Creating a better life means something different to everyone. For some, having a better life may mean having more money to purchase nice things and being able to travel, while for others, a better life may entail cultivating more meaningful relationships and contributing to the greater good. Whatever your idea of a better life is, it may be possible to create the life you want by setting goals, using visualization techniques and getting rid of negative habits or thought patterns that no longer serve your highest good.
Set Realistic Goals
Goal setting is a vital step in creating a better life. Make a list of two or three small goals that you can accomplish in roughly a few days to a week; this gives you a boost in enthusiasm and energy to start tackling larger goals. Decide what is important to you, and be realistic. The Mayo Clinic suggests prioritizing your wants, needs and desires and making a written list of these items. Make separate lists of small goals and larger goals that will take longer to accomplish, and cross the goals off your list when you accomplish them. For example, if you want more money, decide a realistic route for accomplishing this, whether it is getting a different job or furthering your education. If you want a feeling of greater peace in your life, consider the steps necessary to accomplish this, whether it is beginning a yoga or meditation routine or simply de-cluttering your house to give your living area a greater sense of order and harmony.
Visualize Your Ideal Life
Visualize your ideal life. Think about whom you admire and what qualities this person has that you would like to cultivate within yourself. Really spend some time on this, and don't underestimate the power of visualization, as it is a powerful tool that can help you to create the life you want. Psychology Today points out that many famous athletes use visualization to help them achieve their goals, and this technique can also work for you. Visualize the type of house you would like, the type of job you want and the relationships you want. Remember the law of attraction, which states that you attract to yourself that which you think about most, so be specific and clear in your intentions. On the April 28,2008 episode of the Oprah Winfrey show, renowned author Louise Hay discussed the law of attraction and suggests that maintaining a positive attitude and avoiding negativity can help you to obtain the things you want in your life. In his best-selling book, The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale examines how self-doubt and negative thinking can adversely impact achieving one's goals. Additionally, an article by the Mayo Clinic indicates that positive thinking can reduce stress and improve the quality of one's life, including improved physical and mental health. Critics of positive thinking, such as Barbara Ehrenreich, point out that positive thinking and cheerfulness alone will not accomplish your goals or even make you feel better when life is difficult. The point, however, is that combining positive thinking with visualization and action, such as by accomplishing the objectives you've established in your goal list, and avoiding defeatist, negative self-talk, can help you to create the life you desire.
Get Rid of Negativity
Negativity has no place in creating a better life. In order to live a better, happier life, one must get rid of the things that no longer serve our highest good or the things that drag us down. Try to stop negative habits, especially the ones that you've been putting off stopping for a long time. There is no time like the present to start changing things for the better, and if you've always wanted to start exercising or stop smoking, now is the time to start implementing these changes. Keep in mind that it will not be easy at first, regardless of whether you are quitting smoking or changing negative thought patterns. When you have a negative thought or impulse, mentally label it as a negative thought or desire. Becoming conscious of your negative thought patterns and habits and replacing them with a positive thought or substitute for the negative habit can help; for example, calling a friend to talk about your goals, or doing an activity that makes you feel better, such as exercising, watching a funny movie, reading a book, or taking a walk. Try to distract yourself until the negative urge subsides; even though this may be difficult at first, it will become easier with practice. Make sure you have a support network of trusted friends or family who can help to motivate you toward making these positive changes.
References
- Mayo Clinic
- Oprah.com
- The Power of Positive Thinking; Norman Vincent Peale; 2003
- Mayo Clinic: Positive Thinking
- Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World; Barbara Ehrenreich; 2010
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