design goals than to have the support and accountability of somebody you trust, like a family member, friend, or coach. Coaches are specifically trained to help people push their lives further, faster. If you’re serious about designing the life you want, we encourage you to reach out to us today to discuss your goals!
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