How to Start to Create a Change in Your Life

Do you ever feel like you talk about wanting to change something in your life, however, you never actually do it? If so, you are not alone. This is a common experience and a situation that most of us find ourselves in at some point. We say we want something different, however we never actually take the steps to initiate the change. This is different than when you start and stop over and over. This challenge happens when you don’t start at all because starting is often the hardest part.

Have you ever noticed that when you work out, putting on your sneakers and getting moving is often harder than the actual workout? Have you ever noticed that when you are trying to work on a project that sitting down and beginning if often the hardest part? Have you ever noticed that if you are trying to save money, that creating the budget is often harder than actually cutting back your spending? Whatever the situation is for you, starting can be the biggest challenge. It requires the most energy because you are moving into action, rather than working to stay in action. And…the culprit that zaps your energy is almost always your mindset.

The idea of doing something new can freak your brain your brain out. Your brain likes what is already known and it will try to avoid things that may result in discomfort, failure, or embarrassment. Because of this, it is important that you get really clear about the benefits of making a change, and the costs of not making a change. Some people are more motivated by visualizing the desired outcome while others are more motivated by visualizing the cost of not making a change, however, a combination of the two can have even more of an impact.

If there is something you have been thinking about doing, yet you have not yet taken action on it, following the steps below.

• Write down what it is that you want to change. Be as specific and detailed as is possible.

• Visualize what it will look like when you make that change. Again, be as detailed as possible. How will your life be different? How will it positively impact those around you? How will you feel once you make the change?

• Next, visualize what it will look like if you don’t make the change. What is the price you will pay if you don’t take action towards the change? You are always either moving forward or moving backwards. If you don’t start taking steps towards making the change, in what ways will you continue to move backwards in that particular area of your life? Be really detailed and clear about how things will look in one month, six months, one year, three years, five years, and ten years. How will those around you be impacted if you don’t make any change?

• Now, go back to visualizing what it will look like if you do make the change. Notice the difference between that vision and the one you had when visualizing what it will look like in the future if you don’t make the change? The good news is that you don’t have to keep moving backwards to that place. You can take where you are today and start with one small action step today rather than allowing things to continue to move in the wrong direction.

Once you go through the steps above, take that one small action that will put you in motion. Acknowledge your efforts and make a concrete plan for the next action step you will take. Also, visualize yourself when you have achieved the change you are seeking and ask yourself the following questions.

• How does that person show up each day?

• What do they do consistently?

• What do they think about themselves?

• What do they think is possible?

• How do they respond when things feel hard?

Write out your detailed responses to the above questions. The person you are describing is your future you, and the best way to become her is to start acting like her right now. Read through your responses every morning to remind yourself of the person you are becoming and act in alignment with that person every day. The more intentional you are about this, the more second nature it will become.

Continue to focus on where you want to go, not on the discomfort or fear that you may associate with it. Instead, focus on the discomfort and fear that comes with not making the change you are wanting. You are more in control than you think, and when you learn to mange your mindset, you open yourself up to making as many changes as you want in your life. This process can be used repeatedly for each subsequent change you are interested in making so refer back to it often. If you want to take a deeper dive into managing your mindset, you can get instant access to my free guide, KV's 6 Steps to Managing your Mindset HERE. You’ve got this.

Live your best boss lady life.

~ Karen

Karen Vincent Solutions