Have you ever found yourself pausing mid-day to reflect on life? Are you happy doing what you’re doing? Or are you just merely reacting to everything being thrown at you without taking the time to think about anything, really. Do you feel like your life has no real meaningful direction? Well, you’re not alone.
Many people, working or not, women and men, young and old, all feel disconnected from their core values and beliefs. And very rarely do they ever follow their heart.
The good news is taking charge of your life can be done. Here are a few tips to how to regain control over your life.
1. Be honest with yourself and understand what you’re avoiding. Whether it’s the job, or the career path that you don’t like but are too scared about facing a change, be honest about your feelings. Only then can you start being upfront with yourself. Being authentic makes you feel better, about who you are, and quite soon, you’ll find yourself treating those around you with the same sincerity, helping you forge more meaningful relationships in your life.
2. Take responsibility. We’re all good at making excuses, and blaming everything and everyone else. It’s called the “self-serving bias’ where we blame failures on external factors when we’re just as to blame. It takes the load off of facing our shortcomings and coming face to face with the fact that we were lacking in some way or we didn’t’ try our best.
3. Do your best without judgment or criticism. Have you ever seen top athletes taking it easy on themselves because they’ve excelled at something? No, because if they did, they’d lose their edge. They don’t take it easy and relax just because they’ve become great. Instead, they push themselves even further. And remember, whatever you do, make the loudest voice your own. Don’t get pulled in by others’ opinions of you. Have faith in your own abilities and trust your instincts.
4. Enjoy the little things. Kierkegaard said, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” Find out what you want to do in life, what excites you and makes you happy. Try to challenge yourself daily by trying something new or doing something you’re used to but in a different way, this way, you’re not stuck in some mindless daily grind. Little by little, you’ll learn how to enjoy every moment of your life. Even doing the dishes can be enjoyable under the right circumstances; turn on some music or take that time to practice mindfulness which is in itself a form of meditation so you’re putting every minute to good use.
5. Try new things. No one has everything figured out. Even those who seem like they know what they’re doing, constantly ask themselves if they’re doing it right. Therefore, it’s important to make it a habit of trying one new thing per week to help open your eyes to new experiences and meet new people in the process. Even if you find yourself not enjoying something, move on and try something new.
6. Have direction. If you’re going to accomplish anything, knowing which way to go is necessary. Have faith and be honest with yourself every step of the way. One of the best ways to do that is just by giving yourself a few minutes of “me” time every day to do something for yourself without any distractions or noise. Start a journal, read a book, or practice meditation. When you give your brain some downtime, you’ll gain clarity to what you really want to do with your life. Plus, cortisol levels will drop as a result, allowing you to become more focused.
7. Be patient. If you get frustrated at every turn and tumble, you won’t get very far in life. Start small at a pace you’re comfortable with. Then gradually increase the pace, one day at a time. Only then can you have real control over your life.
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