It’s been rumoured that, when you die, a highlight reel of your life plays in your head. Imagine you’re in that scenario. You’re old and have reached the end of your life. With a sad acceptance, you realise time has come for you to pass over. That reel begins playing and, sure, it’s filled with copious amounts of happy memories, but there’s a few things missing. A few items off the bucket list, emotions not felt to their absolute maximum, and stone-shaped experiences left unturned. You realise the human vessel you’ve lived in has enough power to traverse space, but instead, you meandered along the local river. Of course, it’s worth saying that this doesn’t merely mean seeking out adrenaline and high-octane experiences. To many, a slower life is their space travel, and that is okay.
The Art of Improvement
You’re Not Stuck – You’re Too Comfortable
Everyone wants to be comfortable. From a biological perspective, our bodies work towards the path of least resistance. It wants to remain comfortable. This state of being can be a great place to reside – after all, it’s called the comfort zone for a reason. But living there means you’re not pushing yourself to try new things or learn new skills. It can make you feel stuck.
I Stopped Waiting for the Perfect Plan (Then Everything Changed)
Google.
“Why is my life not improving?”
I researched countless productivity hacks. Books, articles, guides, apps, you name it. I tried them all. I bought planners: daily and weekly, large and small, decorative and plain. I even wrote in those – “why isn’t anything working?” Before long, I felt like a shadow shaking my fists at the unforgiving and uncaring clouds, cursing the world for holding me back.
How to actually change your life
So you want to fix your life?
Sounds easier said than done. But really, it just requires time, focus, and a plan. Having the desire to fix your life is the first step – this could be the day that everything changes for you.
I want to encourage you to take this time to fully place your attention on this video. Put your phone out of sight and out of mind and grant yourself permission to take this time for yourself and your wellbeing. You matter!
My social media detox changed my life completely
Excluding sleep, when was the last time you went a full hour without checking your phone?
Think about that urge you feel to pull out your phone. It can happen when there’s a brief gap in activities, when a TV show is not grabbing your attention, or even when a task becomes challenging – instead of working through it, you might feel a tendency to reach for your phone and scroll through social media.
Repeated attempts to flush your brain with dopamine are a means of short-term gratification. Washing away the outside world as tunnel vision sets in, covering your world with walls made of likes, shares, comments, reels, shorts, videos, and relentless refreshes. I’d wager you’re aware this is wasted energy and want to do something about it.
You’re Not Lazy – It’s Overstimulation
We live in a fast paced world – it’s go, go, go all the time. Get up early and go to the gym, go get coffee, go make a healthy breakfast, go to work, go call that family member, go to that class on the weekend, go to the dinner party…And if you can’t keep up with the quickness in which we all seem to now live our lives, you (or someone you know) may be viewing you as lazy. But could it really just be that you’re overstimulated? With so much to keep up with, how could you not be overstimulated?
When you hear or feel that you’re being lazy, it can sting. This isn’t a desirable trait and it can mean that you lack any drive, motivation or passion for the things in your life. But if that perceived trait is really just a symptom of overstimulation, it changes everything.
Turn Your Life Around in 7 Steps
Have you ever felt stuck, lost or overwhelmed in life? If so, you’re not alone. Some research shows that up to 75% of people have felt that way at one time or another.
When best selling author and speaker, Timber Hawkeye, realized he needed to make a big change in his life, he did some serious thinking about what he needed to do. He had been living a traditional life in Corporate America, with plenty of success and material possessions, including designer clothes and a sports car. But inside, he just knew something wasn’t right.
Stop Letting People Walk All Over You
Start here: Browse the Self-Improvement Guides and pick the path that fits your situation.
“No.”
It’s a simple word. Powerful too. Yet it is often met with a less-than warm reception. There are many people who say “yes” to most things thrown their way, often in fear of saying “no.”
In reality, saying “no” isn’t anything other than being assertive. Not abrasive, confrontational, or anything in between. It’s an important but small part of assertive communication. Mastering it means to know your boundaries and communicate them in an effective, non-confrontational manner. If you don’t honour your boundaries, then you are giving someone else the opportunity to take advantage of you. By setting and enforcing what you’re comfortable with, whether that’s in your work, social, or personal life, you form your character and establish a social image (even if the social circle itself is small).
Minimalism for Overthinkers
Start here: Browse the Self-Improvement Guides and pick the path that fits your situation.
Imagine yourself sitting in a room filled with all kinds of things that cover all of the bookshelves, furniture, and floors. A small table in front of you is scattered with stacks of magazines and digital devices, like a laptop, phone, and ipad.
Now try another scenario, but this time imagine sitting in a room that is clear of clutter. The shelves contain personal items that are meaningful to you. The floor is clear and clean, and the small table in front of you has only a vase of flowers and a book that you’re currently reading.
Rewrite Your Identity, Rewrite Fate
Start here: Browse the Self-Improvement Guides and pick the path that fits your situation.
“You idiot”
“Why did I do that?!”
“How did I get here?”
The things we say to ourselves matter. Even if you have people around you describe who you are and compliment your traits, if you don’t believe them, none of it matters. After all, no one is going to steer your ship for you – the person you want to be is a product of the actions you take and the choices you make.
Think of it this way. A car needs your hands at the wheel. Without your input, it will veer out of control. Your identity, and subsequently your future, require your hands at the wheel. Otherwise, you may end up feeling like you’re stuck living a life that isn’t yours, straying down a path you never intended to take.