We have all, at some point in our lives, wanted to change. Either because our partner left us and we were largely to blame or because we were pursuing a university degree that, in reality, was not what we wanted.
Change is normal in humans and in nature, but it is not always easy. From these experiences it is very normal and understandable to reach the following conclusion: “I want to change my life”
Keys to change your life
Changing or transforming is an individual process that begins with oneself, therefore, we are the main drivers of our change. But it is common that our own beliefs or fear of change can interfere with the life change that we imagine so much.
If you are determined to change, in the following lines you will find the necessary steps to carry out the change process
1. Get to know yourself
When it comes to starting over, the first step is knowing yourself Know what your desires are, what qualities you possess and what direction you want to follow. The first step to change is self-reflection and self-knowledge.
2. Find a purpose in your life
Self-knowledge is key to being able to find out what one’s purpose is in life. Having a vital goal is key because it keeps us motivated: it is the force that helps us move and that structures our daily lives. Now, changing is not only about visualizing the purpose, but also about enjoy the road while chasing
3. Do it for you
To do the above effectively it is necessary to connect with yourself, which is why it is so useful to know yourself in depth. Because many times we think that we want to change, but it is the opinion of others that influences us in such a way that We believe that what they impose on us is what we want The goals to pursue must be genuine, otherwise it will be difficult to change.
4. Open to change
The previous point leads us to make the decision to change, and therefore, it is necessary to have a good dose of will. Opening to change means being willing to transform ourselves and pursue goals through a certain amount of effort.
5. Plan the change
Once we are clear about our desire to change and we know what we want to change, it is necessary to plan the change. If it is possible to even have it written down on paper, it is easier to visualize and allows us to make less effort when it comes to bringing it to mind when we need it. hYou have to set small sub-objectives and set a date for them
6. But… set short-term goals
It is not only worth setting long-term goals, but we need to take into account short-term goals as well, as it is the only way for us to be motivated during the change process and not to forget our commitment.
7. Get out of the comfort zone
The comfort zone is an intangible place where we feel protected and comfortable and leaving this zone causes us to have to make an effort to test mental schemes that, despite seeming adaptive, are not always so.
8. Don’t be afraid of uncertainty
And it is that Leaving your comfort zone can cause a certain degree of anxiety , largely due to the fear of uncertainty. Not knowing what awaits us when we change can produce fear if we do not have enough confidence in ourselves or if we only visualize the negative consequences of the transformation. That is why we must put aside this irrational fear and seek analyze risks calmly and analytically
9. Be aware that there can be ups and downs
Accepting that we can fail is also positive That doesn’t mean that we should give up if things don’t go our way, but rather that we should be prepared to improve ourselves and get back up as soon as possible after a fall.
10. Get self-motivated
Knowing how to motivate yourself is also one of the keys to being able to change, and it is one of the best qualities that a person can possess.
11. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else
Change is an individual process: it is you who says “I want to change my life”, not another person subject to a context very different from yours. That is why you should not compare yourself with others, but remain faithful to yourself and your desires and fight with all your strength.
12. Don’t blindly listen to the opinions of others
Nor should you listen to all the opinions of others, because Some people tend to project their own fears onto you If someone doesn’t have the will to change, they probably don’t believe you can either.
13. Think about the reward
To remain self-motivated during the change process, it is important that you visualize the reward or positive consequences of achieving the change. However, it is worth not forgetting that the transformation process is in itself a reward.
14. Love yourself
It is also important that you do not be too hard on yourself and accept that things may not go as planned. Of course, you can rectify and learn from failures. If you don’t have empathy for yourself, who will?
15. Be realistic
The objectives and goals we set for ourselves must always be realistic, otherwise we may find ourselves with false expectations that can interfere with the change process and lead to frustration, which is not only unpleasant but also takes away the desire to make an effort..
16. Challenge your limiting beliefs
Limiting beliefs are those irrational thoughts that do not allow us to change and that interfere with our individual growth For example, “I am not able to do this because I always have bad luck.” Overcoming these types of thoughts is necessary to avoid being left halfway to change.
17. Take responsibility
Taking responsibility means empowering yourself in the face of change. It is the ability to respond to the events that occur around us with sufficient self-leadership capacity, which allows us to overcome adversity. You must be clear that you are the person responsible for your decisions.
18. Abandon victimhood
The opposite of taking responsibility for change is playing the victim. While responsibility is action, victimhood is paralyzing
19. Seek help
Accept help from others If you think that the desire to lend a hand is genuine If among your friends or family there is no one capable of helping you with certain things, you can consider the option of hiring trainers, teachers or coaches.
Coaches are experts in personal development and help people improve their self-knowledge, plan realistic goals, become empowered in the face of change and self-motivate. Hiring a professional in this field can be helpful in maximizing your chances of transformation.
20. Don’t lose sight of the present
Keeping your feet on the ground is vital to carry out the change process, That’s why it’s important to be in the here and now , connected with oneself. It is good to keep change in mind, but to achieve change you have to work daily and not forget where you are on a day-to-day basis.
21. Take advantage of the journey to learn
When things don’t go as planned It is necessary to learn from experience and get back on track , that is, getting hooked on the change again. Successful people are those who learn from failures and get up again and again after falling.
22. Practice detachment
Detachment, understood as emotional release, is key to the process of change. This does not mean getting rid of the important people in our lives, but rather it helps us visualize things from a much more realistic and less emotional perspective.
23. Learn to manage emotions
Both excess and lack of motivation can interfere with the change process, and although some think that excess motivation is positive, can cause us to have too high expectations in the change process, which can lead to frustration. Being aware of our emotions and learning to manage them is a determining factor in personal transformation.
Starting again is letting go
In conclusion we can highlight the idea that to change we must learn to make decisions, accept commitments and accept the idea that it is better to get rid of certain elements of our daily life.
In this way personal development will be carried out effectively and there will be no demotivating and frustrating setbacks.