Clubwww1 –The January Mind Set....Change!
A change in direction starts with the choices you make and those
choices can be made whenever you want to make the effort to start.
January
is the time of year when we feel as if we have to turn over a new leaf. The
time when we misguidedly imagine that the arrival of a new year will magically
provide the catalyst, motivation and persistence we need to reinvent ourselves,
attitudes and even actions. Always remember that personal traits whether
good or bad are habit forming. The New
Year or A New Year, can often be used as a long overdue excuse to get rid of
bad habits or pick up new ones.
Traditionally,
New Year’s Day is suggested as the ideal time to kick start a new phase in your
life...your personal circumstances. It
is the time when you must make the so called all important new year’s
resolution. Clearly, the beginning of the year is also one of the worst times
to make a major change in your habits because it is directly in the middle of
the party and holiday season, family time....a stressful time!
To make
a commitment for change that will be hard to keep is a recipe for disaster. There
are a number of steps you can follow to be better equipped to succeed
1. Identify and pick only one area to change
If you
want to change your life or your circumstances do not try to change you whole life.
person, situation or self at once. It will
not work. To begin....simply pick one
area of your life to change.
It
should be something concrete so you know exactly what change you have to
actually plan to make. If you are successful with the first change you can go
ahead and make another change a month or so later. By making small and decisive
changes one after the other, you have the chance to see the new you develop and
grow in a manageable and consistent way.
The
secret is to pick a New Year’s resolution that can succeed not one that can
only fail. Many people will want to change their financial
situation...ie...they will want to earn more money. The example would be: If you want to earn for example 5,000 USD in a
month and you currently earn 5,000 USD a year then while the figures sound
possible the reality is that you will fail.
To
increase you income you have to create an opportunity that will give you the
option to earn more. This is done by
incorporating a system of change, that will result in a revenue increase which
will in turn will generate better profits day by day, week by week, month by
month.
When you
have mastered this habit by creating short term goals and objectives that provide
the momentum for long term strategies then your changes become systematic and
sustainable.
So decide
the one area you want to change?
2. Make a plan & Plan ahead
Start by
making a list. Believe it or not if you analyze why people fail....this comes out as the number one reason why failure
occurs....it seems impossible dosen't it.
So how
do you actually start?
To
ensure success you need to research the change you are planning to make and then
make a plan. This will ensure that the resources
are available when you need them. Your
considerations should include a number of things that will help and
prepare you to put all the systems in place ready to make your change or
changes you decide.
These
will include Reading - Read up on it – Go to the library and get books on the
subject. Whether it’s quitting smoking, taking up running or yoga or becoming
vegan there are books to help you prepare for it. Use the Internet.
If you do
enough research you will become excited and you will look forward to making the
change.
Plan for
success – Get everything ready that you might need,so things will run smoothly
and according to your plan. If you are taking up running, make sure you have
the trainers, clothes, hat, glasses, ipod loaded with energetic sounds at the
ready. Then there can be no excuses.
This is a plan...that is aimed at success. If you forget one item or it
does not fit...the you will fail and you will fail well!
3. Anticipate problems
There
will be problems...there always are. It
is often said that the more problems you have...the more alive you are and that
the only people without problems are in the cemetery. So...here again you must
make a list of what the will be or you can simply think about the things that
can go wrong at any time. If you think
about it, you will be able to anticipate problems at certain times of the day,
with specific people or in special situations. Once you have identified the times
that things could go wrong or become hard, then you must work out ways to cope
with the situation when the items on
your list come up.
Special Tip: Always think about the “What
if’ principle...what it this happens...what if that happens.....
4. Pick a start date
You do not
have to make these changes on New Year’s Day. Society as we know it today works
on “Norms” in other words what the general census is....usually becomes the
norm or the order of the day. This is
know as conventional wisdom. Be
Warned...if you truly want to make a change, then pick a day when you know you
will be well-rested, enthusiastic and surrounded by positive people. A day when
you will be in total control of your own actions, not a day when you are
controlled by the world around you...ie...trying to fit things in between
shopping and picking the kids up from school.
Occasionally,
picking a date does not work. It is better to wait until your body and mind are working as one unit, working at the same
pace, moving forward at the same time...then the challenge becomes attainable.
Remember if you can visualize then you can conceptualize..the you can achieve.
5. Go for it
On the
big day nothing but a 100% commitment will do! It must be 100%. Imagine a plane on a runway....as it gathers
speed...getting faster and faster...as it begins to lift off, does the pilot
take his hand off the throttle....No he pushes hard and maintains the force
until he reaches the height he wants to level off.
Here again you must make a commitment and you must write it down on a card. In mst circumstance you only need one short
phrase, something you can carry in your wallet. There are other options. You
can keep it in your car, by your bed and on your bathroom mirror. These things
do work if you are focused on what you need to achieve.
Your commitment card will say something like:
- I will enjoy a clean, smoke-free life.
- I will stay calm and in control at all times.
- I am committed to learning how to run and manage my own business.
- I will review and adapt daily.
Remember:
The ability to change and adapt is one of the key ingredients for a successful mind change. Mistakes do
happen...it is the application of the choices you make that will ultimately bring
about changes you have planned.
6. Accept failure
If you
do fail at the odd stage of transition then the changes you have chosen to make
we not a big enough challenge to make a difference to your life. Accepted failure drives attitude and will
spark expectation. When you forget, miss
or simply do not do what you are supposed to do...do not hate yourself for it.
Understand
why...and what happened...then make notes on the reason for the situational
change...the causes and the steps that can be taken to ensure the actions are
not repeated.
For
example...If you know that alcohol makes you crave cigarettes and oversleep the
next day cut back on it. If you know the morning rush before school makes you
shout then get up earlier or prepare things the night before to make it easier
on yourself.
Perseverance
is the key to success. Try again, keep trying and you will succeed.
If you
keep on doing what you are already doing...then you will continue to be...what
you already are.
7. Plan rewards
A Small
reward is a great encouragement, that will keep you going during the hard first
days. It should be hard because the
acceptance of change is a difficult reality for anyone. A reward helps you look forward to the next
stage. After the first reward, you can probably reward yourself once a week. Rewards should be manageable...simple but
exciting to the mind....like a magazine, a long-distance call to a supportive
friend, a siesta, a trip to the movies or whatever makes you tick....an
ice cream!
Later
you can change the rewards to monthly and then at the end of the year you can
pick an anniversary reward. Something that you can look forward to. You will
have deserved it and you will definitely have earned it.
Whatever
your plans and goals are...a certain amount of luck will be required. Be wise..
be fair and be ready....it is your life and you make your own luck.
Decide
what you want to do, make your plan how to get it and do it
The best
advise Clubwww1 can give you is to do it now...start today...make hay while the
sun shines.
A mind set change begins and
ends with you...first, last and always.
