7 Life-Changing Decisions You Can Make Today
28 Jun
I used to think changing your life required big, tangible actions…things you could see and hear and feel.
But I was wrong.
The important changes don’t happen outside–they happen in our heads. First we decide, then we act.
So today I wanted to offer 7 decisions you can make, right now, that will set in motion the changes you’re after.
#1. Enough is Enough
Decide that enough is enough. All the problems you’ve merely dealt with, all the times you’ve settled for less than you really
wanted–no more. Enough is enough.
You’re not going to waste another month, week, or day living a life you don’t want.
Or, if things aren’t all bad, you’re not going to put up with the areas that are dragging down the rest.
#2. Bump Up the Standards
Decide that you’re going to raise your standards. People’s lives are a reflection of their expectations. If you expect to quit
when things are hard, you’ll quit. When you expect to find a way out of every dire situation, you’ll find it.
I worked with a friend who often came in late, clothes disheveled, moving at half speed. When that same friend left for a
similar position at a competitor, he came in early, looked sharp, and gave full energy.
The difference? Standards.
The first employer didn’t expect their people to be on time or looking good. The second company would accept nothing less. As soon as he walked through the door for his new job, it was made clear that the standards were high. So he met them.
#3. No More Excuses
Decide that you’re no longer going to make excuses. I cannot tell you how many times I hear empty excuses to cover up inaction. If
you’re alive and kicking, you can do something about the things you want. No. Matter. What.
But the second you make an excuse, all hope is lost. You’re not going to pinpoint the real problem, you’re not going to take real
action. You’re just going to hide behind a reason you know, deep down, is a lie.
Refuse to fall back on excuses. If things are going to change, you are going to change them…regardless of the obstacles.
#4. Team Effort
Decide you’re going to work with others. You’re an achiever, which is why you’re reading this. But that doesn’t mean you have
to do everything alone. You most certainly should not.
You are one person with one mind and one perspective. Add just one more person and you’ve doubled them all. This is no small
feat. When you decide to attack your goals in a team, you’re drastically increasing manpower and brainpower.
Most important, you’re bringing in new perspectives that will see the world–and your goals–in an entirely new light. This
opens the door to a host of solutions that you never would have considered.
Ask for help. Listen closely. Return the favor.
#5. Good Enough to Get Going
Decide that good enough is good enough. Reading a book isn’t that hard. It’s definitely not scary.
Googling and Yahooing isn’t hard either.
And that’s why millions of people endlessly research their goals instead of actually achieving them. They’re trapped in an endless
loop of avoidance, learning more and more about what they want but never taking a real step toward it.
Stop it. When you know enough about your goal to do something about it, do it. Don’t wait to read one more article. Don’t buy another book.
Roll up your sleeves, rub your hands together, and get to work.
#6. The Magic Pill
Decide that you’ll stop looking for the magic pill. Changing your life isn’t a mystery. There is no grand secret locked away in a
dusty volume of the shelves of an old monastery in a far away land.
Yes, there are thousands of tips and tricks to help you on your way. And there are great programs to offer guidance and structure.
But, in the end, it comes down to doing what needs to be done.
That can never happen if you continuously seek out the magic pill to your problems. Instead of making things happen, you’ll just
hop from fad to fad, wasting your time, energy, and money.
There’s no magic pill, so decide to stop looking.
#7. When is a Good Time?
Decide that you’re going to start now. The longer you put off acting on your goals, the smaller the chance that you’ll follow
through. It’s like a pot under running water: the longer you wait, the heavier and harder the task.
The step doesn’t have to shake the earth. It just has to happen. Now.
So tell me, what is one small thing you can do to move a step closer to your goal?
Do it.
Great post! I especially like the one about having to stop creating excuses and to just go do something already. I must admit that I’m guilty of that sometimes. By the way, here’s an interesting book I want to share, very good support to the topic stated above. It’s called “How to Stop Self-Sabotage” by Dr. Darryl Cross. Check it out here
http://www.howtostopselfsabotage.com
Jason,
Your idea is real great. I just found a person who just got the right things and right ideas that the world need-
Thanks lot! ~ Dean
As an expert in motivation and goal-achievement, I find your wisdom quite valuable. For instance, your thoughts about putting things off… The longer you do it, the more you strengthen the barrier of inertia keeping you feeling stuck. Regarding your comments on “the magic pill” I think that seeking better ways to achieve is always wise. But I think your point is to not get so caught up with looking for answers that you have no time or energy left for putting an answer into action. The cause for seeking too much may be a fear of failure, or a fear of success. To dissolve this personal delay tactic, I suggest living with more attention focused on the present moment, to avoid overloading the mind into a state of paralysis by thinking about too many possibilities.
As life coach and meditation teacher I’ve studied a great deal about this stuff… and your course “Shifting the Balance”, it’s how I stumbled on you. Jason, your course is fantastic. It had a big impact on me when it comes to understanding another aspect of how are minds work, that when added to the pot absolutely made a very big difference.
With regards to this post I particularly liked this point
“#5. Good Enough to Get Going
Decide that good enough is good enough. Reading a book isn’t that hard. It’s definitely not scary.
Googling and Yahooing isn’t hard either.
And that’s why millions of people endlessly research their goals instead of actually achieving them. They’re trapped in an endless
loop of avoidance, learning more and more about what they want but never taking a real step toward it.
Stop it. When you know enough about your goal to do something about it, do it. Don’t wait to read one more article. Don’t buy another book.
Roll up your sleeves, rub your hands together, and get to work.”
In my business sometimes I find myself drawn to learning more rather than acting on what I already know. That I fee is rooted in a sense of wanting to know I’m getting it right before I start. The funny thing is I’ve handled this in many other areas in my life already, so it’s great to get a gentle nudge and reminder in this department… so thanks Jason!
And of course thanks for your course I love it.